Content Designer: Enhanced Documents

Who is this guide for?

USAHS Faculty

What does this guide cover?

This guide will cover the enhanced documents feature in Learn Ultra, which is released on August 2, 2024.

Video Demo

This video is a clip from the August 2024 Blackboard Ultra Update Session:

Document Updates

Significant enhancements have been made to the Documents feature. Enhancements work using a mouse, trackpad, or the keyboard, and all enhancements are mobile friendly for instructors and students.

Example:

Example: New Blank Document

Block Types

Documents can now be designed by selecting from a variety of block types. Each block type represents a different way to display content on screen, and is a self contained area within a Document. Each block can be adjusted in size, and moved into a column format. 

Block Type List:

• Content block - Add content via the content editor.
• Knowledge check block
  Add a knowledge check. Knowledge checks test student comprehension of a document by asking a multiple choice or multiple answer question. Knowledge checks include:
  • Feedback: You can pre-populate correct and incorrect answer feedback
  • Student interaction: Students receive immediate feedback on whether their answer is correct or incorrect. Knowledge checks allow unlimited attempts.
  • Metrics: You have access to detailed metrics about how students are engaging with the knowledge check.
• Image Block - Add an image. You can upload an image from your device. If your institution uses the AI Design Assistant feature, you can also generate images or choose stock images from Unsplash.
• HTML block - Add content via HTML or CSS in the Document.
• Knowledge Check - Add a question students can answer right in the page.
• File upload block - Browse for files on the local machine to upload to the Document.
• Cloud upload block - Login to a cloud service and select a file to add into the Document.
• Content Collection block - Browse the Content Collection and select a file to add to the Document.
• Convert a file block - Browse for files on the local machine. Once selected, the system converts the file into the Document format. Supported file types include PDF, PowerPoint (ppt, pptx, pps), and Word (doc, docx, odt).

Quick Access Panel

A quick access panel has now been added on the left of the document, below the title. This panel appears as a plus sign when collapsed:

And will expand to the full menu, containing all block types, when clicked:

Document menu bar

The menu bar contains the Edit option when in the view state. After selecting Edit, the menu bar displays the following options:

• Edit
• Add Blocks
• Undo/Redo
• Cancel
• Save

Resizing and Moving Blocks

Instructors can resize, move, and drag/drop blocks into columns and rows.

• Each row includes a menu with options to move or delete the block.
• Each block includes a menu with options to edit, move, or resize, or delete the block.

Please view this video demo to get an idea how the moving blocks functions:

Blocks can be resized by clicking on the purple anchors, then dragging across the screen. Blocks can only be adjusted horizontally. This action is demoed below: