Blackboard Assessments & Grading

Types of Assessment

Available in both Original View and Ultra View courses

• Assignments
• Discussions
• Journals
• Quizzes, Tests, and Exams

Please note that blogs, wikis, and surveys are also available in Original View courses.

Grading Tools

Available in both Original View and Ultra View courses

• Rubrics
• Written Feedback
• Grade Management

Accessibility

Blackboard Learn offers accessibility features that allows users to easily navigate and read the Blackboard Learn web interface. The web interface supports screen readers for all available creator and viewer interfaces. The web interface also supports keyboard access, allowing you to use the tab key to access all available functions. All sessions fully support adding and displaying captions. For additional information on Blackboard Learn’s accessibility features, please visit Blackboard Learn’s Accessibility Conformance Report (WCAG Edition).

Compliance

Blackboard provides secure, private, online communication of FERPA-sensitive information in addition to group spaces where students and instructors can interact and exchange information that is not FERPA-sensitive. Restrictions that apply to your classroom teaching also apply in the Blackboard Learn environment, such as not allowing students to see others’ grades or graded work and not using external email to communicate FERPA-sensitive information.

Blackboard does not warrant or provide any assurances that your use of the Products will comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. For more information, visit the Blackboard Terms of Use page or contact us at LTS@uic.edu.

The following steps will guide you in creating an assignment in an Original View course:

1. Select the area in the course site that you want to place the assignment in, and from the Assessments drop-down select Assignment; this will open up a new screen.
2. Start by adding a title; recommend using a unique name with Module or Week number referenced (e.g., Module 02 – Learning Theories Assignment).
3. Then in the Instructions text box add text for instructions, submission requirements, attachments, etc.
4. Next, scroll down to begin editing the assignment settings, including the due date, points, grading rubric, submission details, grading options, display of grades, availability, and more.
5. Once the settings are edited select Submit.

Please note that newly created assessments will show up at the bottom of the folder. You will need to move the assessment where you would like it to be placed after it is created.

Original View Tutorials

• Quick Guide — Assignments
• Video — Blackboard Assignments (9:24 minutes)
• Assignment Grade Settings — Blackboard Help
• Quick Guide — SafeAssign

The following steps will guide you in creating an assignment in an Ultra View course:

1. Hover over the area in the course site that you want to place the assignment in, and a purple line with a plus sign and a circle around it will appear.
2. Click the plus sign with the circle.
3. Next, select Create from the dropdown menu; this will open a side panel on the right-hand side of the screen.
4. Under Assessment select Assignment, this will open up a new screen.
5. Start by changing the title (default is New Assignment and date); recommend using a unique name with Module or Week number referenced (e.g., Module 02 – Learning Theories Assignment).
6. Select the plus sign with a circle around it to add instructions, submission requirements, text, questions, and attachments.
7. Next, select the gears icon on the right side of the screen to edit the assignment settings, including the due date, attempts, adding a rubric, and more.
8. Once settings are edited select Save.

Please note that newly created assignments are Hidden from students by default; select the drop-down from the top right to change to Visible to Students or Release Conditions. Scroll down to the Getting Started with Accommodations & Assessment Exceptions section for more information on enabling accommodations and exceptions.

Ultra View Tutorials

• Video — Create an Assignment in the Ultra Course View (1:02 minutes)
• Create and Edit Assignments — Blackboard Help
• Assignment Grade Settings — Blackboard Help

The following steps will guide you in creating a group assignment in an Original View course:

1. First, create the groups for the course under Course Management – Users and Groups.
2. Next, create an assignment by following the steps above in Getting Started with Assignments.
3. While editing the assignment settings, scroll down in the assignment settings to Submission Details and click on the title to expand submission details.
4. Under Assignment Type select Group Submission; this will display all the created groups in the course.
5. Under Items to Select, you can use the Select All button or individually select groups.
6. Once the groups are highlighted, click the arrow to move the groups to the Selected Items.
7. Once completed select Submit.

