Blackboard Learn - Class & assignment management

Quick Start for the Blackboard App

Before you begin

1. Your institution needs to enable mobile device access.

Type your institution's name in the app to check if your institution has enabled mobile device access.

2. You need a Blackboard Learn account at your institution.

You'll log in to the app with the same username and password provided by your institution.

3. Your device needs one of these operating systems to run the Blackboard Learn app.

    iOS 13+

    Android 11+

Install app and log in

Use these steps to download and install the Blackboard Learn app.

    1. From your tablet or phone, access the appropriate app store.

    2. If necessary, search for Blackboard.

    3. Install the Blackboard Learn app on your mobile device.

    4. Open the Blackboard Learn app and search for your institution's full name. If you're unable to find your institution, try modifying your search. If your institution is part of a larger institution or district, try searching for that name instead. If you still can’t find your institution, contact your institution’s IT help desk.

    4. Log in with your Blackboard Learn username and password. These are typically the same credentials you use to access your Blackboard courses on a computer.

Multi-factor authentication

If your institution enables multi-factor authentication, you need to start the MFA registration process after providing a correct name and password. You can use an authenticator app of your choice or the one suggested by your institution.

For the initial set up and login with MFA:

    1. Download and install any authenticator app (such as Microsoft Authenticator, Google Authenticator, or Authy) on your phone or device. Your institution may also have a preferred app that’s used.  

    2. Open the authenticator app and scan the image that displays using your phone's camera or copy the key that is listed.  

    3. Select Next to enter the code and associate it with your account.  

    4. Once you receive the 6-digit temporary code generated by your authentication app, type that code into the field provided and select Submit.

Once you have enabled MFA, you are now asked for a login code each time you log in.

If you lose access to your trusted device, you can request a reset of your MFA (via normal institution-defined support channels). This allows you to start the registration process of a new device. 

Touch ID

The Blackboard Learn app supports iOS Touch ID and Android fingerprint login. After you've set up that feature on your device, you can use your fingerprint to log in to the Blackboard Learn app.

    1. Log in to the Blackboard Learn app with your username and password.

    2. When prompted to use Touch ID or fingerprint login, tap Continue.

        If you're already logged into the app, go to the main menu, tap More, Settings, and toggle on Touch ID to enable it.

Face ID

The Blackboard Learn app supports iOS Face ID. Android facial recognition isn't supported at this time. After you've set up Face ID on your device, you can use facial recognition to log in to the Blackboard Learn app.

    1. Log in to the Blackboard Learn app with your username and password.

    2. Access Settings from the app's main menu.

    3. Tap Face ID and enable it.

    4. The next time you log into the app you'll be prompted to use Face ID. Select Continue.

Tests and Assignments in the Blackboard App

Stay organized

The app helps you stay organized and know when tests and assignments are due.

    Activity Stream lets you know when new course content, assignments, and tests are available and when work is due. Click an item in the activity stream to go right to your course.

    Due Dates for all of your courses are shown in the main menu. Within courses, you see due dates for that course only. Learn more about due dates.

    Course Content for each course lists due dates with assignments and tests.

    Push notifications appear on your device even if you don't have the Blackboard app open. 

Assignments

1. Access an assignment from Due Dates in the menu or in a course.

2. Read the assignment details.

    In the app, assignment instructions for Original courses show after students begin an attempt. For Ultra courses, the description shows before students begin an attempt.

3. Tap Start Attempt.

4. Complete the questions.

5. Tap Add Content.

    File attachments for Original courses

    File attachments for Ultra courses

6. Tap Save for Later or Save and Close if you aren't done working or Submit to turn in your work now.

Tests

You can access tests from the activity stream, Due Dates in the main menu or within a course, Grades in the main menu or within a course, or within a course's content.

Take a test

    1. Access a test from Due Dates in the menu or in a course.

    2. Read the test details.

    3. Tap Start Attempt.

    4. Answer the questions. For Ultra tests, you can provide additional text and files to support your answers.

    5. File attachments for Ultra courses

    6. Tap Save for Later if you aren't finished working or Submit to turn in your test now.

Courses and Organizations in the Blackboard App

Courses and Organizations

Finding Courses. Select the Courses button in the main menu to see all the courses where you're enrolled as a student, instructor, TA, course builder, or other custom roles.

Finding Organizations. To view organizations where you're a participant, select More in the main menu icon and then Organizations. Organizations behave like courses and contain tools that enable members to communicate. For every organization where you’re a participant/leader, you can access content, view and create announcements, and participate in or moderate discussions.

Course list in Original and Ultra Experience

The course list shows you the courses you participate in (both currently and in the past). Select a course's star button to favorite it and move it to the top of the course list. You can favorite courses in the app or a web browser and they'll display as favorites across both locations.

The course list includes status indicators for each course. These indicators help you identify course status:

    Private 

    Open

    Complete

Courses set to Private by an instructor show in the list. If you’re a student, you can't access them until your instructor opens the courses. If you’re an instructor, you can access these courses in the Blackboard Learn app. Also, instructors can open Ultra courses or make them private in the web browser view of Learn.

Completed or upcoming courses and organizations

If you have completed or upcoming courses and organizations, select Current to change your view. Courses and organizations show in the current, completed, or upcoming lists based on the duration or status set by your instructor or administrator.

If you’re an instructor, courses you set to Private show in the list. You can access these courses in the Blackboard Learn app.

Keep in mind students can see Private course cards in the Blackboard Learn app, but can't access them until an instructor opens the courses to students.

Questions about the Blackboard App

1. Which devices are compatible with the app?

You need a device with one of these operating systems:

    iOS 13+

    Android 11+

2. What if my school doesn't appear when I search?

On the app’s login screen, search for the name of your school. 

If your school doesn’t appear in the search, please contact your institution’s help desk. The help desk can let you know if mobile access is enabled for your school, the correct name to search for, and if there are any technical issues preventing the school from appearing in your search. You can usually find a help desk link or email on your school's website.

3. How do I get help with my username or password?

Anthology doesn't have access to user account information. To reset or retrieve your login credentials, contact your institution's IT help desk. You can usually find a help desk link or email on your institution's Blackboard Learn website.

4. Does the Blackboard Learn app work for instructors?

Yes. Instructors and students both have access to the Blackboard Learn app.

Key Features:

For students:

- Stay informed about course updates and content

- Receive notifications regarding course events and modifications

- Complete assignments and exams

- Check grades for courses, assignments, and exams

- And more

For instructors:

- Manage course materials and evaluations

- Receive alerts for submissions that need grading

- Grade assignments

- Send course announcements

- Initiate discussion board interactions and respond to comments

- And more

We value feedback! If you have any inquiries or suggestions, please use the in-app feedback feature to enhance the application.

Please note: This app is a collaborative tool between our software and your institution's Blackboard Learn server. Blackboard cannot guarantee compatibility with content created by instructors or other users. Access needs to be authorized by your institution. Certain features may be limited if your institution has not updated its software or experiences server issues.