Using the Document tool
Documents allow you to combine a variety of materials to view together. For example, this can include:
Introductory text to a lesson plan or a description of a video
Multimedia (images, videos)
Powerpoint slides (as a PDF or PPT file)
Web resources
When students click on the Document title, the materials you added are all presented together on one page. Students see the content just as you see it, without the editing options.
Note: The longer your content item is, the more your students have to scroll to see all the other materials in the content area. Consider organizing content into separate Documents if this is an issue
Create a Document
On the Course Content page, click on a
wherever you want to add a Document (in the main Course Content page, folder, or a Learning module). In the menu, select
Create to open the Create Item panel and select Document.
3. After the New Document page opens, name the Document by clicking on the pencil icon
On the Course Content page, the title appears as the link students click on to view the materials. If you don't add a title, New Document and the date appear in the content list.
4. Select a type of content to add a block.
Content - Content editor appears with options to add text, images, videos, etc.
HTML - You can write or paste HTML code into the editor and select Save.
File upload - Browse for files or drag files from your computer.
Cloud upload - Insert files from Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or Box
Content Collection - Insert files from your current or a previous course
Image - Upload an image from your device or choose an Unsplash photo.
Convert a file - Upload pdf, pptx, doc, and other file types and convert into inline Document content. Converted content should be reviewed for accuracy.
Knowledge checks - Knowledge checks allows students to check their knowledge of content in Documents and receive immediate feedback via Multiple choice/answer questions. Instructors can see metrics in their view.
Student profile for a Knowledge Check
Knowledge Check metrics for instructors
5. Add more content by selecting the “add” icon wherever you want to add more content. Note that the appears on the top left as well as on the horizontal borders of existing content.
6. Edit, reorder, and delete section of documents
Click on the three dots (…) to make more changes.
Move a section up and down within a document by clicking on the ↑↓ arrows. You will hovering close to three dots.
Add new sections by clicking on the
where you would like the new section to appear.
7. You can create appealing layouts by resizing and dragging/dropping blocks into columns and rows.
Each row includes a menu with options to move or delete the block.
Each block includes a menu with options to edit, move, or resize, or delete the block.
Save your document
Show or hide the document.
Students can't see a document until you choose to show it. This allows you to create all your content in advance and choose when to make it available.
You can also set Release Conditions based on date, time, and performance on other items in the course Gradebook.
On the Course Content page, students can see when the document is set to be available.
Document Settings
Click on the gear icon in Edit mode to open the Document Settings panel and:
Add a Description. The description appears with the document title on the Course Content page. Content item descriptions are limited to 250 characters.
Allow class conversations. You can allow conversations within a document, and anyone can contribute. As the conversation develops, it appears only with the document. Note: some instructors find the ‘conversation tool’ confusing and easy to overlook (it’s not clear when a conversation has been added to a document)
Image options
You can upload an image from your device or via Unsplash.
You have the option to adjust the aspect ratio as well as zoom in/out of an image.
If your browser allows, media files display inline by default. Otherwise, it appears as an attachment.
Images that are 768 pixels and smaller will have minimal padding.
Add alternative text (a description of your image) which can be read aloud by screen readers for users who are unable to see the images.
You can edit the file settings, including the display name, alternative text, and display behaviour. Choose whether to insert the file as a link in the editor or to embed the file directly so it appears inline with other content you've added.
Select the file in the editor and click the Edit Attachment icon to edit the file's alternative text or display behavior.
What happens during copy and import from Blackboard Original into Blackboard Ultra?
Content Items are converted to Ultra Documents.
All text, attachments, and links in the editor are converted and media files will open inline by default.
Files added as attachments are grouped together at the end of the Ultra Document.
You can edit images, video, and audio files to change the default and titles. Students will need to download some file types to view them.
Review the document as you may see some loss of formatting during the conversion process. For example, if you added a title for one of your files in the Original Course View, the title may not appear in Ultra.
Blackboard Help Resources
https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Instructor/Ultra/Interact/Ultra_Conversations