Convert your course to Blackboard Ultra

The main difference between Blackboard Original and Blackboard Ultra content is the possible depth of content levels. 

• Blackboard Original had no limitation on the number of levels of content. 
• Blackboard Ultra has three levels of depth recommended, although four are possible. 

Therefore, when converting a course from Original to Ultra it is often necessary to conflate or 'flatten' resources onto a document. The benefits for your students are:

• easier access to resources
• better understanding of how resources are related, and
• sequenced learning in a module (if you arrange your documents and other items in a certain order for accumulated learning.)

Compare the Original and the Ultra course design

It is recommended that you work with the Original course used for the copy on one screen and the Ultra course on another screen to ensure everything copied over successfully. You will need to check that all content converted successfully as you go through the process.

1. Go to https://learn.uq.edu.au/ultra/course
2. Enter the course code of the Original course you are copying from in the search bar.  Click on the course on one screen.
3. Enter the course code of the Ultra course you are converting to in the search bar.  Click on this course to open on another screen.
   Note: You need to be an Instructor in both the Original and Ultra courses to continue this work.
   
    
4. Determine the structure of learning content in the Original course (e.g. modular, daily, weekly, etc) as it will influence how you organise items in the Ultra course.
5. Be alert to different structures, such as Lecture Recordings and Tutorial resources in two separate folders instead of weeks.
6. Delete items that are empty.
7. Set up your learning modules (empty at this stage). Consider your naming convention of learning modules in the Ultra course.  Start working with the templated weekly modules or create your own by changing the icon and editing the title. Go to the step Create and move content for instructions.
   Note: It is recommended that all learning modules are time-based.  The templated items follow the weekly pattern, but you are welcome to choose other time-based icons for your learning modules.  Use the Icons and document banners page.
   Example
   

8. After you have set up your learning modules, continue the conversion of content by copying the content from the Original course (see below), then moving or creating content. 
9. Consider a copy-and-paste of text that is very short on one item onto another item to reduce scrolling for students.

Copy the content all at once into the Ultra course

Follow these steps to copy over all the content you need in one go.
Note: If you prefer, you can do this item by item into specific positions (see below).

1. Click on the three dots at the top right of the content area.
2. Select Copy Items. 
   

3. Enter the course code in the search field.  When it appears, click into it and keep clicking into folders to find the items you need. 
4. Check the box to select it/them.  As you select items, they will appear in a list in the right pane.
5. Click Start copy. Note: If you are working on a small screen, the Start copy button will be at the bottom.
   

6. All the copied items will appear at the bottom of the Ultra course, below the templated content.
7. The next step is moving the relevant content into the Course Resources folder.  Continue moving content into each learning module as well.  This is covered in more detail in next steps.

Copy content into specific positions in the Ultra course

Follow these steps to copy over content into specific positions.

1. Hover your mouse on the purple line at the specific position you want the copied item to sit. Click on the Add content (+) sign.
2. Select Copy content. 
3. Continue from step 3 above.