Ultra: What's new in the Ultra Experience?

Course Content

Stack blocks vertically in Ultra Documents

Instructors can stack blocks in a single column in Documents to create cleaner layouts and reduce whitespace. A new toggle in the block toolbar allows switching between column-level and block-level editing. In column mode, actions apply to the entire column. In block mode, instructors can resize, move, or delete individual blocks.

Columns can also be dropped into another block’s area for more flexible layouts. These changes work with existing features such as undo/redo, printing, and AI layout generation. This enhancement also includes accessibility improvements for screen readers.

N/A

Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-5104

Engagement

Automations remind students to check their feedback

Instructors can create automations that send a message to students who have unread feedback after an instructor-defined number of days. This feature saves time by automatically encouraging students to review their feedback, promoting student engagement.

For more information, check: Automations

Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable

Course Management

Redesigned course navigation

1. Faculty will see several improvements within the course view itself. The header now displays both the courseID and course title, offering immediate orientation, which may be especially helpful when juggling multiple sections or cross-listed courses. In a future update, we will also see a breadcrumb navigation to further streamline movement through nested content areas. 

2. If you use a course banner, it will now stretch across the full width of the screen and sit behind the course ID and title on a darker background. Since the course name will now display in close proximity to the banner, we recommend using an image that does not include text.

3. To support more consistent wayfinding, Blackboard replaced the small "X" used to exit a course in the upper left. In its place, a new Home button appears in the course header. The Home button will return users to the Blackboard Institution page, not the course home page or the Courses page. To return to the course home page, click the Content tab. The familiar "X" will still appear for closing lower-level panels such as learning modules, but the main path out of a course is now clearer and less prone to mis-clicks.

4. A new Course Switcher in the header allows instructors to jump quickly to their four most recently accessed courses. This addition supports a smoother teaching workflow, particularly during busy periods when faculty frequently toggle between multiple sections. Selecting "View All" will allow users to access Blackboard courses not in the Recent Courses list.

Watch the information video

Course Design

Usability improvements for Ultra Doc layouts

Blackboard restructured the menu for document block layout, organizing by type of change (row, size, and position). Selecting the edit icon for a block prompts a menu with three options: Change row, Change [block/column] size, and Change [block/column] position. Each of these options have a sub-menu, with the related actions.

• Change row

  • Move to row above

  • Move to row below

  • New row above

• Change [block/column] size

  • Expand to the left

  • Expand to the right

  • Shrink from the left

  • Shrink from the right

• Change [block/column] position

  • Move to the left

  • Move to the right

Assessment

Expanded question options for true/false

Blackboard expanded the display options for true/false questions to include:

• True/False

• Yes/No

• Right/Wrong

• Agree/Disagree