Add Course Content
Course content can be added to you course in a variety of ways through the Course Content Page!
Create Content Directly in Blackboard | Upload Local Files | Add Content from External Sources | Copy Course Content | Present Course Content
To add content, select the plus sign (+) wherever you want the content to appear in your course. From there, you can create or add content in a variety of ways:
- create content directly in Blackboard
- upload content from local files
- add content from external sources
- copy content over from a previous course
Create Content Directly in Blackboard
Create native documents in Blackboard using Blackboard Ultra documents! Ultra documents can be as simple or as detailed as you need. Ultra documents are composed of a variety of individual content blocks that allow instructors to include a variety of content:
- Content (Text) block – Use the content editor to add formatted text and information
- HTML block – Add content using HTML or CSS
- Knowledge Check block – Create short checks to test student understanding
- Upload blocks (local or cloud files) – Add files from your computer or cloud storage
- Image block – Upload images, select stock images from Unsplash, or use the AI Design Assistant to help generate images
- Audio/Video block – Record or upload camera, screen, and audio content
You can resize and rearrange these blocks to create visually engaging layouts. Ultra documents function like any other document builder, allowing instructors to present content in flexible and creative ways.
For more information on creating and navigating Ultra documents and their settings, see the Documents help page.
In addition to Ultra documents, you can create a variety of assessments and engaging activities directly in Blackboard Ultra. These items can be created manually or generated with the help of the AI Design Assistant.
Available Content to create and add from Course Content includes:
Assessments Participation and EngagementThe AI Design Assistant can help you with a variety of tasks related to your course—including auto-generating content. Blackboard Ultra's AI Design Assistant can help you with the following items:
- Course structure: The AI assistant can help to auto-generate learning module titles, descriptions, and images based on course objectives.
- Discussions: Discussion topics can be generated based on descriptions and objectives.
- Test questions: The AI assistant can auto-generate test questions related to your assessments and learning objectives.
- Assignment prompts: Assignments can be generated based on course content.
- Images: The AI Design Assistant can generate a course banner and learning module images based on descriptions.
- Rubrics: Allow the AI assistant to generate a rubric based on the assignment instructions.
While the AI Design Assistant can help you develop course content, it is your responsibility to review, edit, and approve all generated tasks to ensure accuracy and quality of course content.
Note: TTaDA recommends that all instructors attend a one hour workshop on using the AI Design Assistant prior to using this feature.
Upload Local Files
Instructors can upload local files directly to the Course Content page or to any section where the Content Editor is available (Ultra documents, assessments, quizzes, etc.). Furthermore, Blackboard Ultra supports several different file types! For more information, see Blackboard Ultra's Supported Files help page.
Add Content from External Sources
Instructors can access and share content from external sources using the Content Market. The Content Market provides access to tools available across your institution. These tools, better known as integrations, allow users to connect web-based learning tools directly into your course. In fact, many of these tools allow content stored outside of Blackboard to be uploaded or shared directly within your course.
Copy Course Content
Creating quality content for your courses takes time and thoughtful planning. If you teach multiple courses that use similar content, you may want to copy content items and folders between courses to help save time. In the Ultra Course View, you can copy content from other courses you teach so you don't have to start with a blank slate.
Present Course Content
Outstanding online courses begin with outstanding content presented in a way that minimizes barriers to understanding. How you present course content in Blackboard can directly impact how easily students engage with the content and complete tasks. Thoughtful content design can help support student learning in several important ways:
- Ease of learning: Can students quickly understand the course structure and locate materials without additional guidance?
- Efficiency of use: Once students are familiar with your course layout, can they move through activities and assignments with minimal confusion?
- Subjective satisfaction: Does the organization and presentation of content help students stay engaged and motivated?
- Usability: Is the course easy to use for students with different levels of technical skill, learning preferences, and access to technology?
- Accessibility: Are materials designed so all students—including those with disabilities—have equal access to content and activities?
Effective design does not need to be complex. A clean, consistent layout helps students focus on learning rather than figuring out where to go or what to do next.
Designing a well-structured course takes planning. Instructors should consider not only visual layout, but also clarity of instructions, tone, organization of information, and accessibility best practices when creating and presenting content in Blackboard Ultra.