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What’s new in Blackboard June 2025

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In the June update, we are particularly excited about a new question type: jumbled sentence.

There are enhancements to Discussions, Knowledge Checks (Documents), and Student Activity Logs that we would like to draw your attention to.  

New: Question type: Jumbled Sentence

This question type has been highly requested since our move to Blackboard Ultra, so we are pleased to see it available.

Jumbled Sentence is now an option in the Question Type dropdown. This question type is also available for the AI Design Assistant as well.

To create a jumbled sentence question:

  1. Select Add Jumbled Sentence question in the question creation canvas:
image showing Jumbled Sentence question

  • Enter your question text putting the gap and correct answer in square brackets:
image showing Jumbled Sentence editor window

  • Enter distractors which also appear in the dropdown for students to complete the question:
image showing distractor options

  • Save your question and deploy your test as usual.

The above question will display to students like this:

image of the Jumbled Sentence question from a students’ perspective

With students clicking on the dropdown to select the correct work which includes all correct answers and any distractors you might have added:

image showing Jumbled Sentence options from dropdown menu

Enhance student engagement with unread discussion activity indicator

Blackboard  improved the discussion experience by adding another indicator of activity. This addition encourages student engagement and makes it easier for instructors to track student activity. 

  • Unread Discussion Posts: The Discussions page now shows the number of unread discussion posts from anywhere in a course. 

Image 1. From the Course Content page, the link to the Discussions page now has a number beside it that indicates the number of new discussion posts.

Enhanced overall appearance and usability of Knowledge Checks in Documents

Last September’s release saw the introduction of Knowledge Checks to Documents.

These are a great way to assess students’ knowledge and understanding, whilst also acting as a way to maintain engagement with their Virtual Learning Environment.

The changes include:

Instructors and students 

  • Answer Choices: The letters of answer choices now display at the top of each answer option, rather than in the middle.
  • Answer Labels: Correct and incorrect answer labels have been moved from the side of an answer option to the top.
  • Question Text Padding: Padding on the right side of question text that extended past the answer text has been removed.
  • Small Screen Adjustments: On very small screens, the “Correct answer” label is now shortened to “Correct.” 

Instructors 

  • Answer Metrics: Answer metrics now appear at the top of answer text alongside the correct and incorrect answer labels.
  • Visual Indicators: Instead of highlighting questions with red and green to indicate the correctness of the answer, a bar now appears at the top of a question.
  • Result Labels: Result labels are now displayed in lowercase instead of all capital letters.
  • Small Screen Padding: Padding to the left and right of the Knowledge Check results has been removed for smaller screens.
  • Participation Count: The number of students who participated is no longer shown as a fraction. Instead, students are described as part of a number. For example, “2 of 8 students participated.” 

Image 1. The instructor view of Knowledge Check results in 3900.116.

Image 2. The instructor view of Knowledge Check results in 3900.118.

Students 

We made several changes to enhance the mobile and small screen experience for students. 

  • Submit Button: The Submit button now occupies the entire space at the bottom of a question, rather than just partial space on the right.
  • Feedback Layout: For correct answers, the checkmark indicator, correct answer feedback, and Reset button now stack vertically instead of being on a single row. This change also applies to incorrect answer feedback and the Try again button.
  • Answer Selection Indicator: On all screens, the answer a student selects now has a purple line to indicate it has been chosen. 

Image 3. The student view of an incorrect answer in a Knowledge Check in 3900.116.

Image 4. The student view of an incorrect answer in a Knowledge Check in 3900.118.

Student Activity Log

Blackboard added two new features to the Student Activity Log to enhance tracking and reviewing student engagement. These updates streamline the evaluation process and provide more comprehensive data for instructors. 

  • Content Access Filter: The Student Activity Log now includes a filter for content access, recording information not available elsewhere, such as Kaltura content. This allows instructors to easily review students’ access without needing to download and manually filter CSV files, saving time and simplifying the process.
  • Enhanced LTI Access Filter: The LTI access filter now includes all types of LTI items, including LTI placeholders. This provides instructors with more detailed insights into how students interact with LTI elements in their courses.

Image 1. The Content Access and LTI Access filters are in the Event menu.

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

What’s new in Blackboard May 2025

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In the May update, we are particularly excited about auto-generate AI Conversations with the AI Design Assistant, Qualitative Rubrics, and Enhancements to Gradebook and Tests.

New: Auto-generate AI Conversations with the AI Design Assistant

Back in November we launched AI Conversations.

The AI Design Assistant can now auto-generate AI Conversations. AI Conversations are conversations between students and an AI persona.

