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Base Navigation

The Base Navigation change in Blackboard
was the first step in upgrading the system.

It provided you with a new way to access courses, organizations, and enabled tools for making it easier for you to navigate Blackboard.

However, the actual course view remained
in the original format until a later update or conversion.

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Ultra Course View

The Ultra Course View will change the way
Blackboard course's look and feel as well
as how they are utilized.

It requires extensive training for faculty
to get familiarwith the new features and functionalities.

• Courses with the Ultra Course View.
• Original course view will no longer 
be available for new courses.         
• Existing courses will not be              
automatically converted.                

More Information

Frequently Asked Questions

• How will my old Blackboard courses get into Ultra?

• You can use the course copy feature to convert your course content from the old to the Ultra. When completed, each course typically preserves most of the content and structure of the original course. It is strongly recommended to check the converted course thoroughly for any discrepancies or missing content.

  • It is recommended for you to consult with their college liaison from Instruction & Research Technology (IRT) or to watch a video on strategies for copying or importing existing old content into new Ultra courses. This will help ensure a smooth and successful transition to the Ultra format. If you have any further questions or concerns, you can reach out to Jae Kim at kimj@wpunj.edu or 973-720-2937 for assistance.
  • You have given access to multiple training opportunities to learn how to use the Ultra Course View in Blackboard. Providing access to a self-directed training shell and a sandbox environment for hands-on experimentation can also be very helpful in getting familiar with the new interface and tools. 
  • It is important for you to plan ahead and make sure your courses are converted to the Ultra format prior to the next offering. If you will be teaching in the Fall 2023, you are encouraged to start working on your courses during the Spring/Summer 2023. It is a good idea as it gives you enough time to familiarize yourself with the Ultra format and make any necessary updates or modifications to your courses. 
  • Courses for the Fall 2023 will be available in the system after the week of May 8th. If you want to start working on your courses early, you can open a help ticket to request additional course shells. 

  College Liaisons

  • College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences: Ming Jian
  • Cotsakos College of Business: Housen Maratouk
  • College of Education: Sena Bulak
  • College of Science and Health: Jae Kim

• When will Fall 2023 courses be created?

• Courses for the Fall 2023 will be available after the week of May 8th. If you want to start working on their courses earlier, you can open a help ticket to request additional course shells. This will provide you with additional time to familiarize with the Ultra format and make any necessary updates or modifications to your course content.

• I don't teach Fall 2023. When will Spring 2024 courses be available?

• Courses for the Spring 2024 will be available after the week of October 9th. If you want to start working on their courses earlier, you can open a help ticket to request additional course shells. This will give you extra time to get familiar with the Ultra format and make any necessary updates or modifications to their course content.

• Can I copy content from Blackboard Original (old) to Ultra?

• Yes, you can copy course content from an old (original) to an Ultra course. You may want to consider the following:

  1. Consult with your college liaison for guidance on the best way to copy your course content.

  2. Watch a video on how to copy course content between old (original) and Ultra.

  These steps will help ensure a smooth and successful transition of your course content to the Ultra format.

  * You will start course copy from the Ultra course shell. It is different from what you used to do the course copy.

  ** When you copy content from an old (original) course to an Ultra course, you may receive a lot of errors that occurred during the copy process. It's recommended to examine each error individually and understand what caused it. In most cases, errors are related to formatting issues (colors, styles, sizes, etc.). If the error is not related to formatting and the content is not available in the Ultra Course View, it's best to ignore it. This will help you to avoid any unnecessary complications during the transition process.

• How long will Blackboard Old (Original) courses be accessible?

• Blackboard courses remain available for two years after their creation. After two years, the courses are archived in a safe location and removed from Blackboard.

  If you need access to a previously archived course, you can request a restoration by opening a ticket through the Web Helpdesk. The default option is to restore all the content from the old course shell. This way, you can retrieve all the materials and resources that were part of your original course.

• What type of training will be available for learning to use Ultra?

• The Center for Teaching with Technology is offering various training opportunities for you to learn the Ultra Course View. You have enrolled in the "Blackboard Learn Ultra Self-Paced Training" site, which can be found in the Courses menu in Base Navigation.

  In addition to the self-paced training, there are also webinar-style trainings available in both shorter and longer formats. You can learn more about the training opportunities by visiting the IRT website.

  If you need individualized assistance or would like to request a group training for your department, you can submit a consultation request through the Web Helpdesk or reach out to your college liaison for assistance. This will ensure that you have the support and resources you need to effectively transition to the Ultra Course View.

• Will Blackboard organizations be moving to Ultra?

• Blackboard organizations will remain in the Blackboard Original format as long as they are being used. These organizations will not be required to convert to Ultra. However, if you want to convert the organization shell into Ultra format, please contact Jae Kim for assistance. All new organizations that will be created after Fall 2023 will be in the Ultra format.

  For the organization shells for students, CTT has started reaching out to leaders about converting their sites to Ultra to reduce student confusion regarding the different formats. This will help ensure that all student-centered organizations are consistent in their use of technology and provide a more streamlined user experience for students.