About Learning Modules and Folders:

In Blackboard Ultra, Learning Modules and Folders can be used to organise learning materials, activities, and other content. Although there are some similarities between Learning Modules and Folders, there are key differences for the student experience. 

Content organised in Learning Modules allow for an immersive learning experience. You can allow students to explore the content in a Learning Module in any order and at their own pace, or you can force students to access learning materials and activities in a specified order, walking learners through a guided path. You cannot force students to access content in a specified order in a Folder. 

Learning Modules can help students keep track with content and activities. Turn on ‘tracking’ to display a summary of a student’s progress within each Learning Module. The progress bar informs students how many items and activities they have completed or started. There are also visual indicators against each item and activity in a Learning Module, showing which they have completed or have yet to access. Completed assessments and content items accessed in a forced sequence will automatically mark as complete. Items that can be explored in any order can be manually marked as complete by students themselves. Items and activities with a future access date are also shown, so students know when they will become available to them. 

Appealing and meaningful thumbnail images can be added to learning modules to add visual identity to your Module Content page. You cannot add thumbnail images to a Folder. 

Learning Modules cannot be nested inside each other. Learning Modules can only be added on the top-level Module Content page.  

Both Learning Modules and Folders can contain sub-folders to help structure content. However, the mobile-first approach to the design of Blackboard Ultra means that you only create a two-level folder structure. This makes it easier and more accessible for students to look for materials, especially when using small-screen mobile devices. 

Both Learning Modules and Folders can contain a range of different items including Documents, Files, Assessments, Discussions, Links to websites and other parts of your site, and embedded media. 

We recommend the use of Learning Modules rather than Folders on the top-level Module Content page.  

Creating Learning Modules and Folders

Your Blackboard Ultra module site is created with a standard template {link to follow}. Please add new Learning Modules and / or folders directly on the Module Content page below the standard template. 

Adding a Learning Module and / or folders:

Step 1. Select the add content plus sign (+) where you want to add a Learning Module or folder. 
Step 2. Select [Create] to open the Create Item panel. 
Step 3. Select [Learning Module] or [Folder]. 
Step 4. Type a meaningful name and description so students know what they will learn 
Step 5. Select the Visibility of the Learning Module  or folders 

For Folders 

Step 6.  Select [Save]. Your new Folder will be added to the place you selected within your content. 

For Learning Modules only 

Step 6. If you want students to engage with the content and activities in the Learning Module in sequence, select [Force Sequence] under [Advance in Sequence]. 

Step 7. It is recommended that you add a thumbnail image to your Learning Module. This will appear as an icon next to the Learning Module adding visual appeal on the Module Content page. Click [Add Image] under [Image]. 

Step 8. You can search for a free-to-user Unsplash stock image or upload an image file from your device. The University has prepared a set of icons that you can use when adding Learning Modules, whether you are organising content and activities by week, topic, or you would like to use a miscellaneous image. 

Step 9. A preview of the image appears. Select [Next] to continue. 

Step 10. You can adjust the zoom of the image using a slider, and select and drag what parts of the image become the Learning Module icon. Select Save to continue. The image is uploaded to your Learning Module. 

Step 11. You can now select [Save] to create the learning Module. 

Step 12. Learning Module icons are automatically marked as decorative, which hides the banner for students using assistive technologies. If you want all students to know the content of the image, uncheck Mark the image as decorative. Enter a description of the image in the Alternative text field under Accessibility. 

Step 13. Your new Learning Module will be added to the Module Content page. 

Managing Learning Modules and / or Folders:

• Add Content - Select the arrow to expand the Learning Module or Folder and use the add content symbol to start adding content. You can add Ultra Documents, Files, Links, Discussions, formative Assignments and Tests, or copy content. You can drag content into the order you want it to appear. 

• Add Folders to Learning Modules - You can add Folders to a Learning Module to organise content. Folders in Learning modules can only contain content items, not other Folders. 

• Content Visibility - You can select visibility for individual content items and folders within a Learning Module or Folder. You can also add Release Conditions for when the content becomes available to users (e.g. on a certain date or as students achieve a chosen grade). 

• Learning Module or Folder Visibility - You can change the visibility for an entire Learning Module or Folder. You can also add Release Conditions for when the Learning Module or Folder becomes available to students. 

• Track Progress (for Learning Modules only)- Turn on Progress Tracking to allow students to see which materials they have accessed and completed in a Learning Module. You can also see a Student Progress Report. 

• Edit a Learning Module or Folder - Click the ‘ellipsis’ (three dots) and select Edit. You can edit the name, description, or change or delete the Image of a Learning Module. 

• Delete a Learning Module or Folder - Click the ‘ellipsis’ (three dots) and select Delete. If you delete a Learning Module or Folder with content, the content is also removed. You cannot undo or recover deleted content. 

Get Support: 

The Digital Learning Team can support you with using digital tools for teaching and learning.