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Observer
The Observer role is a type of user account that has authorized access to observe academic performance in Blackboard 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 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
How can you check to see if you have observers associated with a student in a Blackboard Ultra course?
1. In Blackboard, on the left panel, click Tools, then click Observer
2. It will show you a list of students you are currently observing
3. To observe the courses, click on the student's username
4. It'll bring up a list of courses, click on the drop-down next to the course name, and select Observe.
