10 Blackboard Ultra: Deploying Quarto Content to Your Course Shell

10.1 Introduction

Blackboard Ultra is Boston University’s learning management system. It serves as the hub where students access your course materials, submit assignments, engage in discussions, and check their grades. The power of Blackboard Ultra emerges when you integrate it with your professionally-designed course materials created in Quarto.

This chapter guides you through the strategic integration of Quarto-generated course content with Blackboard Ultra’s content collection system. Rather than manually creating and updating content in Blackboard, you’ll develop your materials once in Quarto, generate HTML files, and deploy them as a complete package into Blackboard—making updates seamless and maintaining a single source of truth for your course materials.

By the end of this chapter, you’ll understand: - How Blackboard Ultra manages content and links to external resources - The workflow for packaging Quarto content into Blackboard-ready formats - The initial setup process with BU’s Blackboard team - The specific folder structure that enables seamless content management - How to deploy updates throughout the semester without disrupting your course

10.2 Understanding Blackboard Ultra’s Architecture

Blackboard Ultra is structured around courses, modules, and content. Let’s clarify each:

Screenshot needed: Blackboard Ultra course home screen showing the top-level navigation — course banner, left sidebar, and content area.

Temporary reference: See the Blackboard Ultra overview on the Syracuse support page for a comparable layout.

Replace with: images/ch07/bb-ultra-course-home.png

10.2.1 Courses: Your Course Shell

Your Blackboard course is the container for everything—all materials, assessments, discussions, and grades. Within Blackboard, you organize content into logical sections called modules.

10.2.2 Modules: Organizing Content into Units

Modules correspond to weeks, units, or thematic sections of your course. Each module typically contains lectures, readings, assignments, and discussions related to a specific topic.

10.2.3 Content Collection: The File System

Blackboard maintains a content collection—essentially a cloud file system where all your files are stored. Rather than embedding content directly in Blackboard’s interface, you upload files (HTML, PDFs, images) to the content collection and then link to them from various course elements.

This is where your Quarto-generated HTML files live. Once uploaded to the content collection, Blackboard displays them through its interface, maintaining consistent branding and navigation.

Screenshot needed: Blackboard content collection browser showing the folder hierarchy, upload button, and file listing with path breadcrumbs visible.

Replace with: images/ch07/bb-content-collection-browser.png

10.3 The Strategic Advantage: Quarto + Blackboard Integration

Rather than creating content in Word or directly in Blackboard’s text editor, you’ll:

Author in Quarto: Create your course materials in clean, maintainable Quarto files (.qmd)
Generate HTML: Export everything as a complete website with quarto render
Package as _site.zip: Create a deployment-ready archive
Upload to Blackboard: Use Blackboard’s content collection to import the entire package
Link from Modules: Create course module structures that point to your HTML content
Update Seamlessly: When content changes, regenerate _site.zip and re-upload—Blackboard replaces old files with new versions

10.3.1 Why This Approach?

Single Source of Truth: Your course materials exist in one place (your Quarto project). Both you and your students work from the same, authoritative version.

Professional Presentation: Quarto produces clean, accessible HTML with consistent formatting. Your course looks polished without spending time on Blackboard’s styling.

Version Control: Your Quarto files live in Git, creating a complete history of how your course evolved.

Batch Updates: Fix typos, update examples, or revise content, then deploy all changes at once—not one file at a time.

Consistency Across Semesters: Template your course structure, then swap in new content for each term.

10.4 Initial Setup: Before You Deploy

10.4.1 Critical First Step: Quarto Course Approval

Before you can effectively deploy Quarto content to Blackboard, your course structure must be officially approved at Boston University. This ensures compatibility with BU’s Blackboard configuration and technical support can assist if issues arise.

Process:

Contact Kim Crosta (Instructional Designer/Course Development)
- Email: kim.crosta@bu.edu
- Purpose: Present your Quarto course structure and obtain approval
- Timing: Do this before you finalize your module structure
- Outcome: Kim will verify your approach aligns with BU standards

Screenshot needed: Example email or meeting summary showing the approval communication (redact personal details as needed).

