Maintaining Continuity of Instruction During a Blackboard Outage

Technology disruptions are an inherent risk in modern colleges and universities. If Blackboard Ultra experiences an outage, it’s important that we have a plan to ensure instructional continuity. By planning and communicating expectations for an outage before an incident occurs, you can help reduce anxiety and ensure that students and learning are supported during times of crisis. This resource is designed to help you:

  • Prepare proactively by establishing redundant communication channels and material backups.
  • Respond quickly with clear instructions and alternative delivery methods.
  • Manage coursework flexibly through adjusted deadlines and offline tracking.
  • Restore normalcy efficiently once system access is recovered.

Instructional continuity relies on preparation and clear communication. Use the following guidelines to build a resilient course structure that supports your students regardless of technical challenges.

Pre-Outage Preparation

You can minimize the impact of an outage by taking these steps:

  • Include a formal statement in your syllabus about what will happen in the event of a Blackboard outage. A sample statement is below.
    • In the event of a Blackboard Ultra outage, our course will continue via UofL email [and Microsoft Teams]. If Blackboard is unexpectedly unavailable, I will email the class within [insert timeframe (e.g., 2 hours)] with instructions for accessing materials and submitting work. Please ensure you have downloaded a copy of the syllabus to your local device at the start of the term so that you have my contact information and the basic information about the course.
  • Make sure that you store copies of essential files for your course (e.g., the course syllabus, assignments, readings, lecture slides) in OneDrive or in a local file on your computer.
  • Encourage students to download key materials from Blackboard and to keep copies of their submitted assignments in OneDrive or in a local file on their computer.
  • Regularly download a copy of your course gradebook from Blackboard Ultra. Do this at a regular cadence (at least once a week). Keep these copies in OneDrive or in a local file on your computer.

During an Outage

If an unexpected Blackboard outage is announced, follow these steps immediately.

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Step One: Communicate

Send an email to all students immediately to explain the situation, how the course will continue, and where to find updates. You can find your students' emails in ULink. In your message, clearly state that you will use UofL email as your primary communication tool until access to Blackboard is restored.

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Step Two: Deliver Content to Students to Cover the Next 24-48 Hours

In asynchronous courses, email lecture slides, readings, or links to recorded videos. For synchronous online courses, make sure students know you will hold scheduled classes via Microsoft Teams and email them the meeting link. If you need them to prepare for the class session by reviewing materials on Blackboard, be sure to send them via email. 

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Step Three: Manage Assignments

Communicate the plan for any assignments due within the next 24-48 hours. You might choose to accept student work via email or shared OneDrive folders, or delay submission to see if Blackboard becomes available. If you decide to accept student work via email or shared folders, establish specific file-naming conventions to stay organized. If the outage continues, continue to communicate plans via email for 24-48 hours at a time.

Post-Outage Restoration

Once Blackboard is back online, reconcile your records.

  • Transition Back: Notify students of the return to Blackboard and re-upload any materials or assignments distributed during the outage.
  • Update Grades: Enter all grades collected offline into the Blackboard gradebook.
  • Confirm Submissions: Double-check that any work submitted via email or OneDrive has been accounted for.

Best Practices During Unexpected Blackboard Outages

Unexpected technology challenges are difficult for everyone. Here are some general best practices to help reduce the stress as much as possible for all involved.

Need Assistance?

If you encounter technical issues during an outage, reach out to Blackboard Support at bbsupprt@louisville.edu.