  • Socratic Questioning: Conversations that encourage students to think critically through continuous questioning.
  • Role-play: Conversations that allow students to play out scenarios with the AI persona, enhancing their learning experience.

Creating personas and topics for an AI Conversation can take a lot of time. To streamline this process, the AI Design Assistant can generate three suggestions at once. You can select what the AI Design Assistant generates. You can choose to generate:

  • AI Conversation title
  • AI persona
  • Reflection question

These suggestions provide inspiration for an AI Conversation. Instructors can refine the AI Design Assistant’s suggestions in several ways:

  • Provide additional context
  • Adjust the complexity of the question
  • Select context from the course
  • Manually revise the question

Image 1. The auto-generate feature is now available in AI Conversations.

Image 2. There are several ways to customise AI Conversations.

We recommend that you look closely at the AI persona to check for any biases that might be there and edit these.

We would love to hear about your use cases of AI Conversations – do let us know via elearning@aber.ac.uk.

New: Qualitative Rubrics

Lecturers can now create and use no-points rubrics for Blackboard Assignments. This rubric type allows instructors to assess student work based on criteria and feedback, rather than numerical values.

Instructors can select No Points as a rubric type when creating or generating a rubric. This option is available alongside existing percentage and points-based rubrics. Instructors can also edit rubrics to switch between different rubric types, including percentage, points range, and no points.

Image 1: No Points option is available in the Rubric Type dropdown.

This feature was requested in our recent Blackboard Assignment (Safe Assign) pilot.

Enhancements to Gradebook and Tests

Accessibility Enhancements to the Gradebook

The Markable Items tab in the Gradebook now features a redesigned interface to improve accessibility and navigation for keyboard-only and screen reader users. This enhancement supports an accessible experience for instructors grading student work, reducing the time and effort required to manage student grades.

With this update, the Gradable Items tab uses a table-based layout to enhance usability:

  • Screen reader users can now hear both header and row announcements, allowing for smoother navigation through student submissions.
  • Keyboard users can now move efficiently across rows or down columns using arrow keys.

Image 1: Gradebook with Markable items tab highlighted

New: Text-based columns in the Gradebook

Instructors can now create custom text-based columns in the Gradebook, giving them the ability to record information for an assessment, such as performance code, group membership, and tutoring information.

These columns allow instructors to record up to 32 characters. The column is not restricted to text input.

Colleague might want to use this to record dissertation supervision teams or markers.

Instructors can:

  • Create text-based columns via the Add workflow in both the grid view and Gradable Items page;
  • Name the column, control student visibility, and add a description;
  • Add and edit text information for a specific student using an inline eidt workflow.

Text-based columns exclude the following:

  • Points values (automatically set to 0 points)
  • Due dates
  • Categories
  • Gradebook calculations and related calculation UIs

Content in text-based columns auto-posts and supports sorting functionality within the Gradebook grid view. Instructors can also download and upload text-based columns using the Gradebook’s upload/download function.

Image 1: Instructors can select Add Text Item to create a text-based column.

Image 2: Instructors can enter column name, set visibility for students, and enter a description for the text-based column.

Students can access text-based columns and associated information in their Gradebook when the column is set to Visible to students.

New test setting: View submission one time

There is a new test result setting option, View submission one time.

When a student completes the test, they can review their answers and detailed feedback, such as which questions were answered correctly.

Image 1: Allow students to view their submission one time highlighted:

Instructors

To access this setting option, select Available after submission in the Assessment results section of the Assessment Settings, then select View submission one time from the Customise when the submission content is visible to students dropdown. This dropdown is available only if Allow students to view their submission is selected.

Note that this setting does not alter the recommended settings for online exams.

Ideas Exchange:

This section aims to keep you updated on progress of enhancements requested on the Blackboard Ideas Exchange.

We are pleased to see the Qualitative Rubric included in this month’s release as this is a feature that was requested as part of the SafeAssign pilot.

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

What’s new in Blackboard April 2025

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In the April update, we are particularly excited about a new feature called the Learning Object Repository. There is now the ability to print Blackboard Documents, and updates to the grading and feedback workflow for staff and students.

New: Learning Object Repository

The new Learning Object Repository is an institutional repository designed to centralise resources across courses and organisations.

We can upload items to the Learning Object Repository for instructors to copy into their courses. Note that items copied into courses cannot be edited.

This feature is available for Blackboard Documents at this stage but there are plans to develop options to include files in the future. We have also requested a folder level structure be developed so that we can organise content items for instructors to find.

Over the next couple of months, we will be working on developing the process for colleagues to request for items to be added to the Learning Object Repository. We aim to have this in place ready for your 2025-26 courses.