Replace with: images/ch07/kim-crosta-approval-example.png

Receive Approval Confirmation
- Kim will confirm your Quarto course structure is approved
- She may provide recommendations for optimization
- You’ll receive guidance on any BU-specific requirements

10.4.2 Second Step: Structure Review with Andy

After Kim approves your Quarto approach, you’ll coordinate with Andy on the Blackboard side:

Process:

Schedule Meeting with Andy (Blackboard Administrator/Technical Support)
- Contact: Reach out through BU Blackboard support
- Purpose: Present your proposed course structure and deployment plan
- Share: Your planned module organization and content hierarchy
- Discuss: How your Quarto structure will map to Blackboard modules
Propose Your Structure
- Explain your module organization (number of modules, content per module)
- Detail your folder structure (see “Course Structure Template” below)
- Discuss: Submission workflows and assignment deadlines
- Plan: How you’ll handle content updates during the semester
Trial Deployment
- Andy will help you with your first upload of _site.zip
- He’ll verify all links work correctly in Blackboard
- You’ll test the student experience
- Make adjustments before the semester starts

10.4.3 Knowledge Check: Setup Prerequisites

Before proceeding, verify you’ve completed the necessary groundwork:

You’ve created a preliminary Quarto project for your course
You’ve outlined your module structure (number of modules, topics)
You’ve contacted Kim Crosta and received approval
You’ve scheduled a meeting with Andy to review your structure
You’ve completed a trial deployment with Andy’s assistance
You’ve tested the student-facing course experience

Status: Document where you are in this process:

Kim Crosta approval status: _________________________________ Andy meeting completed: _________________________________

10.5 Course Structure Template: The Full-Year Model

Now that you understand the setup process, let’s detail the specific structure you’ve developed for your courses. This structure balances content organization with manageable maintenance and clear student navigation.

10.5.1 Overview of Your Structure

Your model organizes each module around a core concept or unit, with distinct folders for content delivery, learning materials, and assignments:

Screenshot needed: Blackboard Ultra course content panel showing the full module list — all modules collapsed, so the reader can see the top-level naming convention (“Module 1 — Topic”, “Module 2 — Topic”, etc.).

Replace with: images/ch07/bb-module-list-overview.png

Module [Number] - [Topic Name]/
├── Wrap-Up Content (overview/summary file)
├── Highlight Page (special HTML content)
├── Module [X] Lecture 1/
│   ├── Lecture Notes
│   ├── Presentation
│   └── Tutorial
├── Module [X] Lecture 2/
│   ├── Lecture Notes
│   ├── Presentation
│   └── Tutorial
└── Deliverables/
    ├── Assignment
    ├── Lab 1
    ├── Lab 2
    ├── Participation 1
    ├── Participation 2
    └── Project Step [N]

10.5.2 Understanding Each Component

10.5.2.1 Wrap-Up Content

Purpose: Provides a module overview, learning objectives, and synthesis of concepts.

Content Examples: - Summary of key concepts - Module learning outcomes - Prerequisites - Recommended reading order - Time estimates for completion

In Quarto: Create this as a dedicated .qmd file that renders as your module introduction. For example:

# Module 3: Advanced Data Visualization

## Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, you will:
- Understand principles of effective data visualization
- Create interactive visualizations with D3.js
- Apply color theory and accessibility standards

## Module Overview

This module explores how to transform raw data into compelling visual narratives...

In Blackboard: Link this as the first item in each module. Students see it immediately upon entering, setting context and expectations.

Screenshot needed: A single module expanded in Blackboard Ultra, with the Wrap-Up content item highlighted at the top — shows the “first item” position and the document icon.

Replace with: images/ch07/bb-module-expanded-wrapup.png

10.5.2.2 Highlight Page

Purpose: A special HTML page highlighting a particular concept, real-world application, or student spotlight.

