eLearning

Convert your course to Blackboard Ultra

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What is Blackboard Ultra?

Blackboard Ultra is the new version of our learning management system.  UQ is transitioning from the previous version of Blackboard Original from Semester 2, 2025 to Semester 1, 2027.

View the Ultra Courses Activation Project page for more information.

How long will it take me to convert my course to Blackboard Ultra?

Note: This guide assumes you have already requested your course on Learn.UQ. See the Order SI-net Courses and UQ Extend Courses (Ultra) guide.

The course conversion tidy-up could take between 10 to 20 hours, depending on its complexity.  Note that when you access your course, you will need to copy in content from the Original course yourself.  Factors are:

  • how many videos you have that are not stored in Echo360
  • how much content you have nested deeply in folders
  • whether your main learning resources are in UQ Extend.

Is it possible for professional staff to convert my course?

Yes. But in this case, you will need to submit a course request again, asking for a copy of a previous course so they have the content to work with. Use the Learn.UQ Site Request form (or contact your school admin if they usually order your course for you).

Note: There will be a delay between ordering the course and having professional staff complete the Ultra conversion work.

Where can I get help?

What do I need to convert my own course?

To build your course from scratch in Ultra you will need:

  1. Ultra course template
  2. Ultra content types
  3. Course banner
  4. Course profile
  5. Content copy from Original
  6. MS Teams link and Ed Discussion
  7. Course Resources folder
  8. Course Staff document
  9. Assessment folder
  1. Create and move content
  2. Create a document
  3. Work on a document
  4. Condense content onto a document
  5. Other top level folders
  6. Meet accessibility standards
  7. Visibility settings and student preview
  8. Make your course available
  9. Checklist

13. Condense content onto a document

Example: Original course

There is a folder in the Learning resources folder called Lecture Notes.  This folder has text in its description, then students have to click through again to reach the actual files (Lecture notes).  The lecture video is in a separate item.

Example: Ultra course

The person tidying the course has created a document page in the relevant Learning Module. The title Lecture notes and the description have been copied to the top of the document page. The videos have also been added to the same document page directly under the Lecture notes files.

Benefits: 

  • The student can click once to find all the files and videos on one document page.
  • By uploading the files onto the document, the student has reduced scrolling.

If you need to get files from one document onto another, follow these steps.

  1. Know the exact filename of the file you want to copy into the desired position.
  2. On a document, click on the Edit Content button.
  3. Add a Content Collection block.
  4. A files area will appear.
  5. Use the search function to locate the file.
  6. Check the box under the file icon to select it.
  7. Click the Submit button.
  8. In the Edit File Options, change the Display Name to make it meaningful for the students.

     
  9. Select View and download from the drop-down options.
  10. Click the Save button.

Your file will be in position ready for you to drag where you need it on the document page, or make it narrower in one of the four columns.