Messages
The Messages tool in Blackboard Learn Ultra provides direct, internal communication between instructors and students within a course.
It can be accessed from the global navigation menu or from within any individual course. Using this tool, users can send messages to specific individuals, groups, or the entire class. All communication stays inside Blackboard—messages are not delivered to external email accounts. This makes the tool ideal for quick, streamlined communication related to course activities, reminders, and updates.
Journals
Journals are a personal space for you to communicate privately with your instructor. You can also use a journal as a self-reflective tool to post your opinions, ideas, and concerns about your course, or discuss and analyze course-related materials.
Your instructor may choose to make journal entries public, which means all members of the course can view every entry. You can read what other students wrote and build on those ideas.
In the group area, all group members can view and comment on each other’s journal entries.
Your instructor can grade group journals and apply the grade to every member of the course group.
If your instructor added due dates, it is considered a graded journal. You can access graded journals from your Grades pages, the calendar, and the activity stream, but you can also find your journals on the Course Content page. An icon appears next to the title to indicate a new activity.
You are free to create as many journal entries as you like. Additionally, you can comment on journal entries. After your instructor comments on an entry, feel free to add your comment to continue the discussion.
You can easily edit or delete comments and journal entries. To do this, open the menu for the specific entry or comment and select Edit or Delete. Please note that if you or your instructor deletes an entry, all associated comments will also be removed.
Groups
Instructors can create group assignments, tests, and discussions that allow you to collaborate with other students. They can either enroll you in groups or ask you to join them.
To access your groups, go to the Groups page by selecting “Groups” on your course’s main page. Your group name will be displayed under the corresponding group set name. Click the arrow next to the group set name to expand the list of groups. If your teacher has allowed you to self-enroll in a group, click the “Join” button, located next to each group's name.
Discussions
In discussions, you can share thoughts and ideas about class materials. In Blackboard, course members can have the thoughtful discussions that take place in the traditional classroom, but with the advantages of asynchronous communication. Participants don't need to be in the same location or time zone, and you can take the time to consider your responses carefully.
To access the discussions panel and write your thoughts, go to the Discussions tab. Your instructor can create group discussions for you to discuss a topic with your classmates. If your instructor added due dates for graded discussions, you can access discussions from your Grades page, the calendar, and the Activity page.
To post a response, click on the text editor and write your thoughts on the given topic.