Examples: - “Industry Spotlight: How Netflix Uses Data Science” - “Case Study: Successful Project Implementation” - “Student Spotlight: Award-Winning Project” - “Emerging Trends: AI in Healthcare”

Creation: This can be a more visually-rich Quarto file, incorporating: - Images and diagrams - Embedded videos - Interactive elements - Special formatting or CSS customization

In Blackboard: Link this prominently in the module, perhaps as a featured item students should see.

Screenshot needed: The Highlight Page as it renders inside Blackboard’s content viewer — ideally showing a case study or industry spotlight with an image and formatted text.

Replace with: images/ch07/bb-highlight-page-rendered.png

10.5.2.3 Lecture Folders (Module [X] Lecture 1, Module [X] Lecture 2)

Your course typically includes two lectures per module. Each lecture folder contains three standardized components:

Screenshot needed: One lecture folder expanded inside Blackboard Ultra, showing the three items — Lecture Notes, Presentation, and Tutorial — with their respective file icons.

Temporary reference: See Lesley University’s Blackboard Quick Start Guide for an example of content item layout inside a folder.

Replace with: images/ch07/bb-lecture-folder-expanded.png

10.5.2.3.1 Lecture Notes

Format: Detailed written notes covering all lecture content.

In Quarto: Create as a .qmd file with:

# Lecture 1: Foundational Concepts

## What You'll Learn
- Core principle 1
- Core principle 2
- Core principle 3

## Detailed Notes

### Section 1: Background
Provide context and explain why this matters...

### Section 2: Methodology
Step-by-step explanation...

### Section 3: Examples
Real-world applications...

## Key Takeaways
- Point 1
- Point 2
- Point 3

Advantage: Students can review the lecture asynchronously, search for specific content, and have a reference document throughout the course.

10.5.2.3.2 Presentation

Format: The slide presentation from your live lecture or a structured presentation of key concepts.

In Quarto: Either: - Export slides as static HTML for viewing in the browser - Include links to PDF versions of presentations - Create interactive HTML presentations using Quarto’s reveal.js integration

Tip: Always provide both presentation and notes. Some students learn better from visuals; others prefer reading detailed explanations.

10.5.2.3.3 Tutorial

Format: Hands-on, step-by-step guidance for applying the lecture concepts.

In Quarto: Create interactive tutorials with: - Code examples (with syntax highlighting) - Expected outputs - Common mistakes to avoid - Practice exercises

Example structure:

# Tutorial: Building Your First Interactive Visualization

## Prerequisites
- Completed Lecture 1 and 2
- R or Python installed

## Step 1: Set Up Your Environment

your code here


## Step 2: Load Your Data
...

## Practice Exercise
Now you try! [Exercise prompt]

## Solution
[Revealed after students attempt]

10.5.2.4 Deliverables Folder

This folder organizes all student assignments, labs, participation activities, and project milestones. Each item has an associated submission window.

Screenshot needed: The Deliverables folder expanded in Blackboard Ultra, showing all six item types — Assignment, Lab 1, Lab 2, Participation 1, Participation 2, and Project Step — with submission due dates visible.

Replace with: images/ch07/bb-deliverables-folder-expanded.png

10.5.2.4.1 Assignment

Purpose: The primary assessment for the module, typically demonstrating mastery of core concepts.

Structure: - Prompt or problem statement - Submission requirements - Grading rubric - Due date with submission window - Optional: Example solutions or rubrics

In Quarto: Create as a .qmd file with clear sections:

# Module 3 Assignment: Data Visualization Project

## Overview
Create an interactive visualization that tells a story with data.

## Requirements
1. ...
2. ...
3. ...

## Submission
- Format: HTML file or link to published visualization
- Due: [Date] by 11:59 PM ET
- Submit via Blackboard assignment tool

## Grading Rubric
[Detailed rubric with point allocations]

## Resources
- [Link to tutorial]
- [Link to examples]
- [Link to tool documentation]

In Blackboard: Set up a Blackboard Assignment with: - Same due date and submission window - Link to the assignment prompt (your HTML) - Grading rubric embedded or linked - Late submission policy

Screenshot needed: The Blackboard Ultra assignment creation screen showing the due date field, submission window settings, rubric attachment, and the content link field where the HTML prompt URL is pasted.

