Blackboard Ultra has a unique integration framework that presents some differences in the way Impact messages, support, and contexts are experienced. Messages in the Ultra environment are presented and behave a little differently compared to other LMSs. This article will outline how messages work differently within Blackboard Learn Ultra Experience.
Please read How do I install the Impact integration in the Blackboard Learn Ultra Experience? to ensure you have the proper setup.
You will also need to download the Impact Expert Tool plug-in from Google Chrome to activate the inline editor in your Ultra environment. Please read this article for instructions on how to download the plug-in.
Don't forget that in addition to messages, contexts, and support are slightly different in the Ultra environment.
Messages are Presented Using Native Learn Ultra Components
All messages within the Ultra environment are classified as “native Learn Ultra components”. This classification applies to both Blackboard content (e.g. first-time user experience notifications) and Impact messages, they are both presented using the same native Learn Ultra components which have predetermined behaviors and presentation.
Message Presentations
There are three unique types of Impact messages which you can choose from. The sizes are predetermined (small, medium, and large) and the content is customizable.
The three message types are:
- Hint messages - messages connected to a specific element on a page in your learning application
- Pop-Up messages - messages presented in a central modal that lays on top of your learning application and can only be connected to page-level contexts and not to a specific element.
Note: For more information on message types, see What are the types of Impact messages?
Systray Messages
Systray Messages display immediately when the targeted user lands on the relevant page (on page load).
Hint Messages
Hint Messages are connected to a specific element on a page in your learning application.
Pop-Up Messages
Pop-Up Messages are presented in a central modal that lies on top of your learning application and can only be connected to page-level contexts and not to a specific element.
Inner vs. Outer Content of a Message
Blackboard has full control over the outer shell of any messages (hint, systray, and pop-up). This outer shell includes the frame or borders of a message and it will be uniform across the whole LMS and cannot be customized from within Impact. However, all the inner content is populated via an iframe, meaning it can be styled and you can have full control over the contents with Impact. The borders for the outer shell of a message differ between message styles.
Behavior of Messages
No Proactive Hints
Impact can’t scan for elements on a page within Ultra Learn Experience. With this, proactive hint messages are not available. To read more about how element definition is different within an Ultra environment, please read this article. Currently, hint messages will only be present on hover.
Impact Messages are Queued Alongside Native Blackboard Notifications
If Blackboard is going to serve some content to its users regarding any changes, updates, or important information about the Learn Ultra Experience, those messages will be prioritized ahead of any Impact content in the queue. For example, if a user logs onto Blackboard Learn Ultra Experience for the first time, there will be a Blackboard native message with some onboarding information and that will be the only thing they see until they return to that context the next time. It is important to remember this when creating campaigns and scheduling messages because they will be in the queue behind Blackboard content if there is any.
