Weekly Resource Roundup – 10/9/2025

WordPress User [mhj] Weekly Resource Roundup Leave a comment

September

October

November

Resources and publications

Other

  • Call for proposals (open dates) Unfiltered by EmpowerED: A Podcast Series where educators share unedited stories of inspiration and challenge
  • Call for proposals (open dates) Future Teacher Webinars
  • Webinar series European Network for Academic Integrity, ENAI monthly webinars free open webinars on various topics related to academic integrity.

Please see the Staff Training booking page for training offered by the LTEU and other Aberystwyth University staff. I hope you find this weekly resource roundup useful. If you have questions or suggestions, please contact our team at lteu@aber.ac.uk. Social Media: BSky, X.com.

What’s new in Blackboard September 2025

WordPress User [ksg2] Blackboard, Monthly Update, Ultra Leave a comment
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In the September update, we want to draw your attention to a number of test and question updates, including the ability to add question titles.  

In addition to this, there are enhancements to group tests, time consistency, and enhancing documents with block styling options.

New: Add and manage question titles in tests, forms, and banks

This feature has been requested by colleagues so it’s great to see this live in Blackboard. It’s ideal for colleagues managing large numbers of questions for online exams.

Instructors can now add, view, edit, and delete question titles when working on questions in tests, forms, and banks. Titles are optional and non-unique. Titles are recommended, as they enhance searchability and reuse workflows.

Image 1: Instructors can enter or edit the question title.

In the keyword search in the Reuse question panel, instructors can now search for questions on the question text or the question title.

Titles appear when:

  • Creating or editing questions in tests, forms and banks
  • Viewing or selecting questions via the Reuse questions workflow in tests, forms and banks
  • Adding questions to pools (Add Question Pool workflow)
  • Viewing questions in a pool (View Questions workflow)

Titles do not appear when the instructor views or grades the test and form submissions. Students do not see the question titles when they take a test or review their submission.

Use see-more functionality in Add Question Pool

In the Add Question Pool screen, the filter panel now includes See more functionality for Sources, Question Types, and Tags when the number of values in that filter section exceeds 10. Selecting See more expands the list, revealing the full list of values.

Image 1: Selecting See more expands the list, revealing the full list of values.

Display per question feedback to students on group test submissions

Blackboard tests include the option for students to take part in a group submission – answering questions together. This is great for an in person formative style activity, or might offer colleagues other opportunities for group assessment solutions. Group tests use the same options that are available for Group Assignments. Take a look at Blackboard’s support page and contact elearning@aber.ac.uk if you have any questions about this feature.

In this month’s update, Blackboard has improved how feedback is displayed to students with group test submissions.

Students can now view per-question feedback on group test submissions. Instructors have been able to provide per-question feedback, but it was not visible to students until now.

With this update:

  • Students reviewing a graded group test can see feedback for each question.
  • Feedback supports all formats: text, file attachments, and video recordings.
  • Per-question feedback appears alongside overall feedback and rubric scores.

This enhancement ensures that group submissions benefit from the same detailed feedback experience as individual submissions. It also supports:

  • Originality reports (when enabled via SafeAssign).
  • Attempt-level score overrides for individual group members.
  • AI Rewrite for both overall and per question feedback.
  • Navigation between group submissions using Previous/Next controls.  

Display time limits and extra time consistently across roles

Blackboard has improved how time limits and extra time are communicated in Assessments. This change ensures that all users understand exactly how much time is available, including any accommodations or overrides.

Now, all users have the time limits and extra time presented in a consistent format:

Example:

“Time limit: 20 minutes + 10 minutes extra time”

This format appears:

  • When instructors configure or review assessment settings.
  • When students begin or review an assessment.
  • In the preview mode for instructors. 

Enhance Documents with block styling options

Last month we highlighted the new block styling available in Documents. This month, this feature has been developed further with highlight options appearing alongside each text box.

The highlight option gives you the opportunity to clearly indicate whether your content is:

  • Question: Use for prompts or reflective questions. Keep questions concise and open-ended to encourage critical thinking.
  • Tip: Use for tips, insights, or helpful suggestions. Ensure tips are actionable and relevant to the content.
  • Key points: Use to highlight key points or essential facts. Keep these blocks brief and focused to reinforce retention.
  • Next steps: Use for next steps or instructions. Present steps in a clear, logical order and consider using numbered lists for clarity. 

If you’re looking  to make your Blackboard Documents more appealing, we’re running a special 30 minute masterclass on becoming a Document Pro. You can book your place online.

If you have any enhancements to request from Blackboard, please get in touch with us via elearning@aber.ac.uk.

Weekly Resource Roundup – 4/9/2025

WordPress User [mhj] Uncategorised, Weekly Resource Roundup Leave a comment

September

October

Resources and publications

Other

  • Call for proposals (open dates) Unfiltered by EmpowerED: A Podcast Series where educators share unedited stories of inspiration and challenge
  • Call for proposals (open dates) Future Teacher Webinars
  • Webinar series European Network for Academic Integrity, ENAI monthly webinars free open webinars on various topics related to academic integrity.

