Course Content in Blackboard App
Courses and Organizations
Instructors can access and manage all their courses and organizations directly from the Blackboard App.
To access courses:
Select Courses from the main menu.
View current, upcoming, or completed courses.
Select the star button to favorite a course.
To access organizations:
Select More from the main menu.
Select Organizations to view and manage them. These function like courses, allowing announcements, content management, and discussions.
Course status indicators:
Unavailable: Visible to instructors only.
Available: Available to all enrolled users.
Complete: Archived but still accessible. Changes can't be made to these courses.
Tip
Course visibility and advanced settings must be managed via the web browser version of Blackboard.
Courses and Organizations
The Blackboard App makes it easy to access all your courses and organizations.
To view your courses:
Select Courses button from the main menu.
Browse your Current, Completed, or Upcoming courses.
Select the star icon on a course to favorite it and move it to the top of your list.
To view organizations:
Select More from the main menu.
Select Organizations to access your enrolled organizations.
Courses may be labeled as:
Available: Available to all enrolled users.
Unavailable: Visible to instructors only.
Complete: Archived but still accessible. Changes can't be made to these courses.
Course Content
The Blackboard App supports most Ultra course content, allowing instructors to view, edit, and manage items.
To edit or delete content:
Go to Course Content.
Select the three-dot menu next to an item.
Adjust settings like title, visibility, and due dates.
To create a learning module:
Select + in Course Content.
Select Learning Module.
Add a title and description.
Select the eye button to set visibility.
To edit a module:
Select the three-dot menu next to it.
Select Edit to change title, visibility, or description.
Progress indicators (e.g., Ready, Started, Completed, Locked) are visible for students. For advanced features like sequential release or group access, use the web version.
Unsupported or advanced settings will prompt you to Edit on Web.
Course Content
You can access most course materials directly in the app, including documents, folders, and learning modules.
To view course content:
Select a course from your course list.
Navigate through folders and modules to find your materials.
Supported file types include:
Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
PDFs and other common formats
To use Ally for alternative formats:
Select the Ally icon next to a file.
Choose a format (e.g., audio, ePub, HTML).
Follow prompts to open or download the file.
Learning modules show your progress:
Items are marked as Ready, Started, Completed, or Locked.
Select a locked item to view requirements for access.
Discussions
Discussions in Ultra courses are fully supported in the app.
To start a thread:
Open a discussion from Course Overview.
Select Start Thread.
Type your message and select Start now.
To reply:
Select an existing thread.
Select Add Reply, type your message, and select again to post.
To grade discussions:
Open the discussion.
View student posts.
Assign grades and feedback.
Tip
Rubrics are only viewable in the web version. Group discussions and file attachments are not supported in the app. Discussions can be organized into folders, which are reflected in the app.
Discussions
Discussions help you engage with classmates and instructors.
To participate in a discussion:
Select Discussions in your course.
Select Start Thread to begin a new post (if allowed by instructor).
Type your message and select Start now to post.
To reply to a thread
Select an existing thread.
Select Add Reply, type your message, and select Add Reply again.
To edit or delete your post:
Select your post.
If allowed, select Edit or Delete.
For graded discussions:
Your grade appears in the Course Overview under Current Grade.
Select the grade to view feedback and your posts.
Note
Note: File attachments and group discussions are not supported in Ultra courses in the app.
Journals
Journals provide a private space for student reflection and instructor feedback.
To create a journal:
Go to Course Content.
Select +, then select Create.
Under Participation and Engagement, choose Journal.
Add a title and prompt.
Select the eye icon to set visibility.
To make it gradable:
Select the three-dot menu on the journal.
Select Settings.
Check Grade journal and configure grading options.
Select Save.
To view and grade entries:
Select the arrow next to the journal title.
Filter by Needs grading.
Select a student’s name.
Add feedback and a grade.
Select Post Grade to publish.
Journals
Journals are private spaces for reflection and communication with your instructor
To access a journal:
Select Course, then select your course.
Scroll through Course Content to find the journal.
To add a journal entry:
Select the journal.
Select Type an entry and write your thoughts.
Select Post to submit.
To edit or delete an entry:
Select the three-dot menu on your entry.
Select the pencil button to edit or the trash button to delete.
To view feedback and grades:
Select Course, then select your course.
Select Gradebook from the top menu.
Select the journal to view your grade and instructor feedback.
Messages
Course Messages allow direct communication with students within the app.
To send a message:
Open a course and select Messages.
Select New Message.
Add recipients (individuals or all members).
Enter a subject and message.
Select the paper plane button to send.
To reply:
Select a message in your inbox.
Select Reply, type your response, and send.
To attach media:
Select the paperclip button to add files.
Select the camera button to take/send a photo.
To delete a message:
Open the message.
Select the menu icon (top right).
Select Delete.
To manage notifications:
Go to Settings, then Push Notifications.
Switch message alerts ON or OFF.
Messages
Course Messages allow you to communicate with instructors and classmates.
Select your course.
Select Messages in the main menu.
Select New Message.
Add recipients, type a subject and message.
Select the paper plane button to send.
To reply to a message:
Select the message in your inbox.
Select Reply, type your message, and select the paper plane button to send.
To attach media:
Select the paperclip button to add files.
Select the camera button to take and send a photo.
To manage notifications:
Go to Settings, then Push Notifications.
Toggle message alerts ON or OFF.
To delete a message:
Open the message.
Select the menu button in the top right.
Select Delete.