BU currently supports Blackboard Learn in two formats: Original course view and Ultra course view. The Blackboard Ultra course view ("Blackboard Ultra" or simply, "Ultra") is the newer version with more accessible and mobile-friendly features. The whole university will need to be in Ultra course view by the end of December 2026.

This page is dedicated to providing an overview of the differences between the two formats, and highlights Ultra features to help faculty and staff transition to this newer version.

Ultra Courses Overview

In the Ultra Course View, workflows are simplified (fewer clicks), a modern look and feel, and a fully responsive interface on all devices. All course content now appears on the main page (Content tab).

One of Ultra's key feature is the design, creation, and placement of content all happen on the same page called Course Content. Here's how to add any type of course content:

1. On the Course Content page, select the plus (+) sign wherever you want to create content.
2. Depending on the location of the content, select Create (for Blackboard activities such as Assignments, Tests, and Discussions), Upload (for course materials locally saved on your computer), or Content Market (for LTIs such as Pronto and Turnitin).

Most content items, such as folders and assignments, have a menu with options. When you open a piece of content, it slides out in a layer on top of the Course Content page. Close layers to go back to a previous spot in your course.

Blackboard Learn Original vs Ultra Feature Comparison

Basic Features

Feature Name	In Original Course?	In Ultra Course?	More Planned for the Ultra Course?	Notes
Adaptive Release (‘Conditional Release’ in Ultra)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Date and time, force sequence (within Learning Modules) and performance based release are available now in Ultra Courses Conditional release by users and groups now available in Ultra Courses
Add a blank page	Yes	Yes	Yes	Blank pages are called Documents in Ultra.
Add item or page	Yes	Yes	Yes	Additional capabilities are planned for inclusion in Ultra Courses
Announcements (Course Level)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Text editor added to course announcements. Announcements can now be sent by email. Audio video content can now be added to announcements. Additional capabilities are planned for inclusion in Ultra Courses.
Assignments	Yes	Yes	Yes	Assignments are available in Ultra Courses
Attendance	Yes	Yes	Yes	Learn Ultra currently supports the attendance feature
Calendar	Yes	Yes	Yes	Calendar is available now in Learn Ultra Links added to calendar Calendar - export is available now in Learn Ultra and will synch with the Learn calendar 8 times a day Calendar - import is not yet available in Learn Ultra
Content Editor	Yes	Yes	Yes	The Content Editor is available now in Learn Ultra Additional capabilities are planned for inclusion in Learn Ultra
Course Messages	Yes	Yes	Yes	Course Messages are available now in Learn Ultra More capabilities are planned for inclusion in Ultra Courses
Discussions	Yes	Yes	Yes	Discussions are available now in Learn Ultra Additional capabilities are planned for inclusion in Learn Ultra
Email	Yes	Yes	Yes	Instructors may send Messages to students via Email (SMTP) Receiving notifications via Email (SMTP) is available in Ultra now.
Folders	Yes	Yes	No	Folders are available now in Ultra Courses
Grade Center	Yes	Yes	Yes	Grade Center (“Gradebook” in Ultra Courses) is available now in Ultra Courses Student list view of the Gradebook is available now in Ultra Courses
Groups	Yes	Yes	Yes	Groups are available now in Ultra Courses for Assignments, Tests, and Discussions. Additional capabilities are planned for inclusion in Ultra Courses
Items	Yes	Yes	Yes	Items (“Documents” in Ultra Courses) are available now in Ultra Courses
Journals	Yes	Yes	Yes	Journals (graded and non-graded) are available now in Ultra Courses
Rubrics	Yes	Yes	Yes	Rubrics are available now in Ultra Courses Additional capabilities are planned for inclusion in Ultra Courses
Student Preview	Yes	Yes	Yes	Student Preview is available in Ultra Courses
Tests	Yes	Yes	Yes	Tests are currently available in Ultra Courses. Additional capabilities are planned for inclusion in Ultra Courses