Original View Tutorials

• Groups — Blackboard Help
• Creating Group Assignments — Blackboard Help

The following steps will guide you in creating a group assignment in an Ultra View course:

1. Please note that in Ultra View, you do not need to create the groups first.
2. First, create an assignment by following the steps above in Getting Started with Assignments.
3. While editing the assignment settings, scroll down to Assigned groups under Additional Tools and click on Assign to groups.
4. From this new screen you can create your groups and when completed select Save.
5. From the assignment screen, you will see the number of groups assigned to the assignment.

You can also access the Course Groups under the Details & Actions section on the left side of the course site.

Ultra View Tutorials

Creating Group Assignments — Blackboard Help

The following steps will guide you in creating a discussion in an Original View course:

1. Select the area in the course site that you want to place the discussion in, and from the Tools drop-down select Discussion Board; this will open up a new screen.
2. Discussion Board options:
   1. Link to a Discussion Board page (links to all forums)
   2. Select a Discussion Board Forum (existing forums)
   3. Create New Forum
3. Select the Create New Forum button, this will open a new screen.
4. Start by adding a title; recommend using a unique name with Module or Week number referenced (e.g., Module 03 – Taxonomies Discussion).
5. Add any description you want for this forum, including a prompt for the initial post and reply post(s), add any links or attachments, etc.
6. Next, scroll down to edit the forum settings, including display, view, grading, and more.
7. Once settings are edited select Submit, this will bring you back to the Create Link screen to select the Select a Discussion Board Forum.
8. Then click on the forum you just created and select Next; this will open the Link Information screen.
9. You can add a description for students in the text box, track views, and add date restrictions then when done click Submit.

Please note that newly created assessments will show up at the bottom of the folder. You will need to move the assessment where you would like it to be placed after it is created.

Original View Tutorials

• Quick Guide — Discussion Board
• Video — Use Discussions in the Original Course View (2:35 minutes)
• Create Discussions – Blackboard Help

The following steps will guide you in creating a discussion in an Ultra View course:

1. Hover over the area in the course site that you want to place the assignment in, and a purple line with a plus sign and a circle around it will appear.
2. Click the plus sign with the circle.
3. Next, select Create from the dropdown menu; this will open a side panel on the right-hand side of the screen.
4. Under Participation and Engagement select Discussion; this will open up a new screen.
5. Start by changing the title (default is New Discussion and date); recommend using a unique name with Module or Week number referenced (e.g., Module 03 – Taxonomies Discussion).
6. Next, add the instructions in the open text box, including a prompt for the initial post and reply post(s), add any links or attachments, and then select Save.
7. Next, select the gears icon on the right side of the screen to edit the discussion settings, including how the discussion will be displayed, post first, and grade discussion that opens up the due date, points, adding a rubric, and groups.
8. Once settings are edited select Save.

Please note that newly created discussions are Hidden from students by default, and select the drop-down from the top right to change to Visible to Students or Release Conditions. Scroll down to the Getting Started with Accommodations & Assessment Exceptions section for more information on enabling accommodations and exceptions.

Ultra View Tutorials

• Video — Create a Discussion in the Ultra Course View (2:01 minutes)
• Create Discussions — Blackboard Help

The following steps will guide you in creating a journal in an Original View course:

1. Select the area in the course site that you want to place the journal in, and from the Tools drop-down select Journals; this will open up a new screen.
2. Journal options:
   1. Link to the Journal page (links to all journals)
   2. Link to a Journal (existing journal)
   3. Create New Journal
3. Select the Create New Journal button; this will open a new screen.
4. Start by adding a title; recommend using a unique name with Module or Week number referenced (e.g., Module 01 – Theories Journal).
5. Add any description you want for this journal, including a prompt for the journal entry, add any links or attachments, etc.
6. Next, scroll down to edit the journal settings, including availability, index entries, grade settings, and more.
7. Once settings are edited select Submit; this will bring you back to the Create Link screen to select the Link to a Journal.
8. And then click on the journal you just created and select Next; this will open the Link Information screen.
9. You can add a description for students in the text box, track views, and add date restrictions then once done click Submit.

Please note that newly created assessments will show up at the bottom of the folder. You will need to move the assessment where you would like it to be placed after it is created.

