Blackboard Learn Ultra is the latest version of Blackboard Learn which is now used by many higher education institutions and provides a greatly improved student and staff experience. Blackboard Ultra has a more intuitive, streamlined interface, improved navigation, mobile-friendly access, and enhanced tools for course management. There is also a focus on engagement and use of an AI Design Assistant.
The Digital Learning Team is supporting a move to Blackboard Ultra with the institution moving fully by the start of academic year 2025/26.
How is Blackboard Ultra used for teaching and learning?
Blackboard Learn Ultra will eventually supersede Blackboard Learn Original and be used for all UWE teaching and learning, and module delivery. Ultra allows UWE to benefit from the new or enhanced features and functionality being released on a monthly basis for Ultra. It also offers the ability to set up better integrations with third-party tools that extends opportunities for you to use digitally enabled learning.
Key features
Easier to use than Blackboard Original, especially on mobile devices. New features include integrated assessment tools, automated grading, real-time collaboration through Class Conversations, and progress tracking for students. A new course content search function helps staff and students quickly find materials within the course.
Get started
The Digital Learning Team have developed a training course titled ‘How to get your module ready in Ultra’ which provides detailed information on all aspects of Ultra from navigation, to copying content, to creating assessment activities. This course has been designed to allow you to access information as and when necessary, while also experiencing the Ultra environment. You can self-enrol on the course now.
Support
Further updates on Blackboard Ultra will be available in the coming months. In the meantime, to find out more about Ultra, visit our UWE Blackboard Ultra page and our Blackboard Ultra FAQs (UWE login required) and Anthology’s Blackboard Ultra guidance site. We have created a Blackboard Ultra User community on Microsoft Teams which offers a space to ask questions about all aspects of Ultra, including module design. Join the community here.
Training
A suite of staff development opportunities and training is available to support the move to Blackboard Ultra courses. This includes dedicated training sessions, workshops, drop-in sessions, online self-access resources and guides. See the list of available sessions here. The Learning and Development Centre’s ‘Getting Started with Blackboard Ultra’ course is now available – to book a place, please login to MyLearning.
“Moving to Ultra is like shifting from your Blackboard being a storeroom to a classroom. It’s about seeing this space as being an extension of your learning and teaching environment, but in a very efficient way.”
A new Ultra user
Comment shared by Blackboard Anthology
Get involved in the Blackboard Ultra project at UWE
If you would like to be involved, please contact the Digital Learning Team. There are opportunities to support in the six workstream areas: Training, Communication, Process investigation, Assessment, Learning Design, and Evaluation and Feedback.