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Blackboard Ultra Upgrade Project

TLC and ITS will upgrade the Blackboard Learning Management System to its newest version, Ultra Learn, to take advantage of improved navigation and to enhance the user experience. 

For any questions about this transition, please visit our frequently asked questions webpage.

Blackboard Ultra Course View Conversion Is Approaching! 

Review this presentation for valuable resources and details about this Spring 2024 Ultra Course View launch. Discover highlights into how Teaching and Learning Center, Anthology Blackboard, and Information Technology Services staff will prepare UTHSC Blackboard users for this critical conversion.  Also, stay tuned - updates and schedules will be shared as they become available.  

Ultra Overview, Part I (64 minutes)
Ultra Overview, Part II (60 minutes)

Follow the below steps to preview your course in Ultra before converting. Original Learn can be used in spring, summer and fall 2023.  All courses, starting in spring 2024, will use Ultra Learn.

2023 spring, summer and fall courses will continue to use Blackboard Original unless your course was previously converted, or you elect to convert ahead of schedule. 

This conversion will be implemented college by college according to the below timeline with plans for full migration by November 1, 2023. 

Ultra Base Navigation Introduction

Blackboard’s List of Key Ultra Features

Modern, intuitive user experience

      • The user experience will be simpler, more intuitive, and engaging.  

Works well on mobile devices

      • Blackboard Ultra is designed to work well on all of your devices.

Aggregates important information 

      • All course and organization information is consolidated into one global view.

Activity Stream 

      • Activity streams gives an organized list of everything that's happened in courses.

One click away 

      • Click on a tab to be taken directly there, minimizing clicks, and saving time.
Ultra Course View

 

Ultra Tour

In Ultra Course View, you have simplified workflows, a modern look and feel, and a fully responsive interface on all devices. On the Course Content page, select the plus sign wherever you want to create content. 

All of your course content appears in the main part of the page. You can always see the left navigation area that peeks from behind layers. Most content items, such as folders and assignments, have a menu with options. When you open a piece of content, it slides out in a layer on top of the Course Content page. Close layers to go back to a previous spot in your course.

      1. Navigation bar: Open frequently used tools in one step. Select a tab to check the course calendar, respond to class discussions, access the course gradebook, and send a message.
      2. Details & Actions: Manage your course and create/manage groups, rosters, course availability and other set features.
      3. Add content: Select the plus sign wherever you want to add content. If you want to copy or import content, open the menu on the right side above the content list.
      4. New activity: If you've enabled conversations on content, activity icons appear for new conversation activity. 
Training

Virtual training will be offered to prepare UTHSC faculty for Blackboard Ultra. 

Training sessions will be scheduled with each college three weeks before conversion start dates (noted on the timeline), and instruction resources posted on the TLC website.   

Consults

TLC Consultants are available to address questions after the course has been converted. You can request a consult at this link:

Consultation Request

Blackboard Help Site Link:

Blackboard Help: Where do I Start?   

Sep 7, 2023