What tools are available in an Ultra course?
As a completely redesigned Blackboard platform, the Ultra Experience is continuously enhanced with monthly releases. Tools listed here do not represent the full roadmap under development by the vendor.
This list focuses on core Blackboard tools. For more information, please review
Tools may appear in Ultra under another name or form and with different functionality and customizations. These will be noted under comments. Please review linked documentation for additional information.
View the granular spreadsheet comparison. This list was last updated on September 6 2024.
Original Tool | Ultra Tool | Status | Anticipated Release & Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Achievements | Achievements Badgr | deployed deployed | Available. Also available for Digital Credentials, but limited availability for Achievements. Please contact Collin Sullivan, Program Director for Digital Credentials for support. |
Adaptive Release | deployed | Date/time, performance-based, and group/member release available now. | |
Anonymous Grading | Anonymous Grading | deployed | Available now. |
Announcements | Course Announcements | deployed | Available now. Formatting and send as email now supported. |
Attendance | Attendance | deployed | Native attendance in Blackboard. Qwickly Attendance is also available for Ultra courses. |
Blogs | Journals | In Development | Coming to Ultra. No timeline yet. |
Calendar | Calendar | deployed | Available now. Additional calendar options are planned. |
Contacts | --- | discontinued in Ultra | |
Content Collection | Content Collection | deployed | Available now. Additional capabilities are planned for Learn Ultra. |
Content Editor | Content Editor | deployed | Available now. Additional capabilities are planned for Learn Ultra. |
Course Analytics / Reports | Course Reports / Student Activity | N/A | Available now. Some analytics are embedded. Might not be visible until student data is generated. |
Course Link | Course Link | deployed | Available now. |
Course Messages | Messages | deployed | Available now. Messages are automatically sent as email. |
Course Surveys | Forms | deployed | Available. |
Date Management | Batch Edit -> Dates | deployed | Available now: Edit due dates & visibility. Enhancements expected. |
Delegated Grading | Delegated Grading | deployed | Available now. Additional capabilities are planned for Ultra Courses. |
Discussions | Discussions | deployed | Available now. Additional capabilities are planned for Ultra Courses. |
Files | Files | deployed | Available now. Upload files from desktop. |
Folders | Folders | deployed | Available now. Limited to two folders deep. |
Glossary | --- | discontinued in Ultra | |
Goals | Goals | deployed | Available now. Goal Reporting is planned for Ultra Courses in 2024. |
Grade Center | Gradebook | deployed | Supports weighted & points-based schemas, filters (smart-views), running total, download submissions and assessment results. |
Groups | deployed | Fully supported with import and export via CSV for group creation and membership enrollment. | |
Items & BlankPages | Documents | deployed | Available now. |
Journals | Journals | deployed | Available now. |
Learning Modules | Learning Modules | deployed | Available now. |
Performance Dashboard | TBD | discontinued in Ultra - However, embedded analytics and progress tracking reports provide extensive data about learner performance. | |
Publisher Integrations | Content Market | deployed | Available now for most vendors in Ultra Courses. |
Retention Center | Progress Tracker | deployed | Information repurposed through Activity Stream. |
Roster | Roster | deployed | Available now |
Rubrics | Rubrics | deployed | Available now. Rubric reports are not yet available. Please use EAC. |
SafeAssign | SafeAssign | deployed | SafeAssign is available for Assignments & Test Essay questions in Ultra Courses. Direct Submit also available. |
Self & Peer Assessments | Assignments with Peer Evaluation enabled | deployed | Available now. |
Send Email | Messages | deployed | Functioning as designed. Messages are automatically emailed. |
Student Preview | deployed | Available now. | |
Tasks | TBD | discontinued in Ultra | |
Tests & Test Pools | Tests, Reuse Questions, Question Banks | deployed | Available now. Some question types are not available. |
User Profile | User Profile | deployed | Available now. Additional capabilities are planned. |
Web Link | Web Link | deployed | Available now. Some tools & links are supported as Teaching Tools via LTI Connection. |
Wikis | TBD | discontinued in Ultra → Consider OneNote Class Notebook or Google Sites |