Student Training: Blackboard App

Blackboard App

Download the Blackboard app and install it on your device. The app is free and can be downloaded from the following locations:

• Apple App Store for iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch

• Google Play Store for Android devices

Next, launch the app on your device and search for Wichita State University. Enter in your WSUID and password then click the Log In button.

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Set up Notifications

• Access the Settings screen in the Blackboard App by selecting More from the bottom menu. 

 

• Select Settings. 

 

• Select Stream notifications (which show up in your Blackboard Activity Stream), Email notifications, or Push notifications to determine which notifcations you would like to receive, and how often. Your device may require you to allow push notifications in order to receive them. 

Activity Stream

The Activity Stream gives you an up-to-date list of new activity in your courses, including announcements, new content, and more. 

Tap the item in the stream to start working on it. If you want to go to the course outline instead, tap on the course name. 

Stream items

• Alerts from your school (Blackboard Learn system announcements)
• Course announcements
• Tests and assignments that are due today or this week
• Instructor changes to due dates
• Calendar events for today and the week
• Instructor changes to events
• Grades posted for tests, assignments
• Item added for course items, assignments, tests
• Missed, overdue, and completed assignments and tests

Dismiss items

In the app's activity stream, you can dismiss items in the Important section after you read them.

• When you dismiss a course announcement, it's no longer accessible in the app's Activity Stream on any device. The announcement is still available in Announcements within the course.
• When you dismiss a system announcement, you're unable to access it in the app temporarily. The announcement may reappear later.
• Dismissing announcements in the app doesn't carry over to your web view of Blackboard Learn.

For more information about the Activity Stream in the App, visit Blackboard's App Activity Stream page.

Course Content

Course Content in the Blackboard App looks similar to the browser version. 

Selecting Course in the main menu will display all of your courses. Change the view by tapping the chevron at the top of the page next to Current.

Within the app, you can see folders, documents, assessments, and all the other items posted in your course. 

Most file types (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, PDF) will open inside the Blackboard app. Content that is not supported inside the app will open in a browser window. 

In addition, Blackboard Ally allows you to generate alternative file formats for course content to make it more accessible. 

 

Assignments in the Blackboard App differ depending on whether your course is in Original format or Ultra format. Those differences are noted below. 

Steps for submitting assignments

1. Find the assignment in the Activity Stream, in Due Dates in the main menu, or inside the course.
2. Read the assignment details. 
3. Tap Start Attempt, and complete the assignment.
4. If required, tap Add Content.
   
   • In Ultra format, type text in the text box and use the menu tools for formatting. Tap the plus sign to add formulas, links, images or videos from Web, files, or other content. Select Insert Files to browse your computer or the cloud for an image or a file. Select Video Studio to record or upload video or audio. 

Not all test questions are compatible with the Blackboard App. For best results, complete assessments in a browser on a laptop or desktop. 

If a test is not supported in mobile, you will see a message directing you to take the assessment on a desktop, instead. 

Steps for Completing Tests and Quizzes 

Tests in the Blackboard App differ depending on whether your course is in Original format or Ultra format. Those differences are notated below. 

1. Find the tests in the activity stream, Due Dates in the main menu or within a course, or within a course's content.  
2. Read the test instructions.
3. Tap Start Attempt and complete the test. 
4. If required add additional text or attach files to supplement your test. Type text in the text box and use the menu tools for formatting. Tap the plus sign to add formulas, links, images or videos from Web, files, or other content. Select Insert Files to browse your computer or the cloud for an image or a file. Select Video Studio to record or upload video or audio. 
5. Tap Save for Later if you aren't finished working, or Submit to turn in your test. If you see Drafts are Disabled, your instructor selected a setting that requires you to complete the test in one sitting.

Participate in Discussions

Discussions look a bit different in the mobile app.

You can read course discussions, start threads, and reply to posts. After you select a discussion, tap Start Thread to begin a new conversation. Type your message. Tap Start now to post it.

The Start Thread button appears only if your instructor selected settings that allow you to create threads.

Alternatively, tap an existing thread to participate in it. Tap Add Reply and then type your message. Tap Add Reply again to post your message to the rest of the class.

Edit and delete posts

You can edit or delete your own posts only if your instructor made those options available to you in the discussion's settings. You can't edit or delete others' posts. If you post a message in error and the option to delete it isn't available to you, contact your instructor.

Tap a discussion post or reply that you authored. The Edit and Delete options appear. If the options are grayed out, your instructor hasn't allowed these functions.

You'll be asked to confirm deletion of a post or reply because this action is not reversible. Your instructor determines if you can delete just your post or your post and all of its replies. If you're allowed to delete your post and all replies, all posts are permanently deleted. If you're editing a message, you aren't asked to confirm the action.

Graded discussions

Instructors can choose to grade entire forums or individual discussion threads. Forums and threads can also be ungraded.

When you access a discussion that is graded, the maximum score is listed. After your instructor grades the discussion, the date and time of grading shows.

View discussion grades

From Course Overview, tap your Current Grade and view scores for your discussion contributions. Tap the discussion grade to view your posts, instructor feedback, and any associated grading rubrics.

Grading rubrics

If your instructor associated a grading rubric with a discussion, you can tap Grading Rubric to see a breakdown of scoring requirements. Rubrics are available only in Original courses in the app at this time. For Ultra discussions, please access rubrics in the web view of your course.

Grades 

You can access your grades in two ways.

• Select More on the main menu, then select Grades.
• From an individual course:
  • Select Gradebook for an Ultra course
  • View Course Overview in an Original course

Grades for all Courses

Select Grades on the main menu to see a quick view of your overall grades for all courses. Your instructor's settings determine whether your grade is displayed as a letter, percentage, or points.  The Grades page displays three items at a time, and each grade pill displays corresponding grade colors.

Grades for individual courses

Select a course to view items that your recently graded work and activities due within seven days. Select View More to access the gradebook for all graded work in your course. Select an item to navigate to that specific assessment or activity.

• When you select a graded discussion, you see the entire discussion. To see a collection of your own posts, access your course on a web browser.
• Grading rubrics are listed under Details if your instructor associated a rubric with the item. In the app, you can view the rubric to see descriptions and point values for each criterion. Access your course on a desktop web browser to see the points earned and written feedback for each criterion as well as overall rubric feedback from your instructor.
• You may see calculated grades, such as running totals, if your instructor uses them. Select a graded item to view its details, a list of your attempts, and the dates and times you submitted.

Feedback

Your instructor may provide feedback on your assignments and tests. In Ultra, feedback can include text, attached files, multimedia, and inline grading notes on files you have submitted. 

Troubleshooting

For more detailed information about the Blackboard App, visit the Blackboard Learn App Help page.