Original View Tutorials

• Video — How to Create a Journal (2:39 minutes)
• Journals — Blackboard Help

The following steps will guide you in creating a journal in an Ultra View course:

1. Hover over the area in the course site that you want to place the assignment in, and a purple line with a plus sign and a circle around it will appear.
2. Click the plus sign with the circle.
3. Next, select Create from the dropdown menu; this will open a side panel on the right-hand side of the screen.
4. Under Participation and Engagement select Journal; this will open up a new screen.
5. Start by changing the title (default is New Journal and date); recommend using a unique name with Module or Week number referenced (e.g., Module 01 – Theories Journal).
6. Add the instructions in the open text box, including a prompt for the journal entry, add any links or attachments, and then select Save.
7. Next, select the gears icon on the right side of the screen to edit the journal settings, including users ability to edit or delete and enable grading of the journal, including due date, points, and adding a rubric.
8. Once settings are edited select Save.

Please note that newly created journals are Hidden from students by default, and select the drop-down from the top right to change to Visible to Students or Release Conditions. Scroll down to the Getting Started with Accommodations & Assessment Exceptions section for more information on enabling accommodations and exceptions.

Ultra View Tutorials

• Video — Creating a Journal in the Ultra Course View (1:04 minutes)
• Journals — Blackboard Help

The following steps will guide you in creating a quiz, test, or exam in an Original View course:

1. Select the area in the course site that you want to place the assignment in, and from the Assessments drop-down select Test; this will open up a new screen Add Test.
2. Test options:
   1. Create a New Test
   2. Add an Existing Test
3. Select the Create button; this will open the Test Information screen.
4. Start by adding a title; recommend using a unique name with Module or Week number referenced (e.g., Module 01 – Learning Domains Quiz).
5. Add a description and instructions in the text boxes then select Submit; this will open the question building page.
6. Question options:
   1. Create Question (see Question Types article below)
   2. Reuse Question
   3. Upload Question
7. Once all the questions have been created, select OK; this will bring you back to the Add Test screen.
8. Then click on the test you just created and select Submit; this will open the Test Information screen.
9. Next, scroll down to begin editing the Test settings, including availability, attempts, timer, due date, results, presentation, and more.
10. Once the settings are edited select Submit.

Please note that newly created assessments will show up at the bottom of the folder. You will need to move the assessment where you would like it to be placed after it is created.

Original View Tutorials

• Quick Guide — Tests and Surveys
• Video — Blackboard Tests (12:25 minutes)
• Question Types — Blackboard Help

The following steps will guide you in creating a quiz, test, or exam in an Ultra View course:

1. Hover over the area in the course site that you want to place the assignment in, and a purple line with a plus sign and a circle around it will appear.
2. Click the plus sign with the circle.
3. Next, select Create from the dropdown menu; this will open a side panel on the right-hand side of the screen.
4. Under Assessment select Test; this will open up a new screen.
5. Start by changing the title (default is New Test and date); recommend using a unique name with Module or Week number referenced (e.g., Module 01 – Learning Domains Quiz).
6. Select the plus sign with a circle around it to add text, questions, and attachments.
   1. Question options: question pool, calculated formula, essay, fill in the blank, matching, multiple choice, true/false, and reuse questions.
7. Next, select the gears icon on the right side of the screen to edit the quiz settings, including due date, attempts, adding a rubric, assigning to groups, and more.
8. Once settings are edited select Save.

Please note that newly created assessments are Hidden from students by default, and select the drop-down from the top right to change to Visible to Students or Release Conditions. Scroll down to the Getting Started with Accommodations & Assessment Exceptions section for more information on enabling accommodations and exceptions.

