You can configure hundreds of privileges to tightly control what roles and users are allowed to do in a course. This topic provides an overview of facilitation privileges you can grant or restrict for course roles.
The Facilitator course role contains many of the permissions listed here by default, but not all of them. Refer to the privileges description spreadsheet for more details on privileges granted to this role.
Grant privileges to manage course materials
Many institutions use Subject Matter Experts to create content for large, multi-section courses that are facilitated by multiple faculty. These institutions or courses may also require more than one person to help keep the curriculum moving forward.
To ensure that the content in each course section remains consistent, administrators can grant additional permissions for course roles that will allow users to view content and edit its availability. Granular permissions limit a user's ability to edit the material of course content but let these users assist instructors in the day-to-day management of course materials.
These permissions are available and apply to course roles in both the Original and Ultra course views:
- Course/Organization (Content Areas) > Adaptive Release > Create Date-Based Criteria
- Course/Organization (Content Areas) > Adaptive Release > Delete Date-Based Criteria
- Course/Organization (Content Areas) > Adaptive Release > Edit Date-Based Criteria
- Course/Organization (Content Areas) > Edit Material Availability
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > Change Due Date of Grade Center Items
How have these privileges changed?
In earlier versions of Blackboard Learn, Adaptive Release privileges addressed the ability to create, edit, and delete rules of any kind. The new privileges let you control who can create, edit, and delete specific rules based on either performance or date. Course/Organization (Content Areas) > Adaptive Release inherits all of these privileges.
The Edit Material Availability privilege was previously a component of the Edit Materials privilege. We created this separate privilege so you can grant users the ability to only change availability. Course/Organization (Content Areas) > Edit Materials inherits this privilege.
The Change Due Date of Grade Center Items privilege was previously a component of the All Grading privilege. We created this separate privilege so you can grant users the ability to only change due dates in the gradebook. Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > Full Control inherits this privilege.
Grant gradebook privileges
Grading within a course is multi-faceted. Assigning a grade is only one piece of the process, which can also include grade maintenance, data download and upload, and release of grades. Institution administrators can grant some or all of these permissions to trusted facilitators to help ease the grading responsibility in larger courses.
These permissions are available and apply to course roles in both the Original and Ultra course views:
- Course/Organization (Content Areas) > View Material Settings
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Tests, Surveys, and Pools > Tests > View Test Design and Settings
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > Full Control
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > All Grading
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > View Grade Center
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > View Attempts
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > View Grades
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > Enter Grades
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > Provide Grading Feedback
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > Override Grades
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > Publish Grades
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > Download Grade Data
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > Upload Grade Data
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > All Grading
Full Control and All Grading privileges inherit other grading privileges. Full Control inherits all other privileges, while All Grading inherits all privileges except those that relate to gradebook design (column creation, data upload, etc). Review the associated privileges to confirm the role has appropriate access.
How have these privileges changed?
In earlier versions of Blackboard Learn, the All Grading privilege contained many abilities in the gradebook, including grading, gradebook design, and availability of graded items. This privilege has been renamed Full Control to better describe the privileges it contains. All Grading inherits the other listed privileges regarding grading tasks, such as assigning and overriding grades. Users with the All Grading privilege can't do tasks such as changing the total possible points, remove items from the gradebook, or change an item's gradebook category. Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > Full Control inherits this privilege.
View Material Settings and View Test and Design Settings are new privileges. View Material Settings allows users to view course materials as instructors do. If a user doesn't have this privilege, they view course materials as students do. View Test and Design Settings allows users to view test settings. In the Ultra Course View, this privilege applies to tests and assignments.
Grant calendar privileges
The course calendar is essential to student engagement. Calendar events need to be accurate and posted in a timely manner so students understand what's required and when. Events and office hours also communicate to students when their physical presence is expected or required.
These permissions are available and apply to course roles in both the Original and Ultra course views:
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Create Entry
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Create Event
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Create Course Schedule*
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Create Office Hours*
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Delete Entry
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Delete Event
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Delete Course Schedule*
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Delete Office Hours*
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Edit Entry
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Edit Event
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Edit Course Schedule*
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Edit Office Hours*
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Create Entry
*Privileges for course schedules and office hours apply to the Ultra Course View only.
How have these privileges changed?
In earlier versions of Blackboard Learn, calendar privileges addressed the ability to create, edit, and delete entries of any kind. The new privileges let you control who can create, edit, and delete specific entries, including calendar events, course schedules, and office hours. Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar inherits all of these privileges.
Grant announcement privileges
Announcements play an important role in course communication. When you grant announcement privileges to a facilitator, users with this role can use announcements to post time-sensitive information critical to course success. Additional privileges allow a facilitator to edit and delete announcements, as well as view drafts.
