Base Navigation
On May 15, 2022, WPU Blackboard will activate Blackboard Learn Ultra Base Navigation. This is the first step of a phased transition from the Original format to the new Ultra format. While this upgrade will lead to many improvements to user experience and navigation within Blackboard, the changes happen outside of course sites and will not affect course content, structure, functionality, and tools.
| In Blackboard Learn, base navigation is a user interface and the experience a user has outside of a course. Base Navigation, which will be enabled on May 22, 2022, is a new and modern user interface and experience in Blackboard Learn Ultra and a new way of navigating Blackboard.
Compared to Blackboard Learn Original, which is what we currently have, Base Navigation provides many improved user experiences:
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Base Navigation Datasheets
| Navigation Datasheet - Faculty | Navigation Datasheet - Students
File:Base Navigation Datasheet Students.pdf Navigation Datasheet - Students |
Base Navigation Videos
Base Navigation - Instructor Overview
Base Navigation - Student Overview
What Changes to Expect?
Base Navigation is part of the Blackboard Learn Ultra, which is comprised of:
- Base Navigation – the main navigational structure
- Original Course View – the current course format
- Ultra Course View – the new course format
Enabling Base Navigation brings some changes in user experience and certain capabilities. Here are some of the differences between the base navigations in Original and Ultra. Please note that Base Navigation is the experience you have outside of a course. Navigation inside your current courses will remain unchanged.
| Once logged in, the current WPU Blackboard landing page or "base navigation" looks the one on the left (click on the down arrow next to your name in the top right corner, you also see the pull-down menu "My Blackboard" or "Global Navigation").
The current base navigation is an user interface consisting of tabs across the top (such as My Institution, Courses), modules (such as My Courses, My Announcements, My Tasks), and Tools that display information from all of your courses. My Blackboard, the pull-down menu shown above, is a global navigation menu, available everywhere in the current Blackboard format. These tabs and modules spread out across on the landing page and other places. |
| When Learn Ultra is enabled, the Base Navigation typically looks like this (Activity Stream shown):
In Base Navigation, the tabs, modules, and My Blackboard that allow you to navigate outside a course in our current Blackboard are replaced by a streamlined system-level navigation menu on the left hand side. From the moment you log in, you always have the same menu on the left that provides access to the most important information, tools, and activities in the course. From wherever you are—even if you're in a course, the access to core features are always on your finger tip, as the menu always peeks from behind the other layers you have open. When you select any link from the menu, you see a global view across all your courses. Click on Grades, for example, you see all your grading tasks organized by course. |
| Base Navigation + Original Course View.
Clicking Courses icon in the Base Navigation menu, then select a course, you will enter Original Course View and see the familiar course format with the Base Navigation menu peeking from behind the other layers you have open. In Original Course View, there will be no change to the way courses look and function. |
| Profile: Select your name in the list and make changes to your online persona. |
| Activity Stream: See up-to-the- minute action for all of your courses. |
| Courses: Navigate to past, present, and future courses. |
| Organizations: Access the organizations that you lead or are a member of. |
| Calendar: View course events and due dates for all your courses. |
| Messages: View and send messages in all courses. |
| Grades: See what needs grading across all your courses. |
| Tools: Access global functions that are outside of your courses such as portfolios or the Content Collection. |