Observer

The Observer role is a type of user account that has authorized access to observe academic performance in Blackboard Learn Ultra. An observer account is associated with a student to view their grade performance, and a students’ last date of access to a course. This Observer role is currently approved for Academic Athletics advising staff (who are part of the Division of Student Affairs) due to their specific reporting requirements. All staff who have the Observer role in Blackboard have completed required FERPA training.

How the Observer Role Functions in Blackboard Original

What can Observers access in a course?

  • Observers are only able to view a student’s “My Grades” area for the students they are associated with. They will not be able to view grades for any other students in the course.
  • Observer can access a students’ “last date of access” information for each course that has enabled Observer access.
  • By default, an observer cannot access course content areas unless permitted.
  • Observers are unable to interact with courses or make changes in any way on behalf of the student.

Observer View of a Course

How can you check to see if you have Observers associated with a student in a Blackboard Original course?

Instructors can see which students have Observer roles linked to them by viewing Users (Users and Groups in the Course Menu) in the course, and the observers will be listed in the Observer column.

Observers associated to a student

Menu Item Access for Observers
Course menu access

We recommend checking all course menu items for Observer’s access. 

Note: Menu items are made available to Observers by default. Due to copying content from previous semesters, adding new menu items, and merging courses, items may not be set to allow Observers to view. Check all menu items in your course to Permit or Deny Observer

Click on the right check chevron of the Menu item to make a selection. After you allow access to an item, you can deny access in the same menu.

Permit Observers                                             Deny Observers

How the Observer Role Functions in Blackboard Ultra

What do Observers see?

Observers will have access to the following student information:

  • Last Access Date: When the student last accessed the course. 
  • Grades tab: Details on a student’s earned grades.  Included are: 
    • Overall Grade
    • Upcoming and past due dates 
    • Any exceptions granted to the student 
    • Late submissions
  • Progress tab: Provides information on student progress in the course. Included are:
    • Navigation through the course content 
    • Course elements visible on the student’s learning path 
    • Completeness and progress indicators for items, folders, and learning modules 

student progress

How can you check to see if you have observers associated with a student in a Blackboard Ultra course?

Observers are not listed in the Blackboard Ultra course Roster at this time.


KeywordsObserver, observer role, Observers access in a course, Observer Role Functions Blackboard Original,   Doc ID141573
OwnerSharley K.GroupNDSU IT Knowledge Base
Created2024-09-04 11:50:40Updated2024-10-01 11:25:59
SitesNDSU IT Knowledge Base
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