Replace with: images/ch07/bb-assignment-creation-screen.png

10.5.2.4.2 Labs (2 per module)

Purpose: Shorter, focused practice activities reinforcing specific skills.

Structure: - Clear objective - Guided steps - Verification or self-check mechanism

Example Topics: - Lab 1: SQL Query Practice - Lab 2: Debugging Common Errors

Submission: Either in-Blackboard submission or link to external system with submission tracking.

Screenshot needed: A lab item open in Blackboard showing the submission area — the text box, file attachment option, and submit button the student sees.

Replace with: images/ch07/bb-lab-submission-view.png

10.5.2.4.3 Participation Activities (2 per module)

Purpose: Engagement activities that demonstrate attendance and involvement. These might include:

Types: - Discussion board posts (peer feedback) - Reflection prompts (metacognitive activities) - Peer review assignments - Quiz-style quick checks - Live session engagement recording

Structure: - Clear prompt - Expected participation level (e.g., “1 main post + 2 peer responses”) - Grading criteria - Submission deadline

In Blackboard: Implement as: - Discussion board forums - Assignment submissions (for reflections) - Quiz tool (for quick checks) - Attendance tracking (for synchronous sessions)

Tip: Vary participation types throughout the semester to maintain engagement and accommodate different learning styles.

Screenshot needed: A Blackboard Ultra discussion board showing a participation prompt with student reply threads visible (blur student names if needed).

Replace with: images/ch07/bb-participation-discussion-board.png

10.5.2.4.4 Project Steps (progressive milestones)

Purpose: For courses with semester-long or multi-module projects, break them into manageable steps with intermediate deadlines.

Structure: - Project step number (e.g., “Project Step 1: Proposal”) - What students should submit - Deliverables - Feedback timeline - Submission window

Example Project Progression: - Step 1: Project Proposal (Module 1) - Step 2: Data Analysis & Exploration (Module 3) - Step 3: Preliminary Results & Visualization (Module 6) - Step 4: Final Report & Presentation (Module 8)

Advantage: Milestones prevent students from leaving everything until the last minute and give you multiple checkpoints to provide feedback.

Screenshot needed: Project step submission in Blackboard showing the milestone title, point value, due date, and the submission window with “Opens” and “Due” dates both visible.

Replace with: images/ch07/bb-project-step-submission-window.png

10.5.3 Workbook Exercise: Design Your Module Structure

Take time to plan your course structure before building it in Quarto and Blackboard.

Task: Map out your course modules and components.

Step 1: Decide how many modules you’ll have and what each covers

Module 1: _________________________________
Module 2: _________________________________
Module 3: _________________________________
[Continue for all modules]

Step 2: For each module, plan the components

Module 1: [Topic Name]
├── Wrap-Up Content: [What will you overview?]
├── Highlight Page: [What special content/case study?]
├── Lecture 1: ___________________________
├── Lecture 2: ___________________________
├── Assignment: __________________________
├── Lab 1: ________________________________
├── Lab 2: ________________________________
├── Participation 1: _____________________
├── Participation 2: _____________________
└── Project Step: _________________________

Step 3: Count total deliverables

Number of lectures: _____
Number of assignments: _____
Number of labs: _____
Number of participation activities: _____
Number of project steps: _____

Verification Checklist: - [ ] All modules have defined content - [ ] Each module follows the consistent structure - [ ] Deliverable count is realistic for your course load - [ ] You have feedback capacity for all assessments - [ ] Project steps align with semester timeline (if applicable)

10.6 Creating Content in Quarto for Blackboard Deployment

Now that you have your structure planned, let’s set up your Quarto project to generate deployable content.

10.6.1 Project Organization in Quarto

Create a Quarto project with folders that mirror your Blackboard structure:

Screenshot needed: VS Code or your editor showing the Quarto project folder tree — all module-01/ through module-N/ folders open with the subfolders lecture-1/, lecture-2/, and deliverables/ visible.

