This document will answer frequently asked questions that faculty have about HTML and its availability in Blackboard Ultra.
What is HTML?
“HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the most basic building block of the Web. It defines the meaning and structure of web content. Other technologies besides HTML are generally used to describe a web page’s appearance/presentation (CSS) or functionality/behavior (JavaScript).”
“HTML: HyperText Markup Language” by Mozilla is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5
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Why isn’t the HTML editor available in Blackboard Ultra?
Blackboard Ultra’s “Add HTML” feature conflicts with the functionality and display of courses in Blackboard Original, so it is important to establish a higher percentage of migrated Ultra courses until this feature can be enabled.
The “Add HTML” feature will be enabled in Blackboard Ultra on April 22, 2022 at 11 p.m. The “Add HTML” feature will allow users to add HTML content within an Ultra document.
What does Embedded HTML look like in Blackboard Ultra?
At this time, instructors can link out to their interactive learning objects (e.g. H5P, Adobe Spark, Padlet, etc.) within an Ultra Document. These interactive learning objects are created outside of Blackboard and will open in a new tab in a user’s browser. See image below:
Alternatively, instructors can recreate the content in an Ultra Document and insert content currently supported by Blackboard Ultra (e.g. image, media, YouTube video). See image below:
What is the difference between HTML pages and embedded HTML?
- HTML Pages / standalone HTML Pages / “Mini websites”
These are HTML pages that are created outside of Blackboard. In Original, they would have been uploaded to the Content Collection and added to the course as Original Files, which then would be displayed within a container inside of the course. In Ultra, these HTML pages open in a new tab in a user’s browser.
To tell whether your content is an HTML page in Original is if you go to “Edit” the content piece. See image below:
If the settings show that it’s a File and the File Name ends in “.html”, then it is an HTML page. See image below:
- Embedded HTML
This refers to code that was added using the Original WYSIWYG/content editor with the “Source code” function. Embedded HTML can be found in any Original content type that allows users to add content using the Original WYSIWYG/content editor. See image below:
NOTE: Once the “Add HTML” feature us enabled in Blackboard Ultra, this will convert.
Common embedded HTML content includes:
- Videos that were added using YouTube/Vimeo embed code (not an Original Mashup)
- H5P activities that were added using the H5P embed code
- Other digital educational tools that you can add with an embedded code (e.g. Padlet, EdPuzzle, Quizlet)
- Styling of content using CSS
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Is there a simple way to embed H5P content in Ultra without the HTML editor?
- Unfortunately, this feature is not yet available in Blackboard Ultra. Most instructors are linking to it in eCampus in the interim.
- Workaround 1: link to the H5P activity on eCampus
- Workaround 2: convert it to a SCORM package and upload it
- “You need to build out your activity within H5P (eCampus Ontario provides us with free access). Once the activity is finalized you would have to download the .h5p file. Go to the H5P SCORM Packager and upload the .h5p. You can modify a few settings here and more once you set it up within Blackboard. The website will package the activity and download it on to your computer as a .zip… upload to BB as a SCORM package and you’re on your way.”
- Workaround 3: add the H5P embed code to a blank HTML page* and upload it to Blackboard Ultra.
- Walkthrough Video: Adding an H5P Web Page to Your Ultra Course
- *A blank HTML5 page is not to be confused with a Blackboard Original Blank Page. Creating a blank HTML page is done outside of Blackboard using either Notepad for Windows or TextEdit for Mac.
How are the two methods, copy content and export/import, different when converting HTML pages into Blackboard Ultra?
Courses with a “mini-website” structure (HTML files with other associated files such as CSS and JavaScript) will only convert with “Course copy”. Exporting and importing a course package does not bring over external CSS, JavaScript, and other associated files, which means the HTML pages will not look and function as designed.
What type of HTML code will not work in Blackboard Ultra?
Any HTML, CSS, and/or JavaScript custom code that was added through the Original WYSIWYG/content editor in Blackboard Original will not work in Blackboard Ultra until the “Add HTML” feature is enabled.
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Can I copy Blank Pages from Blackboard Original into Blackboard Ultra?
Blank Pages are not supported in Blackboard Ultra, so they will not copy over.
Can I have a complex table in Blackboard Ultra?
Complex tables (with merged cells) will not display correctly in Blackboard Ultra. They are also not accessible.