Getting Started

Blackboard supports multiple authentication methods to help institutions securely manage user access. The authentication framework outlines the available authentication types and how they integrate with your institution’s identity systems.

Go to Authentication Framework for more details.

Go to Common Questions about Authentication Planning for common questions.

Effective authentication planning ensures that users can access Blackboard securely and reliably. This topic helps administrators evaluate their institution’s needs and choose the most appropriate authentication strategy.

Go to Authentication Planning for more detailed information.

System roles determine which sections of the administrator panel are accessible to different users. Most users have a system role of None, which means they don’t have access to the administrator panel.

System roles can be used to assign specific administrative privileges to users, allowing them to perform routine tasks. For example, an instructor can be granted access to user management pages to create users, edit profiles, or change course enrollments. Only users with full administrator privileges can assign these roles.

For details on creating and managing, go to System Roles.

Academic terms organize courses by semester, quarter, or other institutional cycles. Course templates provide a consistent structure for new courses, streamlining setup and ensuring alignment with institutional standards.

See Managing Course Terms and Access for instructions for manually creating or editing course terms. To creating courses, navigate to Create Courses.

Automating course creation saves time and reduces errors by syncing with your institution’s student information system (SIS) or by using batch file uploads. The following topics guide you through planning and implementing these automation methods. 

SIS integration allows Blackboard to communicate with your institution’s SIS, enabling automated course creation, enrollment, and updates. Planning this integration helps ensure a smooth setup and ongoing reliability. Go to SIS Planning

Snapshot Flat File is one method used in SIS integration. It involves uploading structured data files to create and manage courses and enrollments in bulk. For more information, go to Snapshot Flat File.

Batch file creation allows administrators to upload multiple courses at once using formatted files. This method is useful for institutions that prefer manual bulk creation over SIS integration. Go to Create Courses with Batch Files.

Set course availability and enrollment rules Controlling course availability and enrollment rules ensures that students and instructors have access to the right courses at the right time. These settings help manage visibility, access dates, and enrollment permissions. Go to Managing Course Terms and Access.

Enrolling users in courses is a key administrative task. This includes assigning instructors, students, teaching assistants, and other roles to the appropriate courses. Go to Enroll Instructors, Students, and Other Users.

Blackboard allows administrators to import users in bulk using batch files or through integration with a student information system (SIS). These methods streamline user creation and reduce manual data entry.

SIS integration enables automated user management by syncing Blackboard with your institution’s SIS. This ensures that user data remains consistent and up to date. 

Snapshot Flat File is a format used in SIS integration to upload user data in bulk. It provides a structured way to manage users, courses, and enrollments. Go to Snapshot Flat File.

Institutional roles (for example, instructor, student) define a user’s function within the Blackboard system. These roles determine what users can access and how they interact with courses. Go to Institution Roles to learn about the roles and to Roles and Privileges for how privileges work within roles.

Delegated administration enables institutions to distribute administrative responsibilities without granting full system access. This is useful for assigning limited administrative tasks to specific users while maintaining overall system security. Go to System Roles.

Administrators can enable or disable these tools based on institutional needs and licensing agreements. 

Go to Manage Tools.

Managing content storage helps institutions maintain system performance and ensure efficient use of resources. Administrators can set quotas for individual courses and limit file upload sizes to prevent excessive storage use.

For information on limiting course size, go to Best Practice: Limit Course Size. 

Set quotas to restrict how much content can be stored in each course. Go to Individual Course Quotas. 

Control the maximum file size that users can upload to Blackboard. Go to File size upload limit. 

The Learning Object Repository allows institutions to store reusable learning materials that can be shared across courses and departments. Go to Learning Object Repository. 

The content collection is a central repository for storing and sharing files across courses and users. It supports version control, permissions, and institutional file management. Go to Content Collection.

Blackboard supports Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI), which enables seamless integration with external applications such as Turnitin, Zoom, Panopto, and others. These integrations enhance the learning experience by connecting Blackboard with widely used educational tools.

To add an LTI tool, go to Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI).

To manage LTI tools, go to Managing LTIs.

To add LTI tools to courses, go to Add Content from External Sources.

Institution branding allows you to tailor Blackboard’s appearance to reflect your organization’s identity. This includes logos, color schemes, and other visual elements that reinforce institutional presence across the platform. Go to Institution Branding. 

Customizing the login page ensures that users are greeted with institution-specific messaging and branding when accessing Blackboard. This can include logos, background images, and helpful links. Go to Customize the Login Page.

Base navigation provides a modern, streamlined interface that improves usability and access to core features like courses, grades, and messages. Setting up base navigation helps users navigate Blackboard more efficiently. Go to Base Navigation.

System logs and health dashboards provide visibility into the operational status of your Blackboard environment. These tools help administrators identify issues, monitor performance, and ensure system uptime. Go to Logs.

Blackboard regularly updates its SaaS environment, typically on a monthly basis. These updates include new features, enhancements, and bug fixes. Staying informed about release notes helps administrators prepare for changes and communicate updates to stakeholders. Go to Release Notes for Blackboard.

Users may encounter login issues due to incorrect credentials, browser settings, or system configuration. Go to Log in to Blackboard.

Blackboard provides multiple channels for feedback and support. Administrators can report issues, request assistance, and access help resources to ensure smooth operation of the Blackboard environment. Go to Feedback and Support for Blackboard.

System administrators often serve as the first line of support for instructors and students. This includes managing help desk tickets, troubleshooting issues, and escalating problems when necessary. Go to Anthology Global Support - Teaching and Learning.

Anthology Illuminate is a powerful analytics platform that integrates with Blackboard to provide insights into student success, course performance, and institutional trends. It supports data visualization and reporting for administrators and educators.

Anthology Adopt is a premium tool that allows institutions to gain insights into Blackboard usage and take action through in-app messages, digital walkthrough guides, and tooltips. Users with privileges can create messages, guides, and tutorials for Blackboard features used by instructors and students. You can choose from a library of pre-created and regularly updated guides or create and customize your own.   

A license for Anthology Adopt helps highlight new Blackboard features, streamline workflows, and deliver customizable in-app communications for richer engagement. It also includes access to expert support. Go to Anthology Adopt.  

On Anthology Adopt’s Community Hub, you can retrieve guides created by Anthology, as well as share your own guides with other customers.

Archiving and exporting courses preserve instructional content and user data for future reference, audits, or reuse. These tasks help institutions maintain records and comply with data retention policies. Go to Archive Courses.

Export and Import Courses Exporting courses allows administrators to save course packages for reuse or transfer. Importing enables the restoration of course content into new or existing shells. To export or import courses, go to Export and Import Courses.

Reviewing system settings and institutional policies ensures that Blackboard remains aligned with academic goals, compliance requirements, and operational standards.

Preparing for the next term involves creating new academic structures, refreshing course content, and communicating updates to faculty and staff. Tip: Provide training sessions or quick start guides for instructors returning for the new term.