February 2025 - New Features in Blackboard Ultra

Session Recording

Exclude descriptions from learning modules generated by AI Design Assistant

An option to exclude descriptions from learning modules generated by the AI Design Assistant. Instructors who want to write their own descriptions no longer have to manually remove them from auto-generated learning modules.

Improvement to rendering of uploaded files

Files uploaded by instructors to Blackboard now retain their original formatting and characteristics wherever instructors can upload files. Previously, formatting changes may have displayed with uploaded files, such as PowerPoints or Excel worksheets. With improved rendering, students can view files in their original format, leading to a better overall user experience.

AI Design Assistant -- Set a larger maximum number of generated questions and learning modules

When using the AI Design Assistant, instructors can now set the number of questions generated for tests and question banks to a maximum of 20. The maximum number of learning modules that the AI Design Assistant generates also increased to 20. Generating more questions at once reduces the chance that similar questions will be generated. The default number of questions and learning modules generated remains 4.

Upload images to Documents using the new image block

Instructors can use image blocks to upload their own images, use the AI Design Assistant to generate images, or select images from Unsplash. Image blocks can be moved throughout a Document, just like other block types. Instructors have the option to resize images, set height, and maintain aspect ratios in image blocks. A dedicated image block makes adding images more apparent. Adding images via the image block also reduces white space around images and provides greater control over content design.

Improved performance for assignment file submissions

The latest updates bring significant improvements to assignment submission uploads, ensuring a smoother experience for students:

• Timed assessments: When a student uploads a file just before the timer runs out, the upload will complete before the attempt is auto-submitted.
• Re-upload workflow: If a student's file doesn't upload correctly, they can easily re-upload it using the new workflow.

Students can now be confident that their files are successfully attached, received, and stored. They will be notified immediately if there are any issues with their file submissions.

Improvements to avatar size and time stamp positioning for discussion replies

The size of avatars and the position of time stamps has been adjusted to improve the user experience. Replies to posts are now easier to identify and avatar sizes are consistent.

Enhancements to course groups

To simplify group management and enhance usability for instructors, several improvements have been made to course groups:

• Activity-level groups are now course-level: All new groups are now course-level. Instructors can create course-level groups directly from a content item, eliminating the need to manage groups at the activity level.
• More warnings and restrictions: To prevent the creation of empty group sets during group assignments, we added restrictions and additional warning messages. This helps instructors make informed decisions and avoid disruptions in group management.

Excluded attempts removed from Needs Grading count

Instructors can choose to exclude attempts that they do not intend to grade. Excluded attempts are removed from the Needs Grading workflow and any gradebook calculations. With this release, excluded attempts are removed from the Needs Grading count in all gradebook views. 

Test Settings usability improvements

To enhance usability and improve the test-building experience, the Settings panel for tests has been streamlined by removing the following assignment-specific options:

• Collect submissions offline
• Use grading rubric
• Maximum points
• 2 grades per student
• Peer review

Additionally, instructors must now add one or more questions to their test to make it visible to students or to add release conditions. This ensures that students only see assessments that they can actively engage with.

Improvements to grading interface

To optimize the use of screen space and to give graders a larger view of the student submission, the grading interface for assignments and tests has the following design changes:

• Relocated the Previous Student and Next Student navigation controls next to the attempt grade pill and removed the gray bar that these buttons were on.
• Replaced the Previous Student and Next Student buttons with <> arrows.
• Moved the avatar, student name, and submission information to the existing black bar and removed the white bar where the information was previously listed.

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