Create an Ultra Document

A Document, in Ultra,  is a way of organising materials on a course or organisation. They can be used in conjunction with Learning Modules and Folders. See the guide Content Containers in Blackboard Learn Ultra for more details.

Documents are comparable to Items in original Blackboard but can been used more like a webpage. You can create multiple sections referred to as blocks within your Document. At their simplest, these blocks could consist of a single file (such as a Word document or PowerPoint presentation) uploaded to Blackboard. You can create multiple text blocks within a Document, each of which might contain text, weblinks, images, uploaded files or embedded videos.

• Create a Document
• Building sections in a Document
• Organising blocks
• Save and Edit the Document
• Ultra Document Example

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Create a Document

Step 1: Go to the point inside a Learning Module, or on the Course Content area, where you would like to add the Document.

Step 2: Hover over the dividing line until a plus sign icon appears click on the plus sign icon to open the Add Content menu.

Step 3: Select Create from the Add Content menu. The Create Content Panel will open on the right-hand side.

Step 4: Select Document. The New Document page will open.

Step 5: On this page give your New Document a name by overwriting the default title.

Step 6: Build your document by adding blocks using the add content options.

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Ultra Document add content options are:

1. Add Content (opens the text editor)
2. Add HTML (opens the HTML editor)
3. Add a Knowledge check (opens Question editor)
4. Upload from Computer (opens the file manager to upload files)
5. Browse Content Collection (opens the Content Collection)
6. Convert an existing file from the local machine. Once selected, the system converts the file into the Document format. Supported file types include PDF, PowerPoint (ppt, pptx, pps), and Word (doc, docx, odt).

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Building blocks in a Document

Once you have created the first block of content, using any of the add options, you may wish to add additional blocks.  Hover the cursor under the completed section until the purple line and plus sign icon appear. Click on the plus sign icon to choose from the menu again, and create another block in your Document.

Block options:

• Add Content (text editor)
  • Embed a YuJa video
• Add HTML
• Knowledge Check
• Upload from Computer
• Browse Content Collection

Add Content (Text editor block)

The Add Content option will open the Blackboard Ultra Editor.

The editor provides functions to enable you to build content in the document.  These functions include:

1. Formatting options, text styles, fonts attributes, insert table, alignment, bullet points.
2. Insert Link and Attach file options.
3. Using the Plus icon option to insert media from other platforms.

The Plus menu options are:

• Math
• Image
• YouTube video
• Content Collection
• Content Market

Embedding a YuJa video

To embed a video from your YuJa account select Content Market (from the plus menu (3)) and use the YuJa Media Chooser LTI tool to insert the video from your My Media area. Please see our guide: YuJa Media Chooser

Add HTML

When you select Add HTML a text editor will open and allow you to write HTML code directly into the editor.

In the HTML text editor the code will display in various colours to distinguish it from the text, and a prompt of tags and attributes will display to aid your code writing.

Add Embed Code to HTML editor

The Add HTML option is likely to be used rarely, if at all, by most staff. However you will need to use the HTML editor in Ultra to add the embed code for external media, such as Box of Broadcasts, or to embed a Twitter feed. Simply paste the embed code into the editor and it will add the media.

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Knowledge Check

Knowledge checks test student comprehension of a Document by asking a multiple choice or multiple answer question. This is not assessed, can be done multiple times, and gives instant feedback for students. Only one question type is available currently. Knowledge Check Guide

When you select the knowledge check option, the Question set up box opens.

1. Add your Question Text.
2. Add you Options text and select the correct answers.
3. Add Option creates more answer boxes where needed.
4. Edit the pre-filled feedback to give more specific feedback to your students
5. Save the knowledge check

Upload from Computer

When you select Upload from Computer the file manager will open and prompt you to select the file or files to add to the document.

1. Select the files
2. Click Open
3. Each file displays in the document as separate blocks (these can then be rearranged on the page)

Browse Content Collection

When you select Browse Content Collection the Blackboard Content Collection will open and prompt you to select the file or files to add to the document.

1. Select the Content area
2. Select the file/files
3. Save

The files will display in the document as separate blocks (which can then be rearranged on the page).

Organising the Blocks

Once you have created your various blocks using these methods, those blocks can be rearranged into the order you desire. Hover over the block you wish to move until the Move Paragraph/Move File icon appears. Click on this icon to pick up the section and move it. These can also be resized to create columns of materials side by side.

You can drag around sections or you can use the listed options which appear when you click.

Your sections will then be rearranged.

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Save the Document

Once you have added all your content, then click Save . If you forget to save a warning message will remind you to do so.

If you wish to add further content or arrange your documents differently, use the Edit Button.

Ultra Document Example

Example of student view of a document with three different blocks –

• Text Editor block (a) with text and a video inserted from YuJa
• File Upload block (b)
• HTML Editor block (c) with MS Form embed code pasted into it

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Guides on how an Ultra Document can be used in your course

• Ultra Guide: Presenting files to students
• Content Containers in Ultra courses

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Guide last updated on October 3, 2024