This section is exclusive to students using the Blackboard Learn app. If you are an instructor, please scroll down to the Blackboard Learn app for Instructors section.
Within the app, you can view all the folders, documents, and assessments, as well as other items, that are available in the web browser view of the course.
Compatible file types
Most file types that you can view in the web browser view of a course are supported by the Blackboard Learn app. You can view Microsoft® Word, Excel®, PowerPoint®, and PDF documents.
Supported course content
Most of your course content displays natively in the app. Content that isn't supported within the app generally opens in the in-app web browser.
More on supported course content
The Blackboard Learn app works as a collaboration between our app software and your school's server. Blackboard can't guarantee that content created by instructors or other users is compatible with this app. Features and functionality may be limited at times if your school hasn't updated the appropriate software or experiences server outages.
If there's an item you can access on the course website, but not in the app, contact your instructor.
Alternative file formats
Blackboard Ally provides a way for you to generate alternative formats for course content to make it more accessible. If you currently see Ally in the web browser view of your Ultra or Original course, you can use it in the app as well.
When you access a file your instructor uploaded to your course, you can put Ally to work. Ally's alternative formats include HTML, Immersive Reader, ePub, electronic braille, audio, BeeLine Reader, or a translated version.
For example, do you learn better when you listen to audio or read text? If you'd rather listen, Ally can generate a downloadable MP3 from a document your instructor provided.
- In Course Content, select on the Ally icon right next to the file's name a. You may also select the file to open it and then click on the Ally icon on the top right.
- Choose the format that meets your needs.
- Follow the prompts on your mobile device to open the new format.
If you don't see this option, the file type isn't compatible with Ally or your institution doesn't have Ally.
Original View Courses
Most of your Original course content shows in the app as expected. A few items look a bit different in the mobile app.
In the app, Ultra and Original courses look the same. To find out which view a course uses, log in to Blackboard on a web browser and see if you have the Ultra Experience. If you have Ultra, select Courses in the menu to see which courses are designated as Original Course View.
Discussions. Discussions are always available on the Course Overview. If there's a link to the discussions tool in the course menu in your Original View Course, it shows in Course Content in the app as well.
More on discussions in the app
Course menu tool links. Some Original View Course tools aren't available natively in the app. When you select a link to one of these tools, you're directed to a web view of the tool.
Mark reviewed. The Blackboard Learn app doesn't currently support the Mark Reviewed feature. Please access the web browser view of your course for this feature if your instructor made it available.
Learning modules. You can view learning module content in the app, but it isn't presented with a table of contents like you see in a desktop web browser. Learning module content is listed similar to a content folder.
Ultra View Courses
Most of your Ultra course content shows in the app as expected. A few items aren't included or look a bit different in the mobile app.
In the app, Ultra and Original courses look the same. To find out which view a course uses, log in to Blackboard on a web browser and see if you have the Ultra Experience. If you have Ultra, select Courses in the menu to see which courses are designated as Original Course View.
Learning Modules in Ultra courses
A learning module is a container for organized collections of content. Your instructor may require you to complete the content in a sequence or allow you to explore the content in any order.
For Ultra courses in the app, learning modules clearly show your progress.
- From Course Content, you can see your progress status for the module.
- Each item shows if it's ready, started, completed, or locked.
- Locked items are not available to you. Select the item to view the requirements to release it. For example, your instructor may require a minimum grade on an item before you progress to the next item.
- The app doesn't support groups, so if the learning module contains a group assignment or discussion, you'll be directed to access it in the web browser view of your course.
If you're new to learning modules, check out how they work in the web browser view of your Ultra course.
Learn more about Ultra course view learning modules
This section is exclusive to instructors using the Blackboard App. If you are a student, please scroll up to the Blackboard App for students section.
Whatever you can do in Blackboard on a web browser, you can do in the app. What you see in the app is similar to what you see on a web browser.
Items indicate if they are hidden from students or not available to students. You can preview hidden or unavailable content in Blackboard, but students don't see this content in the student app.