These permissions are available and apply to course roles in both the Original and Ultra course views:
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Announcements
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Announcements > Create Announcement
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Announcements > Delete Announcement
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Announcements > Edit Announcement
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Announcements > View All (Draft and Posted)
How have these privileges changed?
The Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Announcements > View All (Draft and Posted) privilege is new and inherited by Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Announcements.
Grant discussions and groups privileges
Discussions and groups are important pieces of promoting engagement among course members. Instructors can entrust facilitators to set up discussions or groups in a course. Administrators can grant some or all of these permissions to trusted facilitators to help set up or remove groups and discussions in a course.
These permissions are available and apply to course roles in both the Original and Ultra course views:
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Users and Groups) > Groups
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Users and Groups) > Groups > Add/Remove Members
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Users and Groups) > Groups > Create Group
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Users and Groups) > Groups > Delete Group
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Users and Groups) > Groups > Edit Group
These permissions apply only to the Ultra Course View:
- Course Outline > Discussions > Create Discussion (Ultra Course View)
- Course Outline > Discussions > Delete Discussion (Ultra Course View)
These permissions apply to the Original Course View:
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Discussion Board
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Discussion Board > Create Forum
How have these privileges changed?
The Course Outline > Discussions > Create Discussion (Ultra Course View) and Course Outline > Discussions > Delete Discussion (Ultra Course View) privileges are new.
Privileges and course views
If you enabled the Ultra experience in your Learn SaaS environment, you can deliver courses in the Original Course View and the Ultra Course View. Refer to the following table to understand which permissions apply to certain areas of each type of course.
| Privilege | Course View | Action permitted |
|---|---|---|
| Course/Organization (Content Areas) > Adaptive Release > View | Original and Ultra |
Original: Ability to view the Adaptive Release: Basic page for any course content item. All fields read-only. Ultra: Ability to view the Conditional Availability panel for any course content item. All fields read-only. |
|
Course/Organization (Content Areas) > AdaptiveRelease > Create Date-Based Criteria Course/Organization (Content Areas) > AdaptiveRelease > Delete Date-Based Criteria Course/Organization (Content Areas) > AdaptiveRelease > Edit Date-Based Criteria |
Original and Ultra |
Original: Ability to use date-based criteria fields on Adaptive Release: Basic page. Ultra: Ability to use date-based criteria fields on the Conditional Availability panel. |
|
Course/Organization (Content Areas) > AdaptiveRelease > Create Performance-Based Criteria Course/Organization (Content Areas) > AdaptiveRelease > Delete Performance-Based Criteria Course/Organization (Content Areas) > AdaptiveRelease > Edit Performance-Based Criteria |
Original and Ultra |
Original: Ability to use grade-based criteria fields on Adaptive Release: Basic page. Ultra: Ability to use grade-based criteria fields on the Conditional Availability panel. |
|
Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > Change Due Date of Grade Center Items |
Original and Ultra |
Original: Ability to use Modify Due Date context menu option and associated page from graded content items, forums, and threads. Ultra: Ability to use Due Date field on assessments and graded discussions. |
| Course/Organization (Content Areas) > Edit Material Availability | Original and Ultra |
Original: Ability to view and use Make Available/Unavailable context menu option on course content items. Ultra: Ability to view and use content visibility selector in course outline and content panel header for all course content items and discussions. |
| Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) >Tests, Surveys, and Pools > Tests > View Test Design and Settings | Ultra |
Original: None Ultra: Read-only access to assessment panel with question canvas. Read-only access to settings peek panel. |
| Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > All Grading | Original and Ultra |
Original: Access to all actions that apply to grading, but any actions that would modify the gradebook or its configuration are disallowed. Actions permitted include: viewing grades, viewing attempts, entering grades and attempt feedback, overriding grade scores, ignoring attempts, clearing attempts, and exempting grades. Ultra: Access to all actions that apply to grading, but any actions that would modify the gradebook or its configuration are disallowed. Actions permitted include: viewing grades, viewing attempts, entering grades and attempt feedback, overriding grade scores, and overriding the Overall Grade. |
| Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > View Grade Center | Original and Ultra |
Original: Read-only access to the main Grade Center page, including read-only access to the settings of each gradable item. No access to student grades or attempts. Ultra: Read-only access to the Gradebook grid and list views. No access to student grades or attempts. |
| Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > View Attempts | Original and Ultra |
Original: Read-only access to students' assignment and test attempts with no score data shown. Ultra: Read-only access to students' assessment attempts with no score data shown. |
| Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > View Grades | Original and Ultra |
Original: Read-only access to student grade data, including student attempts, attempt/override scores, attempt feedback, grading notes. Ultra: Read-only access to student grade data, including student attempts, attempt/override scores, attempt feedback. |
| Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > Enter Grades | Original |
Original: Ability to enter attempt grades and feedback from content attempt/participation pages, and enter attempt grades in the grade grid Ultra: None. To use this privilege in Ultra, a role must be assigned the All Grading privilege. |
| Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > Override Grades | Original |
Original: Ability to enter manual override score and feedback from the grade detail page or from content attempt/participation pages, and enter override score in the grade grid. Ultra: None. To use this privilege in Ultra, a role must be assigned the All Grading privilege. |
| Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > Provide Grading Feedback | Original and Ultra |
Original: Ability to enter attempt feedback from the grade detail page or from content attempt/participation pages. Ultra: Ability to enter attempt feedback from the assessment attempt panel. |
| Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > Publish Grades | Ultra |
Original: None Ultra: Ability to post grades that have been entered but not posted yet. |
| Course/Organization (Content Areas) > View Material Settings | Original and Ultra |
Original: Access to the full course content outline (i.e. seeing items that are hidden from students or restricted by adaptive release). Ultra: Read-only access to view the full detail, including configuration of course content items such as assessment canvas, as well as full course content outline (i.e. seeing items that are hidden from students or restricted by adaptive release). |
|
Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Create Entry Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Delete Entry Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Edit Entry |
Original and Ultra | Create, delete, or edit calendar entries of any type in the course calendar. |
|
Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Create Event Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Delete Event Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Edit Event |
Original and Ultra | Create, delete, or edit calendar events in the course calendar. |
|
Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Create Course Schedule Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Delete Course Schedule Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Edit Course Schedule |
Ultra |
Original: None Ultra: Create, delete, or edit the course schedule in the course calendar. |
|
Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Create Office Hours Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Delete Office Hours Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Calendar > Edit Office Hours |
Ultra |
Original: None Ultra: Create, delete, or edit office hours in the course calendar. |
| Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Announcements > View All (Draft and Posted) | Original and Ultra | View course announcements regardless of publication status. |
|
Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Announcements > Create Announcement Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Announcements > Delete Announcement Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Announcements > Edit Announcement |
Original and Ultra | Create, edit, and delete a course announcement. |
|
Course/Organization Control Panel (Users and Groups) > Groups Course/Organization Control Panel (Users and Groups) > Groups > Add/Remove Members Course/Organization Control Panel (Users and Groups) > Groups > Create Group Course/Organization Control Panel (Users and Groups) > Groups > Delete Group Course/Organization Control Panel (Users and Groups) > Groups > Edit Group |
Original and Ultra | Access and create course groups. Users with these privileges can edit groups, change group membership, and delete groups. |
|
Course Outline > Discussions > Create Discussion (Ultra Course View) Course Outline > Discussions > Delete Discussion (Ultra Course View) |
Ultra |
Ultra: Ability to create and delete discussions. Original: None, these abilities can be controlled using separate privileges |
|
Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Discussion Board Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Discussion Board > Create Forum |
Original |
Ultra: None, these abilities can be controlled using separate privileges Original: Ability to access discussions and create forums. |
Common use cases
Facilitator needs to release grades and feedback
A teaching assistant or other course facilitator needs access to certain areas of the gradebook to release grades and feedback to students. In this case, this user should only have the ability to view and publish, but not have access to edit or delete the grades in any way.
Assign these privileges for this use case:
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > View Grade Center
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > View Attempts
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > View Grades
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > Publish Grades
Facilitator needs to review student participation throughout the semester
A teaching assistant or other course facilitator needs access to certain areas of the gradebook to view student participation. In this case, this user should only have the ability to view, but not have access to publish, edit, or delete the grades in any way.
Assign these privileges for this use case:
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > View Grade Center
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > View Attempts
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > View Grades
Facilitator corrects the pace of course materials and activities after the semester starts
A teaching assistant or other course facilitator needs access to certain areas of the course materials to change release dates and due dates. In this case, this user should only have the ability to view and edit course material availability. The facilitator doesn't need any access to student grades.
Assign these privileges for this use case:
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > Change Due Date of Grade Center Items
- Course/Organization (Content Areas) > Adaptive Release > Edit Date-Based Criteria
- Course/Organization (Content Areas) > Edit Material Availability
- Course/Organization (Content Areas) > View Material Settings
Facilitator assigns grades for the instructor to review and publish
A teaching assistant or other course facilitator needs access to view and grade submissions for the instructor to review before releasing to students. In this case, this user should only have the ability to view submissions and assign grades. The instructor maintains the ability to override and publish grades.
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > Enter Grades
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > Provide Grading Feedback
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > View Attempts
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > View Grade Center
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > View Grades