Some initial ideas from us include links to generic skills resources, generative AI policies, and optional health and safety statements.

If you have any ideas about how we might use the Learning Object Repository, please contact elearning@aber.ac.uk.

Content Designer: Print Document

We have seen some significant changes to the Documents feature in Blackboard over the past 6 months. Now colleagues and students can print these Documents or save to PDF so that they can review content offline.

The print function retains the Document layout. Note that for instructors, knowledge check blocks print with all the question and answer options. All other blocks print as displayed outside of editing mode.

Image 1. The new Print button for Documents is now available for students.

Grading and Feedback

There are some minor enhancements to Grading and Feedback this month.

Indicator to see if a student has reviewed their feedback

In the Gradebook, instructors now have enhanced ability to monitor student engagement with assessment feedback. An indicator on the individual student’s Overview page now displays whether a student has reviewed the feedback for a given assessment.

When a grade is posted, the indicator includes a label of Not reviewed with the existing Completed label in the Status column. When the student reviews the feedback, the status updates to Reviewed with a review timestamp.

If the new grade indicator is reset for the assessment, such as when a grade is updated or if the assessment has multiple attempts, the timestamp updates when the student reviews the feedback again. If all attempts are deleted, the Not reviewed or Reviewed label is removed.

Image 1: Instructor Gradebook view has Reviewed and Not Reviewed labels in the Status column.

To see whether a student has viewed their feedback:

  1. Navigate to the Course
  2. Select View everyone on your course and search for the individual student
  3. Under the Mark screen you will see whether the student has reviewed their feedback

Enhanced grading experience for group submissions

Blackboard Assignment can manage group submissions where a student in a group submits a file, and marks and feedback can be allocated for all students.

In this month’s update the grading interface for group submissions has been updated to match that of individual submissions.

Replace Feedback column with actionable Results column in student Gradebook

The students’ Gradebook has changed to include:

  • A new Results column replaces the Feedback column
  • A View button in the new Results column replaces the Feedback column’s purple feedback icon

When a grade is posted and the new grade indicator (purple circle) is turned on, the View button displays for the assessment.

When students select the View button, the new grade indicator turns off, and students are redirected to their submission. If no submission is made, the side panels with feedback opens. The View button remains unless the instructor deletes the graded submission and all attempts.

Image 1: Previous view of the student Gradebook included Feedback column with feedback icon and new grade indicator when feedback is available for review.

Image 2: New view of the student Gradebook includes an actionable Results column, with the new grade indicator turning off after the student views the feedback.

Ideas Exchange:

This section aims to keep you updated on progress of enhancements requested on the Blackboard Ideas Exchange.

We are pleased to see the Feedback Indicator included in this month’s release. This is a feature that we requested and was important in our recent SafeAssign Pilot survey.

Greek has also been added as an output language for the AI Design Assistant. This was requested by a colleague in Lifelong Learning.

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

What’s new in Blackboard March 2025

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What’s new in Blackboard March 2025

In the March update, Blackboard has changed how release conditions work with due dates and included the ability to copy banners from one course to another. Other updates include enhancements to Tests, Assignments, & Gradebook, and Discussions.

Release conditions panel: due dates now included

When instructors customise release conditions for a content item, the due date for the item is now included with the date and time fields.

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

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

.Release condition rules, with the date/time section highlighted to show the red warning text about dates

This means that due dates must be between the release conditions of Date/Time that have been applied.

Copy banners between courses

Instructors now have the option to copy banners between courses. Banners can be copied from Ultra or Original courses. 

Image 1: The Copy Items page now has the option to select the course banner under Settings

The Copy Items page now has the option to select the course banner under Settings

Follow the instructions on copying content for further information.

Tests, Assignments, and Gradebook

The following enhancements are grouped under tests, assignment, and gradebook activities.

New student submission review page for tests

A new and enhanced student-facing submission review page for tests has been developed.

The new layout means that all feedback is clearly laid out and easy for students to identify.

Image 1: The student view of the graded test submission includes a submission timestamp, submission receipt, and feedback for individual questions.

The student view of the graded test submission includes a submission timestamp, submission receipt, and feedback for individual questions.

If the test is visible and feedback has been posted, students can access the review page from:

  • The gradebook feedback button for the test
  • The small panel that displays when students access a test from the Course Content page

If a student submits multiple attempts, they can review each attempt on the submission review page. The instructor defines which attempt to grade in the test’s final grade calculation setting.

Please note that this does not affect online exams as we advise that the test is hidden from students to prevent them seeing their results.