Please see the Staff Training booking page for training offered by the LTEU and other Aberystwyth University staff. I hope you find this weekly resource roundup useful. If you have questions or suggestions, please contact our team at lteu@aber.ac.uk. Social Media: BSky, X.com.

Vevox Polling Tool Training

WordPress User [jbw] Training and Support, Uncategorised, Vevox Leave a comment

Over 180 colleagues across the University made use of Vevox, our polling tool, last year.

Close to 4000 polls were created across nearly 1000 sessions, with over 27,000 participants.

Vevox allows your participants to use their mobile devices to respond to a series of questions.

You can use this for many activities in the classroom:

  • Q and A
  • Knowledge checks
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion gathering
  • Decision making
  • Team games
  • Revision activities
  • Mind mapping
  • Resource creating

And so much more…

With our institutional licence, all members of the community can make use of Vevox. Students can use it in their presentations; colleagues can use it in their meetings. Last year, we were really pleased that Vevox was used in the University welcome talks which will continue again this year.

If Vevox is new to you and you want to find out more, register for their online introductory training sessions.

For those who are unable to make the training, we’ve got a dedicated webpage with support materials.

We’ll also be running our enhanced training session on designing learning activities using polling software in November. See this and our other enhanced sessions and book online.

If you still have questions, reach out to us on elearning@aber.ac.uk.

Welcome to the Academic Year 2025-26: Updates to Blackboard for returning students

WordPress User [jbw] Blackboard, Information for Students Leave a comment

A warm welcome to new students joining us and those who are returning to study at Aberystwyth University.

In this blogpost, we will outline the changes that have been made to your digital learning environment, Blackboard, ready for the start of the academic year 2025-26

If you need help using Blackboard, see our Student Guide which contains all kinds of useful information.

We’ve also got FAQs available for the other tools that we support, including Turnitin for e-submission and Panopto for lecture capture.

Updated Template

All courses have been created this year using a slightly different template.

Module Information

  • Item about Lecture Capture (Panopto) under Module Information
  • AberSkills

Assessment and Feedback

  • Submission Guidance has been updated to include information on academic integrity and unacceptable practice and using Generative AI in your assessments.

Availability of Content

The Blackboard Required Minimum Presence, which is the policy that outlines to staff and students the minimum amount of content on a course, has been updated to request that teaching materials are uploaded at least one day before the session.

Automatic Captions in Panopto

Captions will now be added to all lecture recordings automatically in 2025-26 making them even more accessible. The quality and reliability of automatic captioning varies due to the language and subject matter of the recording.

Students should be aware that the captioning is not 100% accurate. For clarification on captions, students should speak to their lecturer.

Transcripts of ASR captions can be downloaded (see FAQ: How do I view Panopto captions?)

Name pronunciation and pronouns available in Blackboard

You can now add your name pronunciation and pronouns to your Blackboard profile. For further information, see our FAQ.

Accessible content

We are working to improve the accessibility of content in your Blackboard courses. This year the Required Minimum Presence has stipulated a requirement for a minimum accessibility score. This means that content is as compatible with Blackboard Ally as possible.

Blackboard Organisations

Organisations are like Courses in Blackboard but they are not modules that students take. Things like training and departmental information can be found in Organisations. For the first time, we have a Required Minimum Presence for Organisations which outlines to staff and students what they can expect to find as a minimum.

If you have any questions about using Blackboard, please contact us on elearning@aber.ac.uk.

Weekly Resource Roundup – 28/8/2025

WordPress User [mhj] Weekly Resource Roundup Leave a comment

August

September

October

Resources and publications

Other

  • Call for proposals (open dates) Unfiltered by EmpowerED: A Podcast Series where educators share unedited stories of inspiration and challenge
  • Call for proposals (open dates) Future Teacher Webinars
  • Monthly series European Network for Academic Integrity, ENAI monthly webinars free open webinars on various topics related to academic integrity.

Please see the Staff Training booking page for training offered by the LTEU and other Aberystwyth University staff. I hope you find this weekly resource roundup useful. If you have questions or suggestions, please contact our team at lteu@aber.ac.uk.

Panopto

WordPress User [kaw] Accessibility, Panopto Leave a comment

Panopto has now been set-up ready for 2025-26.

Automatic Captions  

Automatic captioning has now been set-up for all 2025-26 folders in Panopto. The language for captioning matches the language of your Blackboard course template.   

For bilingual courses we recommend creating a sub-folder to hold the recordings for one of the languages of your course delivery (see FAQ).   

When you make your recordings, you must select the correct language folder before pressing record. This is because Welsh captions cannot be added to recordings copied or moved from other folders.   

You can find information about automatic captioning in the AU Lecture Capture Policy (section 12). 