Ultra View Tutorials

• Video — Create a Test in the Ultra Course View (1:17 minutes)
• Create Tests — Blackboard Help
• Question Types — Blackboard Help

The following steps will guide you in creating rubrics in an Original View course:

1. Select the assignment, discussion, journal, quiz, test, or exam that you want to add a rubric to and click Edit.
2. Once the assessment settings are open, scroll down to the grading section in assignments and click the Add Rubric drop-down.
3. Rubric options:
   1. Select Rubric (reusing existing rubric – no changes needed)
   2. Create New Rubric
   3. Create From Existing (editing existing rubric – changes needed)
4. If you need to create a new rubric, select Create New Rubric; this will open a new screen.
5. Start by changing the title (default is New Rubric and date), recommend modeling rubric title after specific assignment (e.g., Module 02 – Learning Theories Rubric) or if creating a rubric for one type of assessment then use a general title with course name (e.g., Discussion Rubric for ENG).
6. Begin by determining if you want a point-based rubric (recommended) or percentage-based rubric.
7. Then add or delete rows or columns on the rubric table to match the assessment needs and grading criteria.
8. Next, define the grading criteria, determine total points for each criterion, describe the levels of achievement, and assign points for each level.
9. Once the rubric is completed select Submit.

Original View Tutorials

• Video – Rubrics: Make Grading Easier (6:59 minutes)
• Rubrics – Blackboard Help

The following steps will guide you in creating rubrics in an Ultra View course:

1. Select the assignment, discussion, journal, quiz, test, or exam that you want to add a rubric to.
2. Once the assessment is open, then select the gear icon on the right side of the screen, this will open the assessment settings panel.
3. Scroll down to the Additional Tools section and select Add grading rubric.
4. Next, determine if you want a point-based rubric (recommended) or percentage-based rubric (from this screen you can also select existing rubrics in your course and add it to the assessment).
5. If you need to create a new rubric, select Create New Rubric; this will open a new screen.
6. Start by changing the title (default is New Rubric and date), recommend modeling rubric title after specific assignment (e.g., Module 02 – Learning Theories Rubric) or if creating a rubric for one type of assessment then use a general title with course name (e.g., Discussion Rubric for ENG).
7. Begin by adding or deleting rows or columns on the rubric table to match the assessment needs and grading criteria.
8. Next, define the grading criteria, determine total points for each criterion, describe the levels of achievement, and assign points for each level.
9. Once the rubric is completed select Save.

Ultra View Tutorials

• Video – Create Rubrics in the Ultra Course View (1:46 minutes)
• Rubrics — Blackboard Help

The following steps will guide you in setting up the grade center in an Original View course:

1. After creating all the assessments in the course.
2. Under Course Management (left side navigation panel), select Grade Center then Full Grade Center; this will open the Grade Center screen.
3. Review your assessments to check that you have correct titles, etc.
4. Select the Manage drop-down for Grade Center options, including grading periods, schemas, color codes, categories, smart views, and more.
5. You can create additional columns or calculated columns in the Grade Center as well.

Original View Tutorials

• Video – Navigating Grade Center (10:26 minutes)
• Grading Schemas – Blackboard Help
• Grade Columns – Blackboard Help
• Assign Grades – Blackboard Help
• Solutions for Grade Center Problems – Article

The following steps will guide you in setting up the gradebook in an Ultra View course:

1. After creating all the assessments in the course.
2. Select Gradebook from the top left of the course; this will open the gradebook screen.
3. You can view the gradebook in list or grid view (at the top left-side of the screen).
4. Review your assessments to check that you have correct titles, due dates, etc.
5. You will see a message at the bottom of the screen “Set up the overall grade!” if you haven’t set up the overall grade information.
6. Click the Set It Up button; this will open a new screen called Overall Grade.
   1. Select how the overall grade is calculated: gradebook item weights (weights each item individually) or grade category weights (weights by category)
   2. Select how the overall grade is displayed: letter or percentage
   3. Edit overall grade percentages for either the categories or individual items.
   4. Once completed select Save.
7. Next, select the gears icon on the right side of the screen to edit the gradebook settings, including grading schema, automatic zeros, overall grade, grade categories, course rubrics, and more.
8. Hover over the area where you want to add an item, calculation, or attendance and a purple line with a plus sign and a circle around it will appear to add the element to the gradebook.

Ultra View Tutorials

• Grading Schemas – Blackboard Help
• Grade Columns – Blackboard Help
• Assign Grades – Blackboard Help

The following steps will guide you in grading and providing feedback in an Original View course:

1. Under Course Management (left side navigation panel), select Grade Center then Needs Grading; this will open the Needs Grading screen.
2. Select the submission you want to grade; this will open a new screen showing the assignment, rubric (if created), and originality report (if enabled).
3. If you have created a clickable rubric for grading, then click on the heading to open it.
   1. Now click on the levels of achievement for each grading criterion to assign points and add text feedback in each grading criterion feedback box.
4. You can also use the annotation tool to draw, highlight, or comment directly on the submission.

