/
Course Content Update for Ultra 9/5/24

Course Content Update for Ultra 9/5/24

Sep 03, 2024

As part of the Blackboard September release, starting September 5, 2024, the view on the Content page will update such that the Course Content panel will now appear on the left and the Details and Actions Panel will appear on the right. 

Before:

After:

 

Here is the official information from Blackboard concerning the Course Content Page Enhancements

User experience (UX) plays a vital role in student engagement and learning. We're committed to continuous improvement of the Ultra course view. It's important to us that we meet the needs of our users—both educators and students. We're excited to deliver several changes to improve the Course Content page. Customer feedback is at the center of the changes we’ve made. 

The improvements include: 

  • Greater visual depth 

  • Improved page structure 

  • Differentiation among course elements 

  • An enhanced presentation of top-level and nested content

Greater Visual Depth and Content Page Structure 

Creating a more appealing and engaging interface has been a key theme in customer feedback. To support this, we’ve created greater visual depth for the Course Content page. This provides a more enjoyable and inviting experience for end users. 

The new design incorporates: 

  • Subtle gradients and softer edges 

  • A more cohesive color palette with inviting, warmer tones 

  • More intuitive navigation, which reduces cognitive load and increases focus on the content 

Image 1. Instructor view: Course Content page visual depth improvements

Image 2. Student view: Course Content page visual depth improvements

Content Presentation Enhancements
We've improved the differentiation among Learning Modules, Folders, and Content Items. Currently, users sometimes find it challenging to distinguish among these elements. This can lead to confusion and inefficiency in navigating course materials. 

Image 3. Instructor view: Content Item presentation for a Learning Module

Image 4. Instructor view: Content item presentation for a Folder

Image 5. Student view: Content item presentation for a Learning Module

Image 6. Student view: Content item presentation for a Folder

These improvements create a more organized and improved user experience.