Observer Role in Blackboard Learn

The Observer role is a type of user account that has authorized access to observe academic performance in Blackboard Learn Ultra. An observer account is associated to a student to view their grade performance, and a students’ last date of access to a course. This Observer role is currently approved for Athletics advising staff due to their specific reporting requirements.

What can Observers access in a course?

  • Observers are only able to view a student’s “My Grades” area for the students they are associated to. They will not be able to view grades for any other students in the course.
  • Observer can access a students’ “last date of access” information for each course that has enabled Observer access.
  • By default, an observer cannot access course content areas unless granted.
  • Observers are unable to interact with courses or make changes in any way on behalf of the student.
  • Observers can only access Original Course View courses.
Observer View of a Course

How can you review if you have observers in a course?

  • Instructors can see which students have Observer roles linked to them by viewing Users (Users and Groups in the Course Menu) in the course, and the observers will be listed in the Observer column.
Observers associated to a student