Supported content
When you add documents in the web browser view of a course, be sure the file types are supported by the mobile apps.
Most of your course content will display natively in the app. Content that isn't supported generally opens in the in-app web browser. Preview your content and assessments in Blackboard or obtain a student login to preview content as well.
More on supported course content
Original courses
Discussions. Discussions are best accessed from the Course Overview. If you have a link to the discussions tool in the course menu in your Original View Course, it shows in Course Content in the app as well. When students select a discussion link in Course Content, they're directed to a web view of the discussion outside of the app.
More on discussions in the app
Course menu tool links. Some Original course tools aren't available natively in the app. When you select a link to one of these tools, you're directed to a web view of the tool.
Mark reviewed. The app doesn't currently support the Mark Reviewed feature. Please access the web browser view of your course for this feature.
Ultra courses
Activity stream. See an up-to-the-minute list of important course activity including new content, announcements, and grades. The activity stream automatically prioritizes items to help you focus on the tasks that you want to take care of right away. Select the menu icon to navigate to your courses and other features.
Learning modules
A learning module is a container for organized collections of content. You can require students to complete the content in a sequence or allow students to explore the content in any order.
For Ultra courses, you see the same learning module interface that students see in the Blackboard app.
- If you require students to view the content in a sequence, you must set up this on the web browser version of Blackboard Learn.
- Learning module progress isn't tracked in the app for instructors.
Edit learning module settings
For Ultra learning modules, you can edit the title, visibility, and description. You can also delete Ultra learning modules. To make further changes, access your course on a web browser. Item settings for learning modules aren't available for Original courses.
Student view of learning modules in Blackboard Learn app
To view a learning module exactly as a student sees it, install the Blackboard app and create a mock student login.
Learn more about the student view in Blackboard app learning modules
Edit content settings in the app
In the app, you can change some settings or delete items. Changes you make in the app are reflected in the web browser view of your course.
Original courses
- Go to Course Content and select the file you want to edit
- Select the gear icon at the top right
- Edit the Title, Visibility, Due date, and Attempts, or Delete the file.
- Save
Ultra courses
- Go to Course Content and locate the file you want to edit
- Select on the three-dots menu to the right
- Select Edit
- Edit the File name, Options, and Visibility, or Select the three-dots menu on the upper right corner and select Delete.
Some content types include an EDIT ON WEB link to open a mobile browser on your device to edit additional settings.
Settings
Settings that can be managed in the app vary with the content type. You can change additional settings in the web browser view of your course.
This table describes which content types have settings management in the Blackboard Learn app.
| Content Type | Settings Management |
|---|---|
Tests Assignments | Ultra: Settings available in app. |
| Discussions | Ultra: Settings available in app. |
Documents Items | Ultra: Settings available in app. Original: Settings available in app. You can't edit descriptions. EDIT ON WEB option isn't available. |
Link Web Link | Ultra: Settings available in app. Original: Settings available in app. You can't edit descriptions. EDIT ON WEB option isn't available. |
| Folder | Ultra: Settings available in app. Original: Settings available in app. You can't edit descriptions. EDIT ON WEB option isn't available. |
| Learning Module | Ultra: Settings available in app. EDIT ON WEB option isn't available. Original: No settings. |
| SCORM | Ultra: Settings available in app. Original: No settings. |
| File | Ultra: Settings available in app for Documents with uploaded files. Original: Settings available in app for content created with the Build Content menu > File. You can edit the title, change the availability, and delete. You can't edit the description. EDIT ON WEB option isn't available. |
Audio Video Images | Ultra: Settings available in app for Documents with uploaded audio, video, or image content. Original: Settings available in app for content created with the Build Content menu > Audio, Image, or Video. You can edit the title, change the availability, and delete. You can't edit the description. EDIT ON WEB option isn't available. |
Statements about future development
*Statements regarding our product development initiatives, including new products and future product upgrades, updates or enhancements represent our current intentions, but may be modified, delayed or abandoned without prior notice and there is no assurance that such offering, upgrades, updates or functionality will become available unless and until they have been made generally available to our customers.
