Communication and Collaboration
Improved Course Messages User Interface – 3902.1
Impact: Instructors and Students
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
We’ve redesigned the Course Messages interface in Blackboard to deliver a cleaner, more modern messaging experience. Messages now appear in chat-style bubbles, with the sender’s messages left-justified and the recipient’s messages right-justified—similar to popular messaging apps like iMessage or Teams. The sender’s avatar is displayed next to their messages, making it easier to visually identify participants in the conversation. Your own avatar does not appear in your view but will be visible to others when you send messages.
Image 1. Messages now appear in chat-style bubbles, with the sender’s messages left-justified and the recipient’s messages right-justified—similar to popular messaging apps.
This update improves clarity and usability, helping users quickly distinguish between sent and received messages. Time stamps are clearly displayed, and group conversations are visually separated for better organization.
Image 2. When you receive a message, an avatar of the sender appears on your Messages page. Your avatar appears to the user you are messaging.
These enhancements are part of ongoing efforts to modernize communication tools and streamline the user experience.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.