January 2025 - New Features in Blackboard Ultra

Live Session Recording

Improvements to AI Design Assistant Outputs

The following auto-generation features of the AI Design Assistant to have faster and more complex outputs.

• Assignments
• Discussions
• Journals
• Test questions
• Learning modules
• AI Conversation avatars
• AI Design Assistant Image Generation

Show/hide columns from instructors in the gradebook

Instructors can now configure column visibility for in the gradebook view.

• A new Items Management page is now accessible from the Gradebook Settings panel.
• Instructors can configure visibility for a single column selection or in bulk.

Image: Items Management:

Visibility settings apply to all gradebook views for non-student users (instructors, TAs, graders), including the Grade page, Gradable Items page, and Overview page. The student view of any grading-related page is unaffected. If an instructor hides a column from their gradebook, that column continues to appear for students.

Please visit the Items Management Page for more information.

Add Submission Attempts for Release Conditions

Instructors can now use item submission status for a release condition. For example, an instructor who wants students to access a document only after submitting a quiz would use a release condition. Students can access content items without needing to wait for a grade to be posted.

Image: The page for setting a release condition. The release condition is set to apply to all members and Performance is checked. Attempt submitted is highlighted in the dropdown menu for a gradable item.

Set default automatic zeros to off in the gradebook for new courses

The Assign Automatic Zeros for Past Due Work option is now turned off by default for newly-created Ultra courses. Existing courses are unaffected. Changing the default setting to off prevents students from automatically receiving zeros for past due assignments. Instructors can turn on automatic zeros for late submissions in the Gradebook Settings panel.

Direct grade entry from the Grid view or Submissions page

Instructors can now enter grades directly in the Grid view or Submissions page with improved accuracy and consistency. Previously, grades entered in these views were stored at the override level, which caused confusion as underlying attempts remained ungraded and continued to display the Needs Grading and New Submission flags. This update ensures that grades entered this way are properly mapped to the underlying attempt or submission when applicable.

All grades entered via Grades tab, Submissions page, or file upload continue to be stored a override grades.

Single Attempt Assignments

• Ungraded Attempts. When an ungraded attempt is found, the grade is stored at the attempt level, the Needs Grading and New Submission flags are cleared, and any auto-zero is removed.
• Graded Attempts. If the attempt is already graded, the attempt grade is updated accordingly.
• No Submission. For students with no submission, the grade is stored as an override.
• Existing Overrides. If an override already exists, only the override is updated. No changes are made to the attempt grade.

Multiple Attempt Assignments

• Ungraded Attempts. The Needs Grading and New Submission flags are cleared, and any auto-zero is removed. If all attempts are ungraded, the grade is assigned to the appropriate attempt based on the aggregation model:
  • First: The grade is assigned to the first attempt.
  • Last: The grade is assigned to the last attempt.
  • All (Min, Max, & Average): The grade is assigned to the last attempt. All other attempts are excluded.
• Graded Attempt. For a single graded attempt, the attempt grade is updated.
• Multiple Graded Attempts. If more than one attempt is graded, the grade is stored as an override. The Needs Grading and New Submission label remain unchanged.
• No Submission. For students with no submission, the grade is stored as an override.