We’re excited to announce the arrival of AI Structure Generator part of the new Design Assistant in Blackboard Ultra. The AI Structure Generator is a new AI-powered feature designed to give you suggestions for Ultra Learning Modules, the building blocks of your course structure in Ultra.
If you’re new to them, Ultra Learning Modules are structured containers that guide students through content in a sequenced, coherent way. Think of them as the scaffolding that supports your students’ learning journey. With the help of the Structure Generator, building the framework for your course has never been more efficient.
This new feature doesn’t replace your expertise. It’s not a content generator or an intelligent course creator. Instead, it offers smart suggestions based on your input. Think of the tool as a brainstorming partner that helps you get started. You can accept, adapt, or completely ignore its ideas. You’re in control.
What does AI Structure Generator do?
The feature lets you:
- Auto-generate learning modules titles using your course description, key topics, and intended learning outcomes.
- Set the complexity level of suggestions to match the study level.
- Choose whether you want visuals included.
- Review and refine everything before publishing.
Why try it?
AI Structure Generator is especially useful when you’re:
- Starting a design from scratch and need help shaping a course structure.
- Working to reframe an existing module in a more structured, student-friendly way.
- Looking for inspiration without the blank page blues.
With AI Structure Generator, you can produce a draft structure in minutes and then spend your time doing what you do best: applying your subject knowledge and pedagogic skill to refine and enhance it.
The tool is also a great way to:
- Explore alternative ways of sequencing content.
- Get inspired by AI-generated ideas you might not have considered.
- Experiment with new ways of presenting your modules, while staying aligned with learning outcomes.
You’ll find the feature by looking for the two-star ✦✦ icon when creating a Learning Module in your Ultra module.
Learn how to use it responsibly
The Digital Learning Team is offering a series of staff development sessions where you’ll see AI Structure Generator in action, learn how to shape better prompts, and discuss how to use the tool responsibly and effectively.
In these sessions, you’ll learn how to:
- Use two helpful frameworks: PREP (Plan, Reflect, Evaluate, Publish) and EDIT (Evaluate, Determine, Improve and Tailor).
- Set the complexity level for the generated modules.
- Evaluate AI-generated content critically — including its suitability, accuracy, and tone.
- Understand the environmental and ethical impact of using AI in education.
- Discuss how you might talk to students about your use of AI in course design, including adding an AI-use disclaimer to your module.
Remember: AI Structure Generator is a starting point for your course design, not an end product.
AI with a conscience
As part of our commitment to responsible AI use, we encourage colleagues to:
- Be transparent with students about any use of AI in course design.
- Check outputs for bias, accuracy, and accessibility.
- Stay informed about UoS guidance on GenAI and academic integrity.
We also recommend using only iSolutions-supported tools and AI Structure Generator is powered by Microsoft Azure and integrated within Blackboard Ultra, meeting that standard. You don’t need to worry about external AI services or data privacy issues when using it.
For more detail, the official Blackboard guide to AI Design Assistant is a helpful resource that gives more details on AI Structure Generator and the other forthcoming AI features.
Sign up and get started
We’ll walk you through the tool, provide prompt-writing tips, and help you think about how this could support your module design process this year.
Staff development sessions are now open for booking
Check our staff development page or raise a ServiceNow ticket for 1:1 support.
You bring the expertise. Let Ultra bring the structure.