Original View Tutorials

• Assignment Inline Grading — Blackboard Help

The following steps will guide you in grading and providing feedback in an Ultra View course:

1. Select Gradebook from the top left of the course; this will open the gradebook screen.
2. Next, select the assessment you want to grade; this will open a new screen.
3. Then select the submission you want to grade; this will open a new screen showing the assignment, rubric (if created), originality report (if enabled), and feedback (displayed on the right-hand side of the screen).
4. If you have created a clickable rubric for grading, then click on the heading to open it.
   1. Now click on the levels of achievement for each grading criterion to assign points and add text feedback in each grading criterion feedback box.
5. If you have not created a rubric, then select the pencil next to the Feedback for Student section to add in comments and suggestions.
6. You can also use the annotation tool to draw, highlight, or comment directly on the submission.

Ultra View Tutorials

• Video — Grading Assignments in the Ultra Course View (1:10 minutes)
• Assignment Inline Grading — Blackboard Help

The following steps will guide you in setting up accommodations & assessment exceptions in an Original View course:

1. Determine the Test or Survey that you want to add a test availability exception to.
2. Select Edit Test Options, and then scroll down to Test Availability Exceptions.
3. Click the Add User or Group button; this will open a new window listing students.
4. Select the student(s) you want to enable the test availability exception for, and then click Submit.
5. Test Availability Exceptions options:
   1. Attempts
   2. Timer
   3. Availability
6. Once completed select Submit.

Please note that if adaptive release items are required, such as Display After/Until then adaptive release needs to be on.

Original View Tutorials

• Test Availability Exceptions (under Tests and Survey Options section) – scroll down to the end of the section in Blackboard Help.

The following steps will guide you in setting up accommodations in an Ultra View course:

1. Select the Roster under Details & Actions section on the left side of the course site.
2. Find the student you want to enable an accommodation for, then click the three dots by their name, and then select Accommodations; this will open a side panel on the right side of the screen.
3. Accommodation options:
   1. Due date accommodation
   2. Time limit accommodation: custom percentage or unlimited
4. Once completed, select Save.

Please note that an accommodation applies to all due dates or time limits in your course for an individual student.

The following steps will guide you in setting up assessment exceptions in an Ultra View course:

1. Select the assessment that you want to add an assessment exception to.
2. Once the assessment is open, click on the Submission section on the upper right hand side of the screen; this will open the submission screen.
3. Find the student(s) you want to enable an assessment exception for, then click the three dots to the right of their name, and then select Add or edit exceptions; this will open a side panel on the right side of the screen.
4. Assessment exception options:
   1. Show on
   2. Hide after
   3. Attempts allowed
5. Once completed, select Save.

Please note that exceptions are different from accommodations you set in the course roster. Exceptions aren’t allowed for due dates and time limits for an individual student or group at this time in Ultra View courses. Exceptions are only allowed for the show on and hide after dates and additional attempts.

Ultra View Tutorials

• Video – Grant Accommodations in the Ultra Course View (1:14 minutes)
• About Accommodations (under Roster section) – scroll down to the end of the section in Blackboard Help
• Video – Grant Assessment Exceptions in the Ultra Course View (1:19 minutes)
• About Assessment Exceptions (under Test and Survey Options section) – scroll down to the end of the section in Blackboard Help

Real Engagement: Tips on Effective Use of Discussion Boards (52 min) | Alan Schwartz, director and faculty member for UIC’s online Master of Health Professions Education

• Webinar Recording
• Handout 1 – 2-Day Discussion Participation
• Handout 2 – Substantive Discussion Comments
• Chat Transcripts PDF

Using Blackboard Annotate to Effectively Grade Online Students (43 min) | Jamie Chriqui from the UIC School of Public Health’s Division of Health Policy and Administration

• Webinar Recording
• Using Blackboard Annotate Presentation
• Chat Transcript PDF