Blackboard Communication

1. Navigate to Announcements: From your course's main page, find and click on Announcements in the tabs at top of the course page.
2. Start a New Announcement: Click the circular plus sign (+) icon in the top right or the "Create Announcement" button.
3. Enter Title & Message: Type a clear Title and your message in the content editor.
4. Format & Attach (Optional): Use the toolbar to format text, embed images/videos, or attach files.
5. Select Recipients: The default is "All Course Members," but you can select specific groups if needed (though messages are better for individual students).
6. Email Copy (Optional): Check "Send an email copy to recipients" to notify everyone via email.
   Schedule (Optional): Check "Schedule announcement" to set specific display dates and times for it to appear and disappear.
   1. The email will be sent to all students — even those who choose not to receive announcement notifications through email. Note: the email will be sent as soon as you click Submit, it will not be sent on the date and time selected for Display After.
7. Post or Save: Click Post to publish it now or Save Draft to keep it as a draft for later. 
   You can also watch this video for quick tips on creating and scheduling announcements

1. Navigate to Announcements: In your Ultra course, find and click on "Announcements" usually located at the tabs at across the top of the course page.
2. Open Options: On the Announcements page, find the specific announcement you want to change and click the three dots (More options) icon next to it.
3. Select Edit: From the menu that appears, choose Edit.
4. Make Changes: Update the Title, Message, or adjust the Show on/Hide after (schedule) settings as needed.
5. Save: Click the Save button to apply your edits and make the updated announcement visible. 

Note: This action is final and cannot be undone.

1. Navigate to Announcements: In your Ultra course, find and click on "Announcements" usually located at the tabs at across the top of the course page.
2. Open Options: On the Announcements page, find the specific announcement you want to change and click the three dots (More options) icon next to it.
3. Select Delete: From the menu that appears, choose Delete.

1. Access Messages:
   1. From the global navigation (your name menu), click Messages.
   2. OR, from within a specific course, click the Messages tab in the course navigation bar.
2. Start a New Message:
   1. Click the New Message icon (often a plus sign, +) on the Messages page or in the upper right corner of the course messages.
3. Select Recipients:
   1. Click the Recipients field and start typing names to select individuals.
   2. To message the whole class, type All Course Members, All Instructors, or All Students.
4. Compose Your Message:
   1. Type your message in the editor; there's no subject line, so put the most crucial information first, as it shows in the list.
   2. Use the editor to format your text, add links, or attach files.
5. Send (Optional Email Copy):
   1. Check the box to Send an email copy to recipients if you want them to get a notification in their email inbox.
   2. Check Allow replies to this message if you want students to be able to reply.
6. Finalize:
   1. Click Send. 

To send an email from the Blackboard Ultra Gradebook, go to the Gradebook > Students tab, find the student(s), click the three-dot menu (or checkbox for multiple), and select Message student; this opens the message panel where you can type your message and check "Send an email copy" to ensure it goes to their email, or message multiple students from the submission page for an item

From the Student List (for one or multiple students)

1. Navigate to the Gradebook: Open your course and click on Gradebook in the course navigation.
   Select the Student List: Go to the Students tab (or Overview and then Gradable Items for specific assignments).
2. Choose Students:
3. Single Student: Find the student's row and click the three-dot menu (More options) on the right, then select Message student.
4. Multiple Students: Click the checkbox next to one or more students, then click Send Message at the top.
5. Compose & Send: The message panel opens. Type your message, check the box to Send an email copy, and click Send. 

From the Submissions Page (for specific assignments)

1. Go to an Item: Click an assessment's title in the Gradebook to see submissions.
2. Filter/Select: Use filters or checkboxes to select recipients (e.g., those who haven't submitted).
3. Send Message: Click Send Message, and you'll be taken to the New Message page to compose and send. 

Key Tip: Sending Email Copies

1. In any message composition window within Blackboard Ultra, look for the option: "Send an email copy to recipients" and make sure it's checked so they receive it in their email inbox, not just in
2. Blackboard messages. 

1. Navigate to your desired course in Blackboard Ultra.
2. In the course's navigation, select Calendar.
3. On the calendar page, select the plus sign (+) in the upper-right corner.
4. From the dropdown menu, select New Event, Add Office Hours or Add course schedule (for recurring class times).
5. In the panel that opens, enter the event details:
   1. Title (required).
   2. Select the Start and End dates and times.
   3. (Optional) Choose if the event will be All Day or a Repeat Event.
   4. (Optional) Add a Location (can be a physical place, a URL for an online meeting, or both).
   5. (Optional) Type in a Description of the event.
6. Select Save. The new event will now be visible on all enrolled students' calendars for that course. 

Events added to the personal calendar are only visible to the user who created them. 

1. Select Calendar from the main base navigation menu (the global view when you first log in).
2. Select the plus sign (+) in the upper-right corner.
3. Select New Event.
4. Ensure "Add to your personal calendar" is selected (or choose a course if you are an instructor).
5. Enter the event details (title, date, time, location, description) and select Save. 

For complete information on the Calendar, visit the Blackboard Help Center pages. 

Course calendar events appear to all members of the course. Common entries for the calendar include upcoming tests, due dates for assignments or special lectures. Note: Deleting an event is irreversible.

To delete a calendar post in Blackboard Ultra, go to the Calendar, select the event you added (not instructor-added ones), and use the delete option within the event's details or drag it to a "delete" area if available; for instructor events, you can't delete them but might be able to hide them in Calendar Settings. 

For personal calendar events (created by you):

1. Navigate to Calendar from the Ultra Base Navigation menu.
2. Find the event you want to remove and click on it to open its details.
3. Look for a Delete button or icon within the event details and select it, or drag and drop the event to a trash/delete area if shown.
4. Confirm the deletion if prompted. 

For instructor-added events (assignments, deadlines):

1. You can't delete these, as they belong to the course.
2. To hide them: Click the Calendar Settings (gear icon) in the top-right corner, find the course calendar, and deselect it to remove it from your view, as explained in this guide and this video. 

1. Within the course calendar your default view is set to View by Day. Toward the top right of this window, you have the option to change the calendar view to View by Day, or View by Month.
2. You can toggle between two views on the left side of the screen: Schedule and Due Dates.