Replace with: images/ch07/quarto-project-folder-structure.png

your-course/
├── _quarto.yml
├── README.md
├── index.qmd
├── module-01/
│   ├── _module01.yml
│   ├── wrap-up.qmd
│   ├── highlight.qmd
│   ├── lecture-1/
│   │   ├── lecture-notes.qmd
│   │   ├── presentation.qmd
│   │   └── tutorial.qmd
│   ├── lecture-2/
│   │   ├── lecture-notes.qmd
│   │   ├── presentation.qmd
│   │   └── tutorial.qmd
│   └── deliverables/
│       ├── assignment.qmd
│       ├── lab-1.qmd
│       ├── lab-2.qmd
│       ├── participation-1.qmd
│       ├── participation-2.qmd
│       └── project-step-1.qmd
├── module-02/
│   └── [same structure]
└── images/
    ├── module-01/
    ├── module-02/
    └── [shared images]

10.6.2 Configuration: `_quarto.yml`

Set up your _quarto.yml to generate a website structure compatible with Blackboard:

project:
  type: website
  output-dir: _site
  render:
    - "*.qmd"
    - "*/**.qmd"

website:
  title: "Your Course Title"
  site-url: "https://pages.github.com/your-course"
  repo-url: "https://github.com/your-org/your-course"
  repo-actions: [edit, issue, source]
  
  navbar:
    background: primary
    search: true
    left:
      - href: index.qmd
        text: Home
      - text: Course Modules
        menu:
          - href: module-01/wrap-up.qmd
            text: "Module 1"
          - href: module-02/wrap-up.qmd
            text: "Module 2"
          - text: "---"
          - text: Resources
          - href: resources.qmd
            text: Course Resources

format:
  html:
    theme: cosmo
    css: custom.css
    toc: true
    toc-depth: 3
    code-fold: false
    code-copy: true

10.6.3 Rendering and Packaging for Blackboard

When you’re ready to deploy content to Blackboard:

Screenshot needed: Terminal window showing the output of quarto render completing successfully — progress indicators, file counts, and the final “Output created: _site/” line.

Replace with: images/ch07/quarto-render-terminal-output.png

# Render all Quarto files to HTML
quarto render

# This creates the _site/ folder with all HTML, CSS, images, etc.
# Now package it for Blackboard upload

Creating _site.zip:

# On Windows (PowerShell)
Compress-Archive -Path _site -DestinationPath _site.zip

# On macOS/Linux
zip -r _site.zip _site/

10.6.4 Image References: Why They Persist

One important note about image links: When you reference images in your Quarto files and they’re included in _site.zip, Blackboard will import them along with the HTML. This means your image links will continue to work because:

Relative paths: If your HTML files reference images with relative paths (e.g., ../images/diagram.png), the image hierarchy is preserved
Content collection structure: Blackboard maintains the folder structure when you import _site.zip
Automatic linking: Blackboard’s content collection system updates internal references automatically

Important: Always use relative paths in your Quarto files, not absolute URLs:

❌ Don’t do this:

![Diagram](https://example.com/images/diagram.png)

✓ Do this:

![Diagram](../images/diagram.png)

10.7 Uploading Content to Blackboard

10.7.1 Initial Setup: First-Time Upload

For your first deployment (after approval from Kim and orientation from Andy):

Screenshot needed: File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (macOS) showing the _site/ folder and the generated _site.zip file side by side, with file sizes visible.

Replace with: images/ch07/site-zip-file-explorer.png

Generate _site.zip

quarto render
Compress-Archive -Path _site -DestinationPath _site.zip

Access Blackboard Content Collection
- Log into your Blackboard course
- Go to Course Management → Content Collection
- Create a folder structure mirroring your modules (or follow Andy’s guidance)

Screenshot needed: Blackboard Ultra admin panel showing the path Course Management → Content Collection, with the navigation breadcrumb and folder view visible.

Temporary reference: See Syracuse’s Blackboard Ultra guide for a comparable content collection view.

Replace with: images/ch07/bb-content-collection-nav.png

Upload _site.zip
- Click Upload Files
- Select _site.zip
- Blackboard extracts the contents and maintains folder structure

Screenshot needed: The Blackboard “Upload Files” dialog — showing the file picker with _site.zip selected and the progress/confirmation screen after upload.

