Build Your Course

Blackboard is a learning management system (LMS) that enables instructors to deliver course content, communicate with students, administer assessments, and monitor student progress. As an instructor, you will set up your course, create materials, manage grading, and engage with your students.

Setting up your course

Complete the initial setup before your course begins for a smooth student experience. Creating a clear course structure and syllabus is strongly recommended.

Course Banner

You have the option to upload images to serve as course banners for your Blackboard Learn courses. These banners will also appear in the grid view on the Courses page in Learn’s base navigation.

There are three ways to access the course banner options panel:

1. From the course’s Main Page

   • Open your course
   • In the Details & Actions Menu on the left select Course image

   

2. From the Grid View (Base Navigation)

   • On Blackboard’s Courses page, switch to grid view if needed.
   • Hover over a course card and click the three-dot menu (…).
   • Select Edit course image.

   

3. From the Banner Area on the Course Page

   • On your course’s main page, hover over the banner
   • Select the pencil icon that appears to edit the banner

   

Course Settings

Select Course Settings at the top right corner of your Ultra course. Here, you can review and adjust settings such as course availability, language preferences, grading schema, and content visibility.

Settings include:

• Course Access
• Course Tools
• Student Visibility
• Mastery Gradebook

Course Access

You can control several areas related to your course’s access for students.

Manage Course Duration

Course Duration refers to the timeframe in which students can interact with a course. Some courses allow continuous access, while others have specific restrictions that limit when students can access them. The Course Duration options control these access settings.

You have the option to adjust the Course Duration settings for your Ultra courses, provided you are assigned the Instructor or Teaching Assistant role. To do this, select "Course Settings" in the top right corner of your Ultra course. From the drop-down menu, adjust the following options as needed:

1. Ongoing: No restrictions on access.
2. Restrict by dates: Set specific start and end dates and times for student access.
3. Restrict by number of days from enrollment: Choose a specific number of days, after enrollment, during which students can access the course.
4. Restricted by the start and end dates of the associated term: This option is available only if a term has been defined for the course.

Manage Course Access

You can manage the Course Access settings through the Course Settings page.

• Open Course: When you select a course as open, it will still appear in the course listing, and the students will be able to access it.
• Closed Course: When you select a course as closed, it will still appear in the course listing, but students will not be able to access it. If the Close Course option is not selected, the course remains open, allowing students to access it. This function was previously called Open/Private and was found in the Details & Actions panel.
• Complete Course: Once a course is marked as completed, students can view the content but cannot participate. Additionally, after marking a course as complete, you will no longer be able to make any changes to it.

You can access the Course Settings from the Courses page by clicking the three-dot menu.

Roster: Review your student list to view the total number of students and their names.

Course Roles: System administrators create most course roles. However, if you have a teaching assistant, grader, or other collaborator for your course, you can add them.

Creating course content and assessments

It is strongly recommended to build your course content and assessments before the term begins. This will ensure alignment with your learning objectives and reduce last-minute stress. You can still add or modify materials at any time.

You can create course content and assessments in several ways:

1. Import items from other sources, including Blackboard Original or another learning management system (LMS).
2. Copy items from a previous course using the Course Copy tool.
3. Create new content from scratch.

Once you have finished setting up your course and creating the necessary content and assessments, take the time to review it before it becomes available to students. Use Student Preview mode to test the course from a student's perspective.

Grade settings and grading assessments

You can adjust the Grade Settings in your Gradebook at any time during the semester. Some options are found in the Assessment Settings or Test Settings panels when creating or editing an assessment or test.

You can start grading as soon as students submit their work. To keep students informed and engaged, it's important to grade their assessments regularly and provide timely feedback.

Interacting with students

Regular interaction enhances engagement and supports student success. Blackboard provides several tools to help you stay connected:

• Announcements: Share updates, reminders, and weekly overviews. You can schedule these in advance to maintain regular communication.
• Messages: Communicate privately within the course. Encourage students to use this channel for any course-related questions.
• Discussions: Facilitate conversations across the entire class. Use discussions to promote peer interaction and critical thinking.
• Collaborate or Teams: Host live sessions, virtual office hours, or group meetings.

These tools can significantly improve the learning experience and foster a supportive classroom environment.