Blackboard Ultra gives instructors a modern, streamlined way to manage courses, communicate with students, and deliver engaging content in one centralized platform. This guide brings together essential instructor resources—covering navigation, announcements, discussions, course content, and student management—to help you work more efficiently and get the most out of Blackboard Ultra, whether you’re setting up a course for the first time or refining an existing one.
Navigation & Getting Started
Find Your Courses
Locate your course list immediately after logging in. You can view current, past, and upcoming courses from the “Courses” page in the global navigation menu.
Navigate Outside Your Course
Access global tools such as your Profile, Activity Stream, Calendar, Messages, and Grades from the main menu on the left side of the screen, outside of any specific course context.
Navigate Inside a Course
Use the course navigation bar (usually at the top) to access Course Content, Calendar, Discussions, Gradebook, and Messages specific to that course.
Activity Page
This page (often the “Activity Stream”) highlights important updates such as new content, grades, and due dates, featuring institutional announcements at the top.
Calendar
Helps students stay organized by automatically populating due dates from assessments and content. Instructors can also add custom events.
Announcements
A tool to share updates, reminders, and weekly overviews with students. You can schedule them in advance to maintain consistent communication.
Discussions & Communication
Create Discussions
Facilitate class-wide conversations to encourage peer interaction and critical thinking. You can set up graded or ungraded forums.
Respond to Discussions
Instructors and students can reply to threads and posts directly within the discussion board to maintain the conversation flow.
View Discussion Performance and Analytics
Monitor student engagement and participation levels within discussion forums to assess their activity.
View Discussion Performance and Analytics
Group Discussions
Create discussions specific to groups of students to foster smaller, focused collaboration.
Manage Discussions
Edit, delete, or organize discussion threads and forums to keep the conversation relevant and appropriate.
Search and Collect Discussions
Find specific posts or threads within the discussion board for review or grading.
Search and Collect Discussions
Send Messages
Communicate privately with students or groups within the course context. This is distinct from email and keeps course-related queries in one place.
Roster
View the list of enrolled students and other course members. It is often used to manage course roles and accommodations.
Student Overview
Access detailed progress reports and activity logs for individual students to track their performance and engagement.
Content Management
Add Content
The primary action to build your course. You can create new items, upload files, or import content from other sources using the plus (+) sign in the Course Content area.
Creating Documents
Build content pages directly in the course that can combine text, images, and other media elements into a single viewable item.
Add Text
Use the content editor to type instructions, descriptions, or lessons directly into Documents, Assignments, or Tests.
Insert Local File in the Content Editor
Upload files (documents, images, slides) from your computer directly into the text editor for students to view or download.
Insert Local File in the Content Editor
Supported File Types
Blackboard supports a wide range of file formats for upload, including standard office documents, PDFs, and media files.
Course Links
Create shortcuts within your course content that link students directly to other tools or materials (e.g., a link in Week 1 content that leads to a Test).
Web Links
Add direct links to external websites and resources as standalone items in your course content.
Copy Content From Other Courses
Reuse materials by copying content items, folders, or entire banks from your previous courses into the current one.
Copy Content From Other Courses
Export and Archive Courses
Create a downloadable package of your course content for backup purposes or to share with another institution.
Feedback 
Copy Link
