Adopt Ultra

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Blackboard Ultra is the latest learning management system (LMS) experience designed to streamline teaching and learning through a modern, intuitive, and mobile-friendly interface. Ultra is now available for course instructors to adopt.

Quick Links: What's New in Ultra

Overview

Ultra offers a simplified and consistent navigation experience for both instructors and students. It includes powerful tools like the AI Design Assistant, flexible grading workflows, and a redesigned content editor that supports more efficient course management. With built-in analytics and accessibility features, Ultra empowers educators to create inclusive and data-informed learning environments. Ultra extends the benefits of the Ultra Base Navigation to courses with cleaner, more modern design. 

Request Ultra

We are currently operating in "dual course mode," so all courses are created in Original Course View by default.

Existing users

If you are course instructor currently using Ultra in previous semesters, contact us to bulk convert your live course shells into Ultra. We also encourage you to reach out if you have any feature requests, or feedback to share with Blackboard.

New users

For courses instructors new to Ultra, you can request a sandbox course to experiment, or convert your live course.

For those interested in adopting this new experience their live, active courses, we can place your course in Ultra Preview mode, to help you review the experience. If you already have content within this course, the preview mode allows you to review the recommendations of what content will convert, and what will not convert, before you commit to a permanent conversion of your course. View this video for an overview to ‘Try the Ultra Course View.’

Important Notice:

  • You will not be able to revert your course if you upgrade to Ultra. This is a permanent change. 
  • We recommend making limited changes as any changes you make to your course while in the Ultra preview.
  • You can either permanently convert the course to Ultra, or stay with the Original version. Select the course view you want in the bar the bottom of the window.
  • If you choose to permanently convert your course to Ultra, the changes you made during the preview are saved. This includes student data.
  • Conversions are recommended before any student data has been added, and only possible if a course is unavailable. 

Contact Us to Request Ultra

Key Benefits

 

There are a number of new features only available in Ultra Course View, such as: 

AI Design Assistant: Leverages advanced AI to help instructors with various course design tasks, including finding royalty-free images, creating learning modules, making rubrics, creating question banks, and designing assessments. It can also generate AI images.  

AI Conversations: A new assessment type that asks students to think critically through dynamic "Socratic Questioning or Role Play" scenarios, which can be auto-generated.

Documents with Advanced Editor: Replaces older "Blank Page" and "Item" types, allowing instructors to combine text, media, and files into a single, accessible, and structured course page. This includes support for dividers, block styling, and an image block, enabling more visually appealing and organized content. Files can be uploaded, then embedded inline, or converted into a web-like pages within the course.

AI-Generated Knowledge Checks within Documents: Instructors can embed real-time comprehension checks directly into their learning materials, providing immediate feedback to students. 

Improved Grading Interface: The grading interface called Flexible Grading is designed to display more of a student's work, making it easier for instructors to review submissions comprehensively. 

Progress Tracking: This tool provides a way for students to monitor their own progress through their coursework, marking content as reviewed.

Student Activity Log: Offers detailed tracking of student interactions within the course, providing granular insights into engagement.

Blackboard Ultra keeps familiar tools like Roster, Course Groups, Attendance, Announcements, and Student Preview, but organizes them in a way that supports clearer navigation and more intentional teaching. Rather than replicating every feature from the Original View, Ultra emphasizes simplicity, consistency, and student focus—helping instructors create more engaging, accessible, and manageable learning experiences.

Navigate Inside an Ultra Course

Blackboard Ultra regularly receives features and updates, often monthly, with new features, enhancements, and bug fixes. These updates are also shared with course instructors through a monthly pop-up.

What's New In Ultra

Training

Throughout this site includes resources to learn and use Blackboard Ultra. Here are some key resource to get started: 

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