Many tools in Blackboard Ultra have different names or features to those in Blackboard Original in order to reduce technical language. The table below shows some of these terminology changes.
| Blackboard Original | Blackboard Ultra | Features details |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive release | Content release conditions | Allows instructor to set conditions for when an item is visible to students, based on date, time, performance and group membership. |
| Course reports/retention centre | Analytics | The analytic tab contains details of course activity, SCORM reports and question analysis. |
| Date management | Batch edit | Batch edit allows instructors to set visibility and due date across multiple items on course or delete several course content items in one go. Given its potential to affect large volumes of content at once, it should be used with caution. |
| Discussion board | Discussions | Discussions may be used for graded assessment or formative discussion. Discussions have been improved and students can now be prevented from seeing other posts before adding their contribution. |
| Enable anonymous marking | Hide student names | Use of the anonymous marking feature should be considered carefully at present and users should read our Blackboard Online (Anonymous) workflow. |
| Enable delegated marking | Two markers per student/delegated marking | This allows instructors to assign specific users to mark particular assignment submissions. This feature should be used with caution and we would recommend against using it where possible, as it adds further complexity to to assessment workflows and moderation processes. Alternatives are available for non-anonymous marking workflows. |
| Emails | Messages | This feature enables instructors to send quick messages to students wherever they see a need for it, without having to use an external messaging system. It is strongly advised not to use messages in connection with any assessments as essential information may be missed. |
| Extra time (AeA time) | Accommodations (new feature) | |
| Exempt mark | Exemptions | This allows instructors to exempt a student from an assessed activity. Note: This is very different from the exception facility. |
| Folders | Folders | These can be used at the top and second level of a course’s structure. A top level Folder or Learning Module can contain a Folder. This Folder can’t contain another folder. |
| Forced sequence | This feature allows the instructor to set a sequence on learning module so that students progress through it in a particular order. | |
| Grade Centre | Gradebook | The gradebook contains a number of changes. It is no longer possible hide columns from student view without also hiding the submission point. |
| Item analysis | Question analysis | |
| Items | Creating documents | Documents allow instructors to embed files, upload files, add HTML, convert files or create knowledge checks. |
| Learning module | Learning module | This has changed substantially and is now an important building block at the top-level of a course’s structure. A learning module can contain folders and various resources, but can’t itself be contained in anything. |
| Password | Access code | Access codes for assessment may be set in the assessment settings. |
| Peer and self-assessment | Peer review | |
| Question pools | Question banks | Question banks can be used to create a repository of questions to use across multiple courses. |
| Review status | Progress tracking | Allows instructors to view which content items students have viewed/interacted with. Progress is visible at top level. This can be used as content release. conditions. |
| Random Blocks/Question set | Question pools | Question pools create a repository of questions to use within a specific course only. |
| Release marks | Post marks | |
| Survey | Forms | Forms can be used for feedback collection. Question types include essay questions, likert questions, Multiple choice questions, and True/False questions. |
| Users | Class register/roster | This shows everyone enrolled in the module including staff. Staff who are set as ‘primary instructors’ appear at the top of the ‘course staff list. |
Further terminology may be viewed on Blackboard’s Terminology Highlights page.