Blackboard Ultra – Progress Tracking

Contents

Staff Guide: Progress Tracking gives you and your students an easy way to keep track of what they have completed in your module

Turn Progress Tracking on/off:

Progress Tracking is turned off by default, but you can turn it off or on from the Course Settings menu.

Screenshot of the progress tracking options in an Ultra course settings menu. Progress tracking is enabled, indicated by a green tick toggle next to "Track student progress". Disclaimer text reads "Participatory items to be marked as complete when a student has made a submission or contributed to a discussion. Non-participatory content to be marked as completed manually by students after they've viewed it."

Important: If you turn on Progress Tracking after the beginning of the course, participatory items are retroactively marked as complete. For example, assessments previously submitted by students are marked as complete.

Student view of Progress Tracking

Students can check how many tasks they have completed in a Learning Module.
When a document, file or link is opened the item is marked as ‘Started’ (half filled circle).
Students can then tick these items as ‘Complete’ (green tick).
Participatory items such as Assignments, Tests and Discussions are automatically marked as complete when a student submits.
When a document or item is opened, progress tracking is visible in a collapsible table of contents panel.

A screenshot displaying Student progress trackin. When a document, file or link is opened the item is marked as 'Started' (half filled circle). Students can then opt to tick these items as 'Complete' (green tick). Participatory items such as Assignments, Tests and Discussions are automatically marked as complete when students submit.

Screenshot of student view. Student is taking a Blackboard test and they can see the Table of Contents for the learning module on the left.

Instructor view of Progress Tracking

Individual student progress

Instructors can check how individual students are progressing through course content.

Select a student name in the Class Register or Gradebook.
Select the Progress tab.

A screen capture displaying different options when a user has been selected. On the top section, thre options are shown from left to right: Marks, Progress and Notes. The progress option is highligted.

Course content Student Progress report

View how students engage with content and take actions, such as updating content, or messaging students based on their engagement.

Select the three-dot option menu to the right of any content item.
Select Student Progress.

See this Blackboard Help guide for more information on how to make use of Progress Tracking.

Things to consider when using Progress Tracking

Progress tracking is intended as a tool for students to monitor how they are progressing with content in your module. It is not an assessment tool.

Consider the student view of progress tracking when planning your module content, and ensure that you do not overwhelm students and give them the idea that they need to interact or read every item within a Learning Module if this is not your intention.

Consider using Blackboard Documents to chunk up content and add context. Rather than adding lots of links and files to the course page, use a Document to hold these items. Students can mark the Document as complete.
Use headings within Documents, or separate Documents or Folders to indicate what material is Required and what is Additional content.
Add additional resources to the weekly section of the module’s Talis Reading List. Reading List items can be flagged as ‘Essential’ or ‘Additional’.
Communicate with your students and explain how you expect them to use Progress Tracking. Make sure they can contact you if they have any questions or concerns.

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