How can I learn to teach with Blackboard Ultra?
A simpler, more modern Blackboard is here! All Blackboard courses will be designed and delivered in Blackboard Ultra Course View by Spring 2026. Use these resources to get started with Ultra now.
If you have not yet tried Ultra Course View, you may do so by requesting a practice or preview course.
CIT Resources
UA Ultra Practice Course
All UA instructors receive a Blackboard practice course in Ultra Course View. The new practice course is named UA Ultra Practice Course. Search for “Ultra” in the Blackboard course list to find it. More information: UA Ultra Practice Course for Instructors
Blackboard Ultra Community of Practice
The Blackboard Ultra Course View Microsoft Team serves as an online community of practice for users exploring and teaching with Ultra in Blackboard. Members ask and answer questions; access resources; discover webinars, workshops, and events; find release notes and updates; and more.
Join
UA community members may request to join the Team via this link: Blackboard Ultra Course View-Center for Instructional Technology-Academic Affairs-Center for Instructional Technology | General | Microsoft Teams (select “Join”).
Support materials
Navigate through our support materials by clicking on a link below, or use the navigation menu to the left of this page.
Blackboard Ultra workshops and webinars
CIT offers workshops, webinars, and individual and group training on Blackboard Ultra. View upcoming sessions and access session recordings and resources: Blackboard Ultra Workshops and Webinars
View our on-demand recorded Ultra Demonstration and Information Session: Meet the New Blackboard: Blackboard Ultra Course View (August 2025, 39:56).
We’d love to share this information at your department or faculty meeting, in-service day, etc. Contact CIT to request a brief update (10-15 minutes) or a session on one of these topics:
Blackboard Ultra Demonstration & Information Session
Blackboard Ultra Basics
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Ultra
Transitioning Original Courses to Ultra Courses
Creating Dynamic Content
Communication Features in Ultra
Blackboard AI Design Assistant
Assessing Student Learning
Grading and Managing the Gradebook
Analytics, Performance & Activity
Office Hours
Ultra Office Hours
Every Friday from 2:00-3:30 in A232 Gordon Palmer Hall.
Virtual Ultra Office Hours
Join the Teams meeting – every Tuesday from 2:00-3:00
Upcoming Special Topic Sessions
November 17, 1-2 PM- Topic: Setting Up Release Conditions
December 15, 1-2 PM- Topic: Make Your Course Accessible
Ultra Café
The Ultra Café is a day of snacks, coffee, and course building. Blackboard experts offer guidance in an in-person interactive workshop (Part 1) and an in-person open workspace (Part 2).
Save the date and register for upcoming sessions on one or more of the following dates:
November 4, 2025 (Tuesday)
December 10, 2025 (Wednesday)
January 6, 2026 (Tuesday)
Blackboard/Anthology Resources
These resources from Blackboard and its parent company, Anthology, are free and open to members of the UA community.
Quick reference guide
This PDF quick reference guide from Blackboard/Anthology features step-by-step instructions with pictures and highlights common features and tasks:
Getting Started with Blackboard Ultra course
This self-paced online course is delivered via Anthology Academy, an online training and professional development hub offered by Blackboard’s parent company, Anthology.
View our article to learn more and get registration instructions: Anthology Academy - Getting Started with Blackboard Ultra
Blackboard guides and step-by-step instructions
Blackboard Instructor Help, especially:
Video tutorials
A YouTube playlist of video tutorials for instructors, from Blackboard/Anthology: Blackboard Tutorials - Instructors
On-demand/recorded webinars
Ultra-focused recorded webinars from Blackboard/Anthology can be found here: Blackboard Modernization Webinar Series. Enter your contact information to view them.
These sessions may be of particular interest to instructors:
Blackboard Essentials for Instructors: Exploring Course Structure and Content Creation
Blackboard Assessments Simplified: Training for Instructors and Course Designers
Streamlined Grading in Blackboard: Best Practices for Educators
Navigating Blackboard Gradebook: Tips for Instructors and Course Builders
Smart Course Creation: Leveraging AI Design Assistant in Blackboard
Inclusive Design in Action: Maximizing Accessibility in Blackboard
Additional Blackboard/Anthology webinars can be found here: Anthology Webinars. These may be of particular interest to instructors:
Blackboard Ultra Course Seminar - 90-minue webinar providing a step by step guide to creating an Ultra course from scratch
The Innovative Educator Series - Faculty-focused sessions on student engagement, collaboration, and active learning; accessibility and course quality; AI; and online/hybrid/HyFlex teaching.