Blackboard Original version guidance
Below you will find some guidance for Blackboard Original, the previous version of Blackboard, in case you need it during the last steps of the transition to Ultra.
You can browse the lists below or hit Ctrl+F on your keyboard and enter the word or a relevant keyword to find it in the page.
If you are looking for guidance on the current version of Blackboard, start in our Blackboard page.
- Add a profile picture in Blackboard
- Add files, images, audio or video in Blackboard
- Assignment workflows (EMA)
- Blackboard course design
- Blackboard enrolment management
- Blackboard groups - Staff quick start guide (Word)
- Blackboard help for instructors
- Blackboard mobile – content supported in the Blackboard app
- Blackboard Parent/Child courses FAQs
- Blackboard: staff quick start guide (PDF)
- Blackboard surveys
- Blackboard Tests Workflow
- Blackboard video tutorials
- Building and maintaining relationships online - 10 ideas
- Checking and improving student engagement
- Communicating with students through Blackboard (Word)
- Core standards for online course spaces
- Discussion forum - setting up, managing, moderating, activity ideas, strategies for large groups
- Grade blogs in Blackboard
- Grade discussions in Blackboard
- Grade journals in Blackboard
- Online submission and marking - EMA guides
- Online Submissions in Blackboard or Turnitin - Essential Guidance
- Padlet - Setup, permissions and examples
- Quickly moving to online learning
- Qwickly course tools
- Refreshing Blackboard courses
- Re/Play videos: upload, enhance, share
- Re/Play: adding recordings from previous years
- Self and peer assessment guides
- Unit evaluation
Assignment Workflows
Recommended workflows for Blackboard Original
You can use the table below to pick the best workflow for your requirements.
| Workflow | Blackboard Offline | Blackboard Online | Turnitin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group submission possible | Yes  |
Yes |
No  |
| Multiple/Large documents | Yes |
Yes |
Single document, size and type limited |
| Full student anonymity | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Distributed anonymous marking possible | Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Download vs Online marking | Download only | Online (Downloadable if required) | Online only |
| Anonymous moderation | Yes |
Yes, but requires workaround | Yes |
| File size | Less than 2500MB | Less than 2500MB | Less than 100MB |
Prerequisite: Blackboard Basics for EMA.
Related : AEAs in Locally Managed Exams, Marking essentials for file upload exams.
Setup & Administer Assignments
- Adaptive release
- Calculating the best x of x tests/assignments (Word), (PDF)
- Creating groups to distribute marking (Word), (PDF)
- Editing Turnitin dates (Word)
- Hiding marks and feedback
- Identifying blank Blackboard submissions (Word), (PDF)
- Introduction to Blackboard Grade Centre (Video, 4mins)
- Using SignUp lists for distributing marking (Word), (PDF)
- PGR Blackboard management instructions
- Using SafeAssign to check submission originality
Assignment Feedback & Marking
- Adding feedback using Rubrics (Video, 3 mins)
- Digital written annotation (Word), (PDF)
- Marking anonymously in Word (Word), (PDF)
- Providing audio or video feedback (Word), (PDF), (YouTube, 7 mins)
- Providing feedback before or without marks (Word), (PDF)
- Providing feedback without submissions (Word), (PDF)
- Using reusable comments and Quickmarks (Word), (PDF)
Blackboard Tests Workflow
- Assessment Administration
- Test Configuration
- Question Writing and Configuration
- Student Provisions: AEAs, Risk Management and Adaptive Release
- Marking, Reporting and Evaluation
Self and peer assessment workflows
There are two main tools that can be used for online self and peer review: Blackboard and Turnitin. We have developed corresponding workflows for these tools: Bsp and Tsp. Choosing a workflow will depend on the particular requirements.
| Feature | Blackboard | Turnitin |
|---|---|---|
| Submission method | Blackboard’s Self and Peer Assessment tool | Turnitin’s PeerMark tool |
| Initial submission | File or quiz-like response | File (100mb size limit) |
| Deadline flexibility | Strict submission deadlines | Some deadline flexibility |
| Multiple peer reviews | Yes | Yes |
| Self and/or peer review in any configuration | Yes | Yes |
| Peer review allocation | Random allocation only | Random or students can choose |
| Anonymous reviews | Yes | Yes |
| Review types | Free response or numerical | Free response or scale |
| Reviews can be graded by instructor | No | Yes |
| Original submissions can be graded by instructor | No | Yes |
| Model answers can be provided to reviewers | Yes | No, but can be provided through other means |
Bsp - Blackboard Workflow
Tsp - Turnitin Workflow
Unit Evaluation
Mid Unit surveys available for download
- Approach A (Blackboard template ZIP file)
- Approach B (Blackboard template ZIP file)
- Approach C (Blackboard template ZIP file)
- Approach D (Blackboard template ZIP file)
End of Unit surveys available for download
- End of unit survey (Blackboard template ZIP file)