Faculty Guides and Documentation

Assessments in Blackboard Learn Ultra Course View

Updated on

This guide will provide an overview of available assessment types in Blackboard Learn Ultra Course View. This only applies to the Ultra course environment and does not apply to Blackboard Learn Original.

Types of Assessments Available

Instructors can choose among the following assessment types in Blackboard Learn Ultra:

  • Assignment
  • Test
  • Forms
  • Journal
  • Discussion Board

Wikis and Blogs from Learn Original are not supported in Ultra Course View at this time. 

Assignments, Tests, and Forms

Image showing test, assignment , and form options

Assignments allow students to submit text or file attachments. Instructors can customize the assignment instructions and assignment settings. The Grading Category of Assignment will be assigned by default.

Tests allow instructors to add questions and incorporate text elements. Questions can either be added individually, or instructors can randomly deliver a specified number of questions from question banks. Optionally, instructors can allow students to attach files at the end of the test. The grading category of Test will be assigned by default.

Forms allow instructors to create surveys to deliver to students. Form responses can be anonymized to hide individual student responses. The grading category of Form will be assigned by default.

Note: As of November 2024, the functionality of assignments and tests are no longer interchangeable. Assignments allow for student attachments, and instructors can customize assignment instructions and settings. It is no longer possible to add questions or text elements to an Assignment. Instead, instructors would want to use the Test option.

Journals

Image of link to create a journal in Learn Ultra Course View

Journals are personal spaces where students can share their personal thoughts and reflections with the course instructor. Instructors can enable grading if they wish to use journals as an individual assessment tool. Instructors can leave journals open-ended or instructors can use prompts to direct student reflection. 

Journals are not visible to other students in the course. If you wish to have students collaborate or comment on entries, the Discussion Board tool would be the best option.

Discussion Boards

Image showing the discussion board link.

Instructors can enable grading in discussion boards to use class discussions as an assessment tool. Discussions can be aligned with course units to integrate learning and application of course learning objectives and interactivity of students.

Previous Article Journals Grades and Participation
Next Article Group Assessments in Learn Ultra Course View