Month: September 2025

Weekly Resource Roundup – 17/9/2025

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 Ally

WordPress User [kaw] Accessibility, Blackboard, Technical Updates, Virtual Learning Environment(VLE) Leave a comment
Inclusivity and Accessibility banner

Over the summer there have been some updates to Blackboard Ally which colleagues will find help them to fix issues with images and PDFs in Blackboard.

AI Auto-generate description

The AI auto-generate description tool has been improved to write better alternative text for charts, text in images, STEM content, and handwriting in images. Like all the AI tools in Blackboard staff can edit any aspect of the AI output and adapt it if needed. The AI tool also provides a good starting point for learning more about writing alternative text.  And if you use Blackboard in Welsh, the AI tool will create Welsh alternative text.

To use the AI tool:

  • Click on the Ally indicator for your image (or access it via Books and Tools > Ally Adroddiad Hygyrchedd / Accessibility Report > Content)
  • Under Edit image description, click Auto-generate description
  • You can then click Save to use the description or edit the description before clicking Save.
  • If you don’t want to use the description, click Remove from image, and type your own description. 

OCR layer on scanned documents

Around 15% of PDFs in 2024-25 courses were non-OCR documents. This causes a problem for anyone who needs to change the size of the text or use a screen reader because the text appears as an image rather than readable text. Ally now provides tools to add a readable OCR layer on top of a non-OCR document. The quality of this layer will depend on the nature of the content (typewritten documents work better than images or handwriting) as well as the quality of the scan.

We suggest that you try the OCR layer tool and see whether it may help you to provide more accessible PDFs. Remember that you can also use the Library Digitisation service which provides OCR readable scans of journal articles and book chapters.

To use the OCR layer:

  • Click on the Ally indicator for your image (or access it via Books and Tools [Llyfrau ac Offer] > Ally Adroddiad Hygyrchedd / Accessibility Report > Content)
  • Click on the Preview and Apply button to add the layer
  • A preview will appear – use your mouse to highlight the text on the preview. This will show you what text will be add to the file.
  • If you are happy to use it, click Apply. If not, choose Cancel
  • If you don’t use the OCR layer, the Learn how to fix PDFs button will give you options for adding a library reference.

PDF Language and Title

PDFs without language or title set can now be fixed directly in Ally:

  • Click on the Ally indicator for your PDF (or access it via Books and Tools > Ally Adroddiad Hygyrchedd / Accessibility Report > Content)
  • Under Add PDF Language, select the language of the document and click Apply fix
  • Type the title of your document in the Set PDF Title box and then click Apply fix.

Guidance for students

To help you encourage your students to use the Ally Alternative Formats, we have a Learning Object Repository (LOR) item on Ally that you can use in your course. See our FAQ on adding an item from the LOR to your course.

More changes are planned for Ally over the next three months, and we’ll keep colleagues updated via the blog. For more information on Ally, have a look at the Ally help pages

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
Blog Banner

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.