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
VIDEO
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:
On the Course Content page, select the plus sign wherever you want to create content.
Depending on the location of the content, select Create Upload (for course materials locally saved on computer) .
You may also add Assessments or Participation and Engagement Tools (e.g., Discussion)
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. You can always see this main page behind a layer when on a different area or function of Blackboard. Close layers to go back to a previous spot in your course.
Original Courses Overview
VIDEO
The Original Course View includes all of the traditional workflows and depth of functions Blackboard Learn is known for.
The course menu appears on the left side of your window and is the cornerstone for the organization and navigation of your course. You create links on the course menu to present tools and materials to students.
The area after the course menu is the Control Panel . You can access the Grade Center and your file repository, and choose which course tools are available to your students. Students don’t see the Control Panel.
Your content appears in the main window to the right of the course menu. You use the functions above the main window to add content, such as Build Content and Assessments
The course menu options include Course Updates, Getting Started, Lesson Topics, Discussions, Blogs, Groups, My Grades, Tools, and Help. The function tools bar includes Build Content, Assessments, Tools, Partner Content, and Discover Content.
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.
Files
Yes
Yes
No
Files are available now in Ultra Courses
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 in Ultra allows for a reset of the room to test multiple variables easily.
Tests Yes
Yes
Yes
Tests are currently available in Ultra Courses. Types available are:
Essay
Fill in the Blank
Matching
Multiple choice (single and multiple correct)
True/False
Calculated Formula
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
No
Yes
Achievements are planned for inclusion in Ultra Courses.
Additional Attempts to students in specific Assessments Yes
Yes
Yes
This is included in Ultra Courses
Due date exceptions will be covered in a later release
Anonymous Grading Yes
Yes
Yes
Anonymous Grading is available in Learn Ultra
Additional capabilities are planned for inclusion in Learn Ultra
Audio/Video Feedback Yes
Yes
Yes
Audio/Video feedback is available for assessments and announcements
More areas are planned for inclusion in the future.
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)
Blogs Yes
No
Yes
Blogs are planned for inclusion in Ultra Courses.
Bulk Download Yes
Yes
Yes
Bulk download of assessments is now available in Ultra
Calculated Formula Yes
Yes
No
Calculated Formula test type is now available in Ultra
Calculated Numeric Yes
No
Yes
Calculated Numeric test type is being considered for inclusion 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 Builder Role Yes
No
Yes
Course Builder role is planned for inclusion in Learn Ultra
Course Link Yes
No
Yes
Course links are planned for inclusion in Ultra Courses
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
Course Structures Yes
No
No
Course Structures are not currently planned for inclusion in Ultra Courses
Course Surveys Yes
No
Yes
Course Surveys are planned for inclusion in Learn Ultra
Course Themes Yes
No
Yes
Course Themes are planned for inclusion in Learn Ultra
Date Management Yes
Yes
Yes
Date Management (known as “Batch edit due dates” is available now in Learn Ultra
Additional capabilities are planned for inclusion in 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
Discussion Analysis No
Yes
Yes
Discussion Analysis is available in Ultra Courses
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.
Embedded Insights
No
Yes
Yes
Embedded Insights are part of the Ultra Course View
Glossary Yes
No
No
Glossary is not currently planned for inclusion in Ultra Courses
Goals Yes
Yes
Yes
Goals are available now in Ultra Courses
Goal Reporting is 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
Insert Item from Web No
Yes
Yes
Ultra Courses natively embed videos from multiple websites including:
Item Analysis Yes
Yes
Yes
Called Question analysis in Ultra and is more accessible in Ultra Courses
Learning Modules Yes
Yes
Yes
Learning Modules are available now in Ultra Courses
Lesson Plans Yes
No
No
Lesson Plans are not currently planned for inclusion in Ultra Courses
Organizations Yes
Yes
Yes
Organizations are available now in Learn Ultra
Office 365/G Suite Integration Yes
Yes
Yes
Plan to continue to deepen the Office 365/ G Suite integration over time
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 now available on Ultra Courses.
Performance Dashboard Yes
No
No
Performance Dashboard is not currently planned for inclusion in Ultra Courses, many of the use cases provided by the Performance Dashboard are accommodated via Embedded Analytics.
Portfolio Yes
No
Yes
Portfolios are available now in Learn Ultra Base Navigation
Additional capabilities are planned for inclusion in 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
Ultra Course View does have a RTE. We do have plans to increase the functionality of this tool to include items such as: Emoji, Tables, and more.
Font, size and color options are now available.
Question Banks Yes
Yes
Yes
Question banks can be created/imported in Ultra.
Question Pools Yes
Yes
Yes
This is the replacement to Original’s Random Blocks and Question Sets.
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
SafeAssign Direct Submit Yes
Yes
Yes
SafeAssign Direct Submit is planned for inclusion in Ultra Courses
Score per Question Yes
Yes
No
Score per question is available now in Ultra Courses
SCORM Yes
Yes
Yes
SCORM is available now in Ultra Courses
Self and Peer Assessment Yes
No
Yes
Qualitative peer assessment is now available in Ultra Courses.
More capabilities planned in the future.
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
Video Everywhere / Browse My YouTube Videos Yes
Yes
Yes
Video Everywhere, or Browse My YouTube Videos, is called Insert YouTube Video in Ultra Courses
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