Replace with: images/ch07/bb-upload-site-zip-dialog.png

Create Module Links
- Navigate to each course module in Blackboard
- For each content piece, create a link pointing to the corresponding HTML file in the content collection
- Example: Module 1 → Click to link → navigate to content-collection/_site/module-01/wrap-up.html

Screenshot needed (2 images):

4a — The “Add Content” menu in Blackboard Ultra, with “Content Collection Item” or “Web Link” option highlighted.
4b — The file picker navigating the content collection to _site/module-01/wrap-up.html, with the file selected.

Replace with:
  images/ch07/bb-add-content-menu.png
  images/ch07/bb-content-collection-file-picker.png

Test All Links
- Click through every link as a student would
- Verify images display
- Verify any embedded videos or interactive content work
- Test on multiple browsers
Review with Andy
- Demonstrate the working course to Andy
- Make any adjustments he recommends
- Get approval before launching to students

10.7.2 Subsequent Updates: Semester Deployment

After your initial setup, updating content becomes straightforward:

Screenshot needed: Side-by-side of the content collection folder before and after re-uploading _site.zip — showing the “Date Modified” column updating to the new timestamp while links in Blackboard remain unchanged.

Replace with: images/ch07/bb-content-collection-before-after-update.png

Make Changes in Quarto
```
Edit .qmd files as needed
```

Render and Package

quarto render
Compress-Archive -Path _site -DestinationPath _site.zip

Upload New _site.zip
- Go to Blackboard Content Collection
- Choose Upload Files and select your new _site.zip
- Blackboard replaces old files with updated versions
- Existing links automatically point to the updated content

Important Caveat: This replacement process works perfectly for content files (lectures, tutorials, materials). However, if you’re changing your module structure (adding/removing modules, reordering sections), you’ll need to create new links or adjust existing ones in Blackboard. This is why the initial setup with Andy is critical—lock in your structure before the semester starts.

10.7.3 Workbook Exercise: Prepare Your First Deployment

Task: Package your Quarto content for deployment.

Step 1: Verify your Quarto project structure

# Navigate to your course folder
cd /path/to/your-course

# List contents to verify structure
Get-ChildItem -Recurse -Filter "*.qmd" | Select-Object FullName

Step 2: Render all content

# Render your Quarto project
quarto render

# Verify _site folder was created
Test-Path _site

Step 3: Create deployment package

# Create _site.zip
Compress-Archive -Path _site -DestinationPath _site.zip -Force

# Verify the archive was created
Get-Item _site.zip | Select-Object Name, Length

Step 4: Prepare deployment checklist

Quarto project renders without errors
All .qmd files convert to .html successfully
Images and assets included in _site/
_site.zip created successfully
File size is reasonable (typically 50MB-500MB depending on content)
All internal links use relative paths (not absolute URLs)

Step 5: Documentation for Andy

Create a brief document for your Blackboard administrator:

Course: _________________________________ Number of modules: _____ Total files in package: _____ Approximate size: _____ Deployment date: _________________________________ Special requirements or notes: _________________________________

10.8 Best Practices for Quarto + Blackboard Integration

10.8.1 File Naming Conventions

Use clear, consistent naming that makes sense in both Quarto file systems and Blackboard:

✓ Good: - module-01-intro.qmd - lecture-1-foundations.qmd - assignment-project-proposal.qmd - lab-01-sql-basics.qmd

❌ Avoid: - module1.qmd - lecture.qmd - assignment.qmd - lab.qmd

10.8.2 URL/Link Strategy

When creating cross-links in your course materials:

Linking within Blackboard: Use relative paths that Blackboard can resolve:

See [this tutorial](../lecture-1/tutorial.html)

Linking to external resources: Use full URLs:

Check out [this guide](https://example.com/guide)

Linking to assignments: Reference Blackboard assignment links:

Submit your work via [this Blackboard assignment link](https://blackboard.bu.edu/webapps/assignment/...)

