How to Set Up Advanced Blackboard Integration

Before proceeding with the set up, it is a best practice to import the required data files in System Administration.

Required Data Mapping (Advanced Blackboard)

Setting up the Integration

It is best practice for a designated account to be created for the purpose of setting up the integration. An existing Blackboard Administrator account can be used, but if those accounts are deactivated (ie., someone departs your organization), the integration will need to be reauthorized.

These system role privileges can be configured to work with integrations to ensure that the Watermark application has the appropriate level of access to data and features, based on the roles and permissions assigned to them.

Create a System Role

To manage privileges, go to the Administrator Panel > Users section > System Roles > open a role's menu > select Privileges.

• On the Administrator Panel in the Users section, select System Roles
• Select Create Role
• Provide a Role Name
• Provide a Role ID
• Click on Submit
• Manage Privileges
• Select the appropriate privileges need for the integration

List of Required Privileges

• Course/Organization Control Panel (Tools) > Rubrics > View Rubric
• Administrator Panel (Users) > Users
• Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > View Grade Center Items and Settings
• Course/Organization Control Panel (Grade Center) > View Grades
• Administrator Panel (Courses) > Courses
• Administrator Panel (Users) > Users > Edit > View Course Enrollments
• Administrator Panel (Courses) > Courses > Edit > Course Properties (for using cross-listed courses)

Setting Up a Role with the System Role

Set up the Role used for Integration with the System role created with the appropriate privileges.

• Open Administrator Panel
• Select Users
• Select the User and click on Edit
• Select the appropriate system role for the user
• Click on Submit

Rest API Integration > Learn User selection:

• Open Administrator Panel
• Select Rest API Integrations
• Edit Integration > Learn User
• Select the User for which the System role privileges are set

Using the Application ID to Configure in P&SS

1. Open a new tab and log in to Blackboard Ultra as a System Admin. Navigate from System Admin to REST API Integrations. Once there, click on Create Integration.

   

2. Copy the Application ID below and paste it into the field called Application ID.

   

3. Select Browse next to Learn User. Search through the list of Blackboard Ultra users to find the users that will be using this integration. Select the user with the new role assigned.
4. Set End User Access to Yes. This will limit each user’s access to his or her own permissions. Then set Authorized to Act as User to No.
5. Click Submit to save your settings for the integration.
6. Enter your institution’s Blackboard Ultra URL.

7. And Click on Activate Blackboard Ultra and Login with the new account with limited Privileges.

   

Required Data Mapping

• In System Administration, the course section’s section ID (to be used as an SIS ID) is required. However, in blackboard there is not field specifically related to SIS Id, in this case we are considering the Course ID as the SIS ID in blackboard. 
• In System Administration & Blackboard, the course/course section IDs must be unique so that the required mapping of these objects can be done in order to list the activities and their details in P&SS when aligning a measure from Blackboard.
• The term is set to the default term for any course in Blackboard when it’s created (if no term is selected when creating a course). Institutions need to ensure that they select a term for their courses.
• Students need to be added in System Administration.
• Enrollments must be added to course sections in System Administration.

For more information on the required data mapping, click Required Data Mapping (Advanced Blackboard)

Data Syncing Process

The sync automatically occurs every two weeks, synchronizing any new and updated records from the Blackboard application to P&SS.

Manual Refresh

If an institution needs to sync data outside of the scheduled sync to view recent assessment data, they can contact our Support team.