Blackboard Ultra Updates: March 2025

1. Course Access user experience improvements 

Updated Help Page: Course Settings, Managing Course Terms and Access

We have improved the user interface for managing course access for users. We have clarified the labels for hiding a course listing on the instructor view of the Courses page. We have also clarified the functionality of Course Status within Course Settings. No changes have been made to the underlying functionality of course access. These improvements make it easier for instructors to manage course visibility and access for users.

Course Settings page

In Course Settings, the previous toggle switch for opening or closing a course has been replaced with radio buttons labeled Open and Closed. This change better indicates course status for enrolled students.

Image 1: Course Status is now controlled by radio buttons labeled Open and Closed within the Course Settings page.

Courses page

On the Courses page, the label Hide course has been changed to Hide course from me. This change clarifies that the action only hides the course from the instructor on the Courses page, not from enrolled students.

Image 2: On the Courses page for instructors, the option to hide a course within the Courses page is now labeled Hide course from me. 

Once a course is hidden from instructor view on the Courses page, the dropdown menu for Filters lists Hidden from me as an option. Selecting this option makes any hidden courses appear again on the Courses page.

Image 3: When a course is hidden on the Courses page, the dropdown menu for Filters now lists Hidden from me as an option. 

2. AI Design Assistant: Energy-saving image generation improvements

We changed how the AI Design Assistant presents generated images. Instead of presenting four at a time, the AI Design Assistant now generates only one. Each time another image is generated, it is saved so that instructors can select previously generated images. When an instructor selects an image or exits image generation, all images are cleared. This new method saves processing power and is more environmentally friendly. 

Image 1. The AI Design Assistant generates one image at a time and saves previously generated images.

3. AI Design Assistant: Learning module generation improvements

We made two enhancements to the user experience when generating learning modules. If an image isn't generated with a learning module, the title and description will no longer shift to the left. A placeholder image is now used to ensure a consistent reading experience. 

Image 1. Learning modules generated in 3900.110 lacked a placeholder image.

Image 2. The new placeholder image in 3900.112 appears beside the title.

We also added a refresh button to learning module images so instructors can easily generate a new image. This feature is particularly useful for modules where images were not created or for regenerating images that the instructor doesn’t want to use. 

Image 3. The new refresh button displays on the lower right corner of the image.

4. Release conditions panel: due dates now included

When instructors customize release conditions for a content item, the due date for the item is now included with the date and time fields. Instructors are no longer required to go back to the item to check the due date, which saves time and reduces errors. 

Image 1. The due date of a content item now displays after the date and time fields.

5. Improved student experience when test or assignment is changed to Hidden from Students

Note: This feature will not be available initially in the test/stage environment. We will backport this feature and include it as part of the 3900.112 release in production, which is tentatively scheduled for 6 March 2025.

We've enhanced the assessment workflow for students when an instructor sets a test or assignment to Hidden from students. If an instructor sets a test or assignment to Hidden from students while the students are actively taking the assessment, students who have the assessment open can continue working on it without interruption. This ensures that students can finish their work without disruption.

Previously, if an instructor set an assessment to Hidden from students while students were actively taking the assessment, the students were abruptly kicked out of the assessment and redirected to the course content page.

Instructors

Instructors can continue using the Hidden from students setting for tests and assignments without worrying about disrupting students who are actively working on the assessment.

Students

Students are not disrupted when working on an assessment, even if the instructor hides the assessment from students. If students save and close the assessment, they cannot access that assessment again because of the hidden status.

6. Anonymous discussions: New privilege to reveal author

System administrators or other users with the assigned system role privilege can now reveal the identity of the author of an anonymous discussion post or reply. This enhancement addresses instances where the anonymous feature is misused, such as bullying or other inappropriate behavior. Instructors can create anonymous discussions with confidence that any misuse can be quickly resolved. 

There’s now a warning that informs users that their identity can be revealed by an authorized user. 

Image 1. The new warning is associated with the Post anonymously option.

7. Usability improvements for discussions

We made several improvements to enhance the overall usability and efficiency of discussions, benefiting both instructors and students.  

• Improved visibility: Posts now have a gray background to stand out better against the page.

• Full post display: Long discussion posts are now fully visible without the need for scrolling, enhancing readability. 

Image 1. A long discussion post displayed in its entirety with a gray background.

Instructors 

We made several optimizations to enhance the accessibility of key features on the discussion home page. 

• Participation metrics: The number of posts and replies is now listed directly on the discussion home page, replacing the total response counter. This change makes important information more immediately available.

• Direct edit option: The Edit button is now directly accessible from the post, saving instructors time. 

Image 2. The changes made to the discussion home page included the addition of an Edit button and a count of posts and replies.

8. Pop-out rubric when evaluating an attempt

To enhance grading efficiency, instructors can now pop out the grading rubric into a separate window when grading an assignment submission. The pop-out rubric is a separate, moveable window and formatted in a grid view. Previously, the rubric was only available in a side panel and formatted in a stack.

This update makes it easier to navigate and grade student submissions by providing a clearer, more comprehensive view of the rubric. Popping out the rubric lets instructors view the student submission and the rubric side-by-side for a more efficient grading experience. Instructors can quickly select performance levels and provide feedback in the rubric while viewing the student submission.

Image 1: Instructors can pop out the rubric by selecting the expand icon in the rubric panel.

Instructors

Instructors can access the pop-out rubric when reviewing a submission.

• Bulk Performance Level Selection: Instructors select a performance level heading to apply it across all relevant criteria, streamlining the grading process.

• Cell Selection and Syncing: Selected rubric cells are highlighted, and the associated grade pill updates to reflect the chosen score. When the instructor selects Save, performance levels and feedback appear in the gradebook, as it has prior to this update.

• Feedback Section Focus: Once a rubric cell is selected, the criterion feedback section automatically focuses on the textbox for immediate feedback entry.

• Navigation Warning: A warning appears if instructors have unsaved changes in the pop-out rubric and they attempt to navigate to another student or attempt.

• Grade Override Warning: If the grade is overridden, the rubric popout is inactive. A banner appears, showing that the grade was overridden, with an option to regrade using the rubric.

• Printing: Instructors can print a blank or completed rubric using the browser's print function.