10.8.3 Maintenance During the Semester

Content Updates Without Redeployment: - Small text corrections: Fix in Quarto, render, and re-upload _site.zip - Broken links: Test regularly, fix in Quarto, re-render - Typos in assignments: Fix immediately and update within 24 hours

When NOT to Re-upload _site.zip: - After students have already submitted work on an assignment (the submission date might change if Blackboard refreshes) - If you’re only updating one file (upload it individually instead) - During peak submission periods (upload during off-hours to avoid conflicts)

Communication with Students: - If you make significant content changes, post an announcement: “Updated Module 3 lecture notes—please review the latest version” - Include version numbers in assignment prompts: “Submit your response to Assignment 3 (v1.1)”

10.8.4 Disaster Recovery and Rollback

Because your Quarto files are in version control (Git):

Keep previous deployments: Don’t delete old _site.zip files

Tag stable versions: In Git, tag releases after successful deployments

git tag -a v1.0-spring-2026 -m "Spring 2026 course - first deployment"

Rollback if needed: If something breaks, restore from the previous version:

git checkout v1.0-spring-2026
quarto render
Compress-Archive -Path _site -DestinationPath _site.zip
# Upload the previous version to Blackboard

10.9 Reference Documentation: Official Resources

10.9.1 Boston University Blackboard Resources

Blackboard Support at BU: Contact your school’s IT department or Blackboard support
For this specific workflow: Reach out to:
- Kim Crosta (Course Approval): kim.crosta@bu.edu
- Andy (Blackboard Technical Setup): [Contact through BU Blackboard support]

10.9.2 External Blackboard Resources

Syracuse University Module Generation Guide: - Blackboard Ultra Module Generation - Provides general Blackboard Ultra best practices that apply to BU’s configuration

Lesley University Blackboard Quick Start: - Blackboard Ultra Course View Faculty Quick Start Guide - Another institution’s approach to course organization in Blackboard Ultra

10.9.3 Quarto for Education

10.11 Troubleshooting Common Issues

10.11.1 Problem: Links Break After Uploading to Blackboard

Cause: Absolute URLs in Quarto files or incorrect relative paths

Solution: - Check all image and link references in your .qmd files - Use relative paths: ../images/logo.png not /images/logo.png - Update any absolute URLs to relative paths - Re-render and re-upload

10.11.2 Problem: Images Don’t Display in Blackboard

Cause: Images not included in _site/ folder or path references are wrong

Solution: - Ensure images are in a subfolder of your Quarto project (e.g., images/) - Verify Quarto rendering includes images in _site/ - Check that _site.zip includes image files - Verify relative paths in HTML match actual image locations

10.11.3 Problem: Content Collection Upload Fails

Cause: File size too large or connection interrupted

Solution: - If _site.zip is very large (>1GB), compress images bash # Reduce image quality in Quarto with CSS img { max-width: 100%; height: auto; } - Try uploading individual files instead of _site.zip - Contact Andy if technical issues persist

10.11.4 Problem: Students See Old Content After Re-upload

Cause: Browser caching

Solution: - Instruct students to clear browser cache or use Ctrl+Shift+Delete - Use browser-specific cache-busting in _quarto.yml - Announce updates in course announcements

10.11.5 Problem: Module Structure Changes Required Mid-Semester

Cause: Didn’t lock structure with Andy before launch

Solution: - Contact Andy before making structural changes - Update both Quarto and Blackboard simultaneously - Communicate changes to students - Test thoroughly before making live

10.12 Summary: Mastering Quarto + Blackboard Integration

You’ve learned how to:

Navigate the setup process: Working with Kim Crosta and Andy before deploying
Design course structure: Creating consistent, manageable module organization
Author in Quarto: Creating professional, maintainable course materials
Deploy to Blackboard: Packaging and uploading content for student access
Manage updates: Keeping content current throughout the semester
Troubleshoot: Solving common integration issues

The power of this approach is that you’re maintaining a professional, version-controlled course that produces beautiful HTML and integrates seamlessly with Blackboard. Your students get a polished experience, you have a single source of truth for your content, and updates become simple batch operations rather than manual file-by-file changes.

