CDLE Projects

University migrates to Blackboard Ultra in September 2024

In preparation for the transition to Blackboard Ultra, the Centre for Digital Learning and Enhancement (CDLE) has been running a series of pilot studies with academic staff.

The migration of the university’s digital learning environment to Blackboard Ultra will occur in September 2024, with all Autumn 2024/25 semester modules released in the new Ultra template. The move has been prompted by the need to reflect a diverse student population and an increase in student access to Blackboard learning content via mobile devices. According to the university’s latest JISC Student Digital Experience survey, 77% students regularly use a smartphone to access their Blackboard learning materials. Blackboard Ultra’s simplified structure and streamlined interface complies with accessibility standards and facilitates access on mobile devices.

Blackboard Ultra pilot study

The aim of the pilot, which began in Summer 2023, was to inquire into staff and student’s experience of Blackboard Ultra. Lecturers from the schools of Nursing and Paramedic Science, Education, Arts and Humanities, Sport and Learning Enhancement migrated a selection of their undergraduate and postgraduate courses to Blackboard Ultra for the Autumn 2023/24 semester. The resulting information allowed CDLE  to refine the Blackboard Ultra system, to identify optimum workflows, and training and support requirements.

Early feedback gathered from the pilot study surveys suggest that the streamlined Ultra interface has improved the digital learning experience for many students and staff. The majority of survey participants reported that their students were able to access online learning materials quickly and efficiently:

“[The Ultra interface] ensured the students were able to find the information they needed.” Brian Mulligan, Lecturer in Paramedic Science

“My students … were very positive about the clarity of layout.” Dr Sarah Floyd, Reader in Higher Education Practice

“The layout of Ultra is easier for the student … the ability to have a one page with information for students is excellent … for students to see the presentation and/or other materials opening in the same page is really positive.” Tandy Haughey, Senior Lecturer, School of Sport

The new Ultra interface has simplified course development workflows. The majority of surveyed staff reported that the new interface was easy-to-use, facilitating the efficient addition of learning content:

“I found it interesting using the two versions [off Blackboard] in tandem. I found Ultra crisper and easier to navigate.” David McCartney, Lecturer in Paramedic Science

“Ultra was a great platform to use, all aspects were easy to use …”  Brian Mulligan, Lecturer in Paramedic Science

“Overall this has been a positive experience so far. It will take more time to become familiar and completely comfortable with the new interface, however … it is clean and  smoother than BB original … and it has been easy to create content”. Angela Dynes, Lecturer of Education

Finally, we asked the pilot participants’ for advice for those who are about to begin their transition to Blackboard Ultra. They recommended that staff set up an Blackboard Ultra development area, plan a new course structure, factor in additional time to migrate courses and seek support from CDLE:

“Have a development area and play with it! Seek support from the BBL team who are really helpful in assisting with any problems.” David McCartney, Lecturer in Paramedic Science

“Be patient (it is worth it) and factor in additional time at the initial stages to get to grips with the basics” Angela Dynes, Lecturer of Education

“Start from scratch if possible rather than trying to duplicate old course areas - you can add in key resources used before but think your design through.” Dr Sarah Floyd, Reader in Higher Education Practice

Find out more

CDLE developed a website to support staff through their transition to Blackboard Ultra, which includes topical blog posts and Ultra Essentials how-to-guides written by the CDLE team.

Beginning in March. 2024, CDLE will be conducting online courses, webinars and in-person training to guide staff through the move to Blackboard Ultra. A  Blackboard Ultra launch event will take place in May 2024 on the Belfast campus.

• CDLE Blackboard Ultra
• CDLE guide to setting your own Ultra development area
• Book/register for an Blackboard Ultra training

CampusPress provides students with their own WordPress site, and provides functionality which allows lecturers to manage and aggregate student sites under a class site.

Lecturers can choose to keep students sites open to the class or publicly available if required.

Students as content creators facilitates online social interaction building online learning communities and providing opportunities for peer learning and formative assessment.

Digital capability describes the skills and attitudes to thrive in a digitally connected world.

The Office for Digital Learning co-ordinated this initiative with support from ISD, Library, CHERP, Employability & Careers, Student Wellbeing, People and Culture and UUSU.

You can find out more about digital capabilities and why they are important on the website; along with information about the Jisc Digital Capabilities Framework, role profiles to reflect on and develop your digital capabilities.

Unitu is an online platform that helps universities and student unions to collect and analyse student feedback in real time, and deliver faster improvements to the student experience.

Qwickly is the attendance monitoring system integrated with Blackboard. The system, out of the box, allows attendance reporting at a module level.

Quickly aggregated reporting is a system which allows attendance to be visualised at Programme, School or Faculty level and also includes additional reporting functionality for Tier 4 students.

The system is built, managed and developed by the Office for Digital Learning.

The Module Feedback Survey is Ulster’s online student feedback platform.

The system is built, managed and developed by the Office for Digital Learning and includes over 12 years of historical module feedback data.

• Access the Ulster University feedback platform

The Module Manager is a custom built software application that allows academic staff to perform a number of administrative functions to support Blackboard administration.

You can request access to your modules, change start dates, copy content between modules, set up support areas in Blackboard and access aggregated attendance reports.

The system is constantly in development.

• Access the Module Manager