Update to Organisations for 2023/24:
Organisations are moving to Blackboard Learn ULTRA for the start of the 2023/24 academic year.See Migrating to Blackboard Learn Ultra Organisations for detailed information.
All Departmental organisations will be created from a standard template.
Introduction
While teaching and learning in Blackboard is mostly delivered through courses which represent one or more RISIS modules, students need access to a range of information which sits at University, School or Department level. Blackboard organisations (referred to in some Schools as ‘briefcases’) are an effective way to provide students with the key information that they need during their programme of study, and can support cohort identity.
See Using Blackboard for Programme delivery for details of the options for providing programme-level information in Blackboard.
An Organisation has the same features and tools as a Blackboard course. Unlike modules and programmes, which have a new Blackboard course set up each academic year, organisations continue from one year to the next.
Students can be enrolled automatically to an organisation based on a number of criteria e.g. enrolment on specific programmes, all UG or PG students in a School or Department. Their enrolments are disabled when they leave the university, or no longer meet the Organisation enrolment criteria.
What Organisations should be set up for a School?
Aim for the smallest number of separate Organisations that will meet your needs, but sufficient to allow you to target information at the specific students who need it.
In some cases a single organisation will suffice for an entire School, but Departmental organisations are likely to be most appropriate, often separated out into UG and PGT. For instance, the School of Humanities has separate organisations for:
- UG History
- PG History
- UG Classics
- PG Classics
- UG Philosophy
- PG Philosophy
It is also possible to set up organisations by Part, for instance:
- Chemistry Part 1
- Chemistry Part 2
- Chemistry Part 3
However, this can take more work to maintain, and does not facilitate collaboration or communication between students at different levels.
Separate Organisations for specific discrete activities within a School or Organisation may be set up where it is useful to have a distinct space, extensive information is needed, or communications would benefit from being separated – for example, Health & Safety in practical disciplines. The use of discrete Organisations should be carefully considered.
Standard template for departmental organisations
When you submit a request for a departmental organisation, the organisation will be created from a standard template, to aid consistency across the university. You can then customise the organisation to meet your department’s needs.
The table below shows the standard layout for these organisations, and what content should be in each area.
Many of the content items are hidden by default. Make these ‘Visible to participants’ once you have edited the content.
| Topic | Essential, recommended, or optional |
Suggested content |
| Announcements | Automatically appears on the top menu of all Ultra organisations | Use for news items / updates |
| School information | Essential | Contacts
Use this area to provide an easy-to-find list of key contact details for the School and Support Centre.
You could also link to the full staff list for your School / Department on the university website.
Key information Pre-populated with links to Essentials and Term Dates on the university website. Add links and information relevant to your School / Department. For example
Additional content could include feeds from departmental accounts on
Health & Safety Health and Safety information as appropriate for the School / Department. |
| Programme information | Essential | Programme Handbooks
Copies of Programme Handbooks for all current cohorts.
Module Selection Information on
|
| Assessment information | Essential | Pre-populated with links to key documents and pages on the university website, including
Add information relevant to your School / Department e.g. marking criteria.
Exams Pre-populated with links to
|
| New and visiting students | Optional | Information for new students e.g.
Key information specifically for Visiting and/or International students.
These could be included within another section e.g. School Information. |
| Student Voice | Essential | Support and Representation
Include information as appropriate about
Feedback and Evaluation Include as appropriate
|
| Library and Study Advice | Essential | Information specific to students in your School / Department from your Academic Liaison Librarian
Enrol your Academic Liaison Librarian onto your organisation so they can update this content as necessary. |
| Careers & Placements | Optional | These may be covered in separate organisation(s).
Enrol your Careers Consultant onto your organisation so they can update content as necessary. |
| Yuja | Optional | Use the links in this area If using YuJa on your organisation. |
Before requesting an organisation
Before you request an Organisation coordinate with colleagues within your School, Department or Support Centre; and where appropriate make use of existing Organisations to avoid any duplication and proliferation. Not all staff in a School are necessarily enrolled on all Organisations, so without checking you may not be aware of all that exist.
Contact your Senior Programme Administrator as they generally oversee organisations in a School / Department.
Avoid setting up separate Organisations just for one-off activities; these are usually best incorporated into existing Organisations or done using something else.
Please note that DTS will be processing requests for Blackboard Learn Ultra organisations in batches. Please be prepared to wait up to 5 working days for your new organisation.
Please get in touch via the Service Desk if you need advice from the TEL team before submitting a formal request.
Page last updated on May 18, 2023 by andyturner