This Spring Term, we rolled out Blackboard Ultra Base Navigation, which improved the look and functionality of the main navigation menu in Blackboard. But UBN is only half of Blackboard Ultra. The other component is called Blackboard Ultra Course View. Course View integrates the features of UBN into your actual course shells, helping add some modern tools and make everything easier to use and more up-to-date.
We are currently piloting Course View and don’t yet have a firm date as to when it will be start to be implemented on a wider scale, but we thought it might be useful to help you learn a bit about it before we get there so you know what’s coming.
What Is Changing with Course View?
Some of the biggest changes with regard to how courses function have already happened with the shift to Ultra Base Navigation, like in-course messages and an up-to-the-minute activity stream. Ultra Course View expands on these features and offers a more modern experience overall.
One of the most noticeable changes is that many of the most common Blackboard tasks are easier to accomplish in Ultra Course View. Things like adding course content, grading, and sending messages take fewer clicks to accomplish. Both students and faculty alike should notice an improvement in overall ease of use when we do migrate to Ultra Course View.
There are a couple of points to note, however. Ultra Course View does limit the ability to customize courses and some features (like blogs or surveys, for example) may not yet have been added to Ultra Course View. This will mean shifting how some courses operate or finding workarounds.
We don’t want to sound too negative, however! Most of the changes in Ultra Course View should be incredibly positive and there are lots of new features you’ll gain access to:
- Add content anywhere
- Drag and drop
- Improved text editor
- Conversations for student questions
- Grade posting delay
- Universal accommodations for assessments
- Course announcement pop-ups
And more! In short, there’s a lot to look forward to and we think overall you’ll find Ultra to be a better Blackboard experience.
In Summary
Ultra Course View is still a ways off for Instructors at COD but we want you to know that it’s on the horizon! Some of your peers are already taking it for a test drive this semester and based on their feedback we will be able to put together a more firm timeline and develop some comprehensive training materials.
Learning Technologies will be providing training and support throughout the transition process, so you’ll never have to go it alone! If you have any questions, send us an email or check out some of the informational content Blackboard has about Ultra Course View.