10.13 Knowledge Check: Verify Your Understanding

Explain the role of the content collection in Blackboard:
Why is it important to approve your Quarto structure with Kim Crosta before deploying?
What are the three components in each lecture folder, and what’s their purpose?
How do you prepare your Quarto project for deployment to Blackboard?
What happens to images when you upload _site.zip to Blackboard?
What should you do if you need to make structural changes after the course starts?

10.14 Next Steps

Ready to implement this workflow?

Schedule with Kim Crosta to discuss your Quarto approach
Plan your module structure using the workbook exercise above
Set up your Quarto project with the directory structure provided
Create template files for each component type
Schedule trial deployment with Andy
Gather student feedback on the experience
Document your lessons learned for next semester

This integration represents a professional approach to course management that scales beautifully across multiple semesters and teaching contexts. Your students will appreciate the polished, consistent presentation, and you’ll appreciate the efficiency of managing your course through version control.

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Understanding Blackboard Ultra’s Architecture

10.2.1 Courses: Your Course Shell

10.2.2 Modules: Organizing Content into Units

10.2.3 Content Collection: The File System

10.3 The Strategic Advantage: Quarto + Blackboard Integration

10.3.1 Why This Approach?

10.4 Initial Setup: Before You Deploy

10.4.1 Critical First Step: Quarto Course Approval

10.4.2 Second Step: Structure Review with Andy

10.4.3 Knowledge Check: Setup Prerequisites

10.5 Course Structure Template: The Full-Year Model

10.5.1 Overview of Your Structure

10.5.2 Understanding Each Component

10.5.2.1 Wrap-Up Content

10.5.2.2 Highlight Page

10.5.2.3 Lecture Folders (Module [X] Lecture 1, Module [X] Lecture 2)

10.5.2.3.1 Lecture Notes

10.5.2.3.2 Presentation

10.5.2.3.3 Tutorial

10.5.2.4 Deliverables Folder

10.5.2.4.1 Assignment

10.5.2.4.2 Labs (2 per module)

10.5.2.4.3 Participation Activities (2 per module)

10.5.2.4.4 Project Steps (progressive milestones)

10.5.3 Workbook Exercise: Design Your Module Structure

10.6 Creating Content in Quarto for Blackboard Deployment

10.6.1 Project Organization in Quarto

10.6.2 Configuration: _quarto.yml

10.6.3 Rendering and Packaging for Blackboard

10.6.4 Image References: Why They Persist

10.7 Uploading Content to Blackboard

10.7.1 Initial Setup: First-Time Upload

10.7.2 Subsequent Updates: Semester Deployment

10.7.3 Workbook Exercise: Prepare Your First Deployment

10.8 Best Practices for Quarto + Blackboard Integration

10.8.1 File Naming Conventions

10.8.2 URL/Link Strategy

10.8.3 Maintenance During the Semester

10.8.4 Disaster Recovery and Rollback

10.9 Reference Documentation: Official Resources

10.9.1 Boston University Blackboard Resources

10.9.2 External Blackboard Resources

10.9.3 Quarto for Education

10.10 Workbook Checklist: Complete Blackboard Ultra Integration

10.10.1 Phase 1: Planning & Approval

10.10.2 Phase 2: Quarto Project Setup

10.10.3 Phase 3: Content Preparation

10.10.4 Phase 4: Packaging & First Deployment

10.10.5 Phase 5: Ongoing Management

10.10.6 Documentation

10.11 Troubleshooting Common Issues

10.11.1 Problem: Links Break After Uploading to Blackboard

10.11.2 Problem: Images Don’t Display in Blackboard

10.11.3 Problem: Content Collection Upload Fails

10.11.4 Problem: Students See Old Content After Re-upload

10.11.5 Problem: Module Structure Changes Required Mid-Semester

10.12 Summary: Mastering Quarto + Blackboard Integration

10.13 Knowledge Check: Verify Your Understanding

10.14 Next Steps

10.6.2 Configuration: `_quarto.yml`