Blackboard Ultra (Faculty) - Journals: Grade a Journal

This article outlines the steps for faculty to grade a student's journal entry within Blackboard Ultra.

Accessing the Journal

To access a student's journal for grading:

  1. Navigate to the course in Blackboard Ultra.
  2. Locate the journal you wish to grade. There are several ways to do this:
    • From the Course Content page, locate the journal.
    • From the Gradebook, find the journal under the "Gradable Items" list.
  3. Click the journal title.
  4. Use the Journal tab to edit the topic or journal settings.
  5. Select the Grades & Participation tab to see a list of students who have submitted entries.

Grading the Journal

Once you have accessed the journal:

  1. Select the Grades & Participation tab to see a list of students.
  2. Click on a student's name to view their journal.
  3. Review the student's journal entries.
  4. Type the grade in the white pill at the top of the page.

    Type the total points earned in the white oval. Write comments using the speech bubble with a plus sign icon.

  5. Click the Comment button (looks like a speech bubble with a plus sign) and type your feedback in the text box.
  6. Click Save
  7. (Optional) Use the rubric, if one is associated with the journal, to assess the student's work.
  8. The grade will automatically save but is not visible to students until you post it. 
  9. On the Grades & Participation page, click the Post button at the end of the student's row. To post all grades at once, click the Post all grades button in the top-right.

Navigating Between Students

After grading a student's journal, you can easily navigate to the next student:

  • Use the navigation arrows (< and >) at the top of the screen to move to the previous or next student in the list.

Additional Notes

  • Students will be able to see their grades and feedback once you post them.
  • Ensure you have a clear grading rubric or criteria to provide consistent and fair assessment.

Need Additional Support?

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact the ITS Help Desk:

This guide aims to provide useful information, but as technology changes, interfaces or steps might vary. Please use the Comment button to let us know if anything differs from your experience. Your feedback helps us keep this information accurate. Thank you!



Keywords:
Blackboard Ultra, Blackboard, Ultra, Journal, Grade, Grading, Assessment, Evaluate, Bb, Grading journals, Grade a journal 
Doc ID:
155604
Owned by:
Jeff P. in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Created:
2025-10-13
Updated:
2026-04-22
Sites:
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville