Creating Discussions in Blackboard Ultra

Current Issues & Bugs:

The following are known issues with this feature in Blackboard Ultra. For workarounds and estimated fix timelines please refer to the Blackboard Ultra Issues and Workarounds document.

  • Discussions – Users can’t subscribe to discussion forums. 

A discussion is a place for the class to discuss certain topics, post ideas, and carry a conversation asynchronously. You can create Discussions in the Discussions area of the course, or directly on the Course Content area.  You can also allow students to create their own discussion topics.

To create your Discussion on the Course Content page:

  1. Locate where you would like to add the discussion forum and select the plus sign > Create.
    drop-down menu for plus-sign on course content
  2. On the Create Item panel, select Discussion.
    Discussion found on Create Item panel
  3. For help creating your Discussion, see the Create your discussion section below.

To create your Discussion on the Discussion page:

  1. Select Discussions on the navigation bar at the top of your Blackboard page.
  2. At the top right of the page, select the plus-sign.
    Plus sign on the Discussion page
  3. Select Add Discussion.
    adding a discussion on the discussion page
  4. For help creating your Discussion, see the Create your discussion section below.

To create discussion:

  1. On the New Discussion page, enter a meaningful and descriptive title.
    Enter title on New Discussion page
  2. In the Text Editor, enter the discussion topic as well as any other relevant instructions. For tips on how to use the Text Editor, see Using the Text Editor.
    Text Editor on New Discussion page
  3. New discussions are hidden by default. To make the discussion visible to students, select Hidden from students (top-right corner). A drop-down menu will appear, select Visible to students.
    Make discussion available to students
  4. If you want to select release conditions, see Navigating Conditional Release.
  5. Set the discussion settings by selecting the settings icon (top-right corner). The Discussion Settings panel will open on the right.
    1. Display on Course Content page: This option will allow you to include the discussion forum alongside other course content.
    2. Post First: Select Post first to hide discussion activity from students until they respond to the discussion.
    3. Grade Discussion: You can make the discussion count for a grade. When you choose to grade a discussion, Blackboard ULTRA will prompt you to choose a due date, the grade format, and the maximum points.
      1. NOTE: when you enable grading for a discussion, a column is automatically created in the Gradebook.
    4. Add groups: You can assign students to discussion groups.

To allow students to create discussion topics:

  1. On the Navigation bar, select Discussions and then select the Settings icon (top-right corner).
    Settings icon on Discussion page
  2. Select Allow students to create discussion topics.
    Discussion Settings on Discussion page
    NOTE: Student-created discussions appear on the Discussion page with the label “Created by student”.

To edit or delete a discussion:

  1. On the Discussion page, open the Discussion’s menu (3 dots) > Edit/Delete.
    edit or delete a discussion
  2. You can delete an entire discussion along with all the responses and replies, or you can choose to delete specific responses and/or replies.
    edit or delete a discussion's response

Video

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