Linking to All Panopto Recordings 

You can create a link to the Panopto folder in your Blackboard course. This means that students will be able to see the recordings for the course all in one place.  

Finding your Panopto folder  

Panopto folders for all this year’s modules are in the 2025-26 folder.  

To find the Panopto folder you want to record into: 

  • Click the dropdown button on the right-hand side of the Folder box. 
  • Click the dropdown arrow to the left of the academic year folder to expand it. 
  • Select the Panopto folder you want to record into. 

You can also search for the Panopto folder you want to record into: 

  • In the Folder box start typing the module code or name of the Panopto folder you want to Record into 
  • Select the folder you want to record into. 

What to do if you can’t see your Panopto folder 

In a small number of courses, the Panopto folder wasn’t created over the summer. If you can’t find your Panopto folder using the steps above, you can create a folder from Blackboard: 

  1. Login to Blackboard and find your course 
  1. Click on Books and Tools > View course and institution tools
  1. Click on Holl Fideo Panopto / All Panopto Videos 

You should then be able to find the Panopto folder to make a recording.  

Welcome new staff joining Aberystwyth University, 2025-26

WordPress User [jbw] Academy Forum, Blackboard, Conference, E-submission, Events and Networks, External Speakers, Panopto, Polling Software, Training and Support, Ultra, Vevox, Virtual Learning Environment(VLE) Leave a comment

A warm welcome to new staff joining Aberystwyth University.

In this blogpost we aim to provide you with information related to technology in learning and teaching, our training provision, support channels, and events that we run.

All the information that you need is on our webpages.

We write a blog full of the latest updates, details on events and training sessions, and resources.

If you need to get in touch with us, you can do so using elearning@aber.ac.uk.

Introduction to E-learning Tools

Virtual Learning Environment: Blackboard

Each module has its own dedicated course in Blackboard. Students can expect to find information about the module, learning materials, and e-submission guidance, as well as links to reading lists and lecture capture.

The University has a Blackboard Required Minimum Presence policy for all modules.

Please see our staff guide for further information.

Lecture Capture: Panopto

When teaching in person, be aware that all lectures (that is, teaching where the focus is on information being transmitted from staff to students) should be recorded using Panopto, our Lecture Capture software.

See details of our Lecture Capture Policy.

E-submission: Turnitin and Blackboard Assignment

At Aberystwyth University, students must submit all text-based and word-processed work electronically as outlined in the University’s E-submission policy.

 For this, we use our e-submission tools: Turnitin and Blackboard Assignment. Turnitin provides an automatic text matching functionality. We use Blackboard Tests to run online exams.

Polling tool: Vevox

Vevox is Aberystwyth University’s polling tool.

Polling can be used in learning and teaching activities as well as meetings to make the session interactive and collaborative with many different possibilities for use.

Resources and further help

We have a number of Guides and FAQs to help you use our software.

Training Provision

To support all staff with their teaching, we run a series of training sessions across the following strands:

  • E-learning Essentials: designed for colleagues new to the university, teaching, or who would like to get a refresher. The aim of these sessions is to ensure that colleagues can meet the university’s digital learning and teaching policies.
  • E-learning Enhanced: designed to build on the skills gained in our e-learning essentials series, colleagues will create an activity or assessment unique to their learning and teaching contexts.
  • E-learning Excellence: designed to offer colleagues the opportunity to create exemplary learning and teaching opportunities – often unique and sector leading.

You can find details of our annual CPD programme and book your place to attend via Book a Course page.

Events

We run a range of events, including the Annual Learning and Teaching Conference and Mini-Conferences

All of these are great opportunities to meet people from across the university and discuss Learning and Teaching issues and developments.

We look forward to seeing you at a forthcoming event. In the meantime, feel free to get in touch with us via elearning@aber.ac.uk if you have any questions.

Weekly Resource Roundup – 20/8/2025

WordPress User [mhj] Weekly Resource Roundup Leave a comment

As leader of our PGCTHE programme, I keep an eye out for resources to help staff teach effectively. These include webinars, podcasts, online toolkits, publications and more. Topics include active learning, online/blended teaching, accessibility/inclusion, and effective learning design based on cognitive science. Below I’ve listed items that came to my attention in the past week. In the interest of clarity, our policy is to show the titles and descriptions in the language of delivery. 

Online events and webinars

August

September

October

Resources and publications

Other

  • Call for proposals (open dates)Unfiltered by EmpowerED: A Podcast Series where educators share unedited stories of inspiration and challenge
  • Call for proposals (open dates)Future Teacher Webinars
  • Monthly series European Network for Academic Integrity, ENAI monthly webinars free open webinars on various topics related to academic integrity.

Please see the Staff Training booking page for training offered by the LTEU and other Aberystwyth University staff. I hope you find this weekly resource roundup useful. If you have questions or suggestions, please contact our team at lteu@aber.ac.uk. Social media: BSky, X.com.