instructional technology and distance education services

Follow this guide to add accommodations, exceptions and exemptions:

• Adding Accommodations, Exceptions, and Exemptions (PDF)

Accommodations may be needed when you receive a notice from Disability Services for Students that a student requires an extended due date or timer on assessment.

Exceptions may be needed when students require a different due date, a different set of dates to take an assessment or additional attempts on an assessment.

Exemptions may be applied when an instructor wishes to disregard a student’s attempt on an assessment, and the student’s overall grade will be calculated on the remaining items in the gradebook.

Follow this guide to create an assignment in Ultra:

• Creating an Assignment (PDF)

Follow this guide to create a test in Ultra:

• Creating a Test (PDF)

Follow these guides to learn how to batch edit in Ultra:

• PDF Guide on Batch Edit BEFORE a Copy

Follow this guide to create groups in Ultra:

• Creating Groups PDF
• Creating Groups (Self-Enrollment Option) PDF

Follow this guide to adjust your notification settings in Ultra:

• Global Notifications Settings (PDF)

Follow these guides to learn how to use Ultra's new Course Copy feature:

• PDF Guide on Copying Material from One Course to Another (Granular Course Copy)

Learn to upload a syllabus to your Blackboard Ultra:

• How to Upload Your Syllabus (PDF)

Follow this guide to customize your profile picture:

• Updating Profile Picture (PDF)

Visit our Gradebook page.

• Overview - Welcome to Blackboard instructor training! Explore profile setup, system customization, and the creation of dynamic online courses. From content to grading, gain the essentials to confidently craft an engaging learning experience for your students.
• Filling Out Your Profile - Personalize your Blackboard profile by adding a picture and updating your information effortlessly. Click, fill in, and done! Explore privacy settings to control who sees your profile.
• Adjusting Your Privacy Settings - Shape your Blackboard experience by customizing privacy settings: effortlessly choose who sees your profile by selecting from options like only instructors or anyone in your courses. It's about creating a space that suits you best.
• Adjusting Notification Settings - Tailor your Blackboard notifications: pick on-platform stream alerts and email preferences effortlessly. Curate your digital experience and adjust for the perfect balance, saving your choices when done.
• Accessing Your Course - Explore your Blackboard courses effortlessly: click "courses," view your current or upcoming ones, and easily find and dive into your selected course.
• Roster and Attendance - In your Blackboard course, explore the left-side menu to connect with your virtual class via "roster." Adjust roles, manage access, and view basic info with a simple click. Save changes effortlessly. The trio of dots provides extra options. For attendance, click "add attendance," make tweaks, and save. Mark attendance as present, late, absent, or excused. "Overall" gives you a history view—export it if needed. The settings icon is your go-to for additional tweaks.
• Course Room - Enter Blackboard's course room—a dynamic virtual space for collaborative sessions. Click "join session," explore features like recording meetings and engaging with video and chat. Share content seamlessly. Similar to Skype or Google Hangouts, it's perfect for conferences or presentations. When finished, close the tab effortlessly.

• Creating a Folder - Organize content into folders: Create, title, describe, and save. Add items by dragging and dropping onto the folder. Edit or delete using three dots.
• Creating a Document - Add document to course: Create, choose visibility, add text or upload, edit as needed, save, and title for clarity.
• Adding a Link - Add link to course: Float over document, click plus, create link, paste URL, add description, edit title, and save. Edit or delete using three dots.
• Teaching Tools with LTI Connection - Incorporate LTI tool (Turnitin) in course: Click books in tools, hit plus, make visible, edit title, describe, save, and explore more LTI tools.
• Using Content Market - Add content through Content Market: Select Content Market, choose provider, add specific content, customize title and description, and save changes. Explore other providers for more resources.
• Upload Items - Upload information: Click plus, select upload, choose file, edit title, add description if needed, and save changes.
• Copy Content from other Courses - Copy content from previous course: Click plus, select copy content, type course name or ID, check items, and copy selected content into the current course.
• Adding Assignments - Add assignment: Click plus, expand assessment, choose assignment, build questions, set due date, adjust settings, add description, and save.
• Adding a Rubric to Assignments - Add rubric to assignment: Click plus, create new assignment, set settings, choose grading rubric, create and edit rubric criteria, and save changes.
• Creating a Group Assignment - Create group assignment: Float over border, click plus, create assignment, set due date, enable class conversations, assign groups, add content, and save.
• Adding Assessments - Adding assessments in Blackboard: Click the plus sign, create a test, add questions (like multiple-choice or essay), set points, due date, and submission rules for a complete test setup.
• Organizing Content - Organize course items in folders using the plus sign, drag-and-drop feature, enabling easy navigation for students.

• Adding a Post - Creating a discussion in the board using a text editor, formatting options, and managing posts.
• Reading and Replying - Accessing discussions, checking replies, and replying to specific posts in the course's discussions section.
• Adjusting Discussion Settings - Adjusting post settings, displaying on the course page, and managing participant lists within discussions.
• Make Discussion Graded - Creating a graded discussion post, setting parameters, adding a rubric, and managing grades and participation.
• Organizing Discussions - Organizing discussions by creating folders, moving posts, and adding content within the folder interface.
• Creating Groups - Creating group-specific discussions, assigning students to groups, and managing group-related threads within the discussion board.

• Changing Grade Schemas - ccess the grade book, modify grading schema via settings, adjust grade range, and save changes.
• Create Categories - Create grading categories, assign content, and view organized lists for easier comprehension in grade book.
• Grading Submitted Content - Grade submitted content by reviewing, assigning scores, and providing feedback through the grade book interface.
• Set up the Overall Grade - Adjust overall grade weights, percentages, and exclusions to reflect the course structure and calculate final grades.
• Organizing and Adding Items - Quickly add and organize grade book items by setting names, visibility, due dates, points, categories, and descriptions.
• Creating a Rubric - Create a rubric in the grade book by defining criteria and percentages, customizing descriptions for grading levels.

• Send a Message - Compose messages in Blackboard by selecting recipients, crafting the message, and choosing email copy and reply options.
• Read and Reply - Access messages via the envelope icon, read, reply, and delete threads using the sender's options.

• Accessing Your Calendar - Access your calendar via the left menu, view schedule or due dates, toggle calendars using gear icon.
• Adding Events - Click the plus sign, add event details, save to add. Edit by selecting event title, make changes, save.
• Adding Office Hours - Use the plus sign, add repeating office hours, select days, end date, add details, and save.
• Edit Course Schedule - Edit course schedule: select class, adjust details like dates, times, repetition, location, and save changes