Advanced Features

Feature Name	In Original Course?	In Ultra Course?	More Planned for the Ultra Course?	Notes
Achievements	Yes	Yes	Yes	Achievements are available in Ultra Courses.
Anonymous Grading	Yes	Yes	Yes	Anonymous Grading is available in Ultra courses Additional capabilities are planned for inclusion in Ultra
Audio/Video Feedback	Yes	Yes	Yes	Audio/Video feedback is available for submissions
Batch (Bulk) Edit	No	Yes	Yes	Available now in Ultra with a more streamlined workflow
Blackboard Mobile App	Yes	Yes	N/A	Available now for Learn Ultra (formerly called Bb Student)
Bulk Download	Yes	Yes	Yes	Bulk download of assessments is now available in Ultra
Calculated Formula	Yes	Yes	No	Calculated Formula question type is now available in Ultra
Calculated Numeric	Yes	No	Yes	Calculated Numeric question type is now available in Ultra
Contacts	Yes	No	No	Contacts are not currently planned for inclusion in Learn Ultra
Content Collection	Yes	Yes	Yes	Content Collection is available now in Learn Ultra Additional capabilities are planned for inclusion in Learn Ultra
Course Reports	Yes	Yes	Yes	Course Reports (“Student Activity” in Ultra Courses) are available now in Learn Ultra The exact details of the reports vary between Learn Original and Ultra courses
Decimal Points in Tests	Yes	Yes	No	Decimal points in tests is now supported in Ultra
Delegated Grading	Yes	Yes	Yes	Delegated Grading is available now in Learn Ultra Additional capabilities are planned for inclusion in Learn Ultra
Dropping Grades	Yes	Yes	Yes	Now in Ultra Courses, users will be able to drop X grades within a category when using the overall grade calculation by categories.
Glossary	Yes	No	No	Glossary is not currently planned for inclusion in Ultra Courses
Grade Center Filter and Search	No	Yes	Yes	Ultra Course view allows for quick searches and rapid filter options. Advanced filters are now included in Ultra Courses.
Groups - Manual Enrollment	Yes	Yes	No	Manual group enrollment is available in Ultra
Groups - Random Enrollment	Yes	Yes	No	Random group enrollment is available in Ultra
Groups - Self-Enrollment	Yes	Yes	Yes	Self-enrollment is available in Ultra
Learning Modules	Yes	Yes	Yes	Learning Modules are available in Ultra Courses
Lesson Plans	Yes	No	No	Lesson Plans are not currently planned for inclusion in Ultra Courses
Parallel Grading	Yes	Yes	Yes	Ultra parallel grading offers improved workflows Additional capabilities are planned for inclusion in Ultra Courses
Password Protected Assessments	Yes	Yes	Yes	Access code functionality is available on Ultra Courses.
Progress Tracking	Yes	Yes	Yes	Called Review status in Original Students able to mark their progress inside Ultra Courses. Additional capabilities are planned for inclusion in Ultra Courses
Rich Text Editor (RTE)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Font, size and color options are available.
Question Banks	Yes	Yes	Yes	Question banks can be created/imported in Ultra.
Question Regrading	Yes	Yes	Yes	Question regrading is available in Ultra Courses
SafeAssign	Yes	Yes	Yes	SafeAssign is available for Assignments and Essay questions in Tests in Ultra Courses
Score per Question	Yes	Yes	No	Score per question is available in Ultra Courses
SCORM	Yes	Yes	Yes	SCORM is available in Ultra Courses
Tasks	Yes	No	No	Tasks are not currently planned for inclusion in Learn Ultra
Tests - Additional Time	No	Yes	Yes	Available in Ultra with options of 50%, 100%, and Unlimited
Web Link	Yes	Yes	No	Web Links (HTTP/HTTPS/LTI) are currently available in Ultra Courses
Wikis	Yes	No	No	Wikis are not planned for inclusion in Ultra Courses