Show/hide calculated columns in the gradebook

Instructors can now configure visibility for calculated columns from Items Management in the Gradebook by click on the associated calculation:

Image showing markable items in the Gradebook

Pop-out rubric with Blackboard Assignment

Grading rubrics on Blackboard Assignments can pop out into a separate window as part of the assignment workflow.

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

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

When the pop-out rubric is open, the ability to add Overall Feedback and grade with the rubric in the main grading interface is inactive. This prevents an instructor from editing the same information in two separate places simultaneously.

We recommend using two screens with this enhancement.

Discussions

Usability improvements for Discussions

Several improvements have been made to Discussions:

  • Improved visibility: Posts now have a grey 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 grey background.

A long discussion post displayed in its entirety with a grey background.

We made several changes 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.

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

Hidden Discussions tab from student course view

The Discussions page will only be available to students if any of the below conditions are met:

  • Students have permission to create new discussions
  • The instructor has created a discussion or discussion folder on the course

Anonymous discussions: New privilege to reveal author

System administrators can now reveal the identity of the author of an anonymous discussion post or reply. If you are running an anonymous Discussion and need to de-anonymise a comment, contact elearning@aber.ac.uk outlining the course, discussion, and post, as well as the rationale for requesting it be de-anonymised.

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

Fellowship of the Learned Society of Wales

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Are you interested in being nominated for a Fellowship of the Learned Society of Wales (LSW) or interested in proposing a colleague? 

LSW Fellows have a connection with Wales, and are elected in recognition of their excellence and outstanding contribution to the world of learning. The Fellowship spans the sciences, humanities, arts and public services and nominations are welcomed from nominees of all cultures, background and ethnicity.

The nomination process is open to academics and professional individuals who meet the nomination criteria.  The nomination is made by a proposer and supported by a seconder, both of whom must be Fellows of the LSW.  Details of the nomination and the election process are on the LSW website. 

The nomination window is now open for this year.  The closing date for applications is the 31 October 2024. Please visit the various LSW web pages and prepare the nomination paperwork by the submission deadline. 

If you feel that help is needed to link a nominee with LSW Fellows or require further information about the support the university can give you please contact Annette Edwards, aee@aber.ac.uk

Learned Society of Wales medals

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The Learned Society of Wales  (LSW) annually awards medals to researchers who excel in their field. The medal categories celebrate excellence in several areas of achievements, with further information on each medal at –

If you would like to nominate a colleague or an Early Career Researcher (ECR) please see the guidelines and nomination forms on the LSW web page.

To be eligible for any of the medals, nominees must be resident in Wales, born in Wales, or otherwise particularly connected with Wales.

The deadline for 2024 medal nominations is 5.00pm on 30 June 2024. Each medal has a dedicated committee to assess the nominations and decide who should receive the award.

Winners will be announced in October 2024 and will receive a specially struck medal and a cash prize of £500.

Please read the guidelines before you complete the medal nomination form. If you have any questions, please contact the LSW Fellowship Officer, Fiona Gaskell – fgaskell@lsw.wales.ac.uk. For further information about the LSW Medals, including past winners, visit www.learnedsociety.wales/medals or you can have an informal conversation with Annette Edwards, LTEU aee@aber.ac.uk

Digwyddiad Rhannu Arfer Da – Sharing Good Practice Event

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Aberystwyth University will be running a two-day Digwyddiad Rhannu Arfer Da – Rhagoriaeth Academaidd on the 2nd (face to face) and 3rd (on-line) July 2024. The event will be held through the medium of Welsh only. This event has been made possible due to the Small Grant Project money from the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

The aim of the two-day event is to present papers under the theme of Teaching Excellence – for example:

  • Learning and Teaching
  • Dysgu trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg
  • Student Support
  • Supervision
  • Personal Tutoring

The academic papers will be an opportunity for staff across Wales to present their research, under the theme of academic practice – through papers, posters, panels etc. Presentations at the event are welcome from anyone teaching from staff to PhD students.

The Call for Proposals, at the following link Galwad am Bapurau – Digwyddiad Rhannu Arfer Da (jisc.ac.uk)  asks for submissions of no more than 500 words, through the medium of Welsh. We welcome contributions to the event in the form of:

  • 20 minutes presentations
  • 45 minutes presentations
  • An individual or a group presentation
  • Posters from individuals or groups
  • Sharing good practice Panels

The deadline for these proposals is midday on Wednesday 27 March 2024.

I would be grateful if you could share this more widely with colleagues who maybe in interested in attending this event. 

If you would like to discuss anything further, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Annette Edwards (aee@aber.ac.uk)  01970 622386

Learned Society of Wales ‘meet and greet’

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Tuesday 13th February 2024

12.30 – 1.30pm with hot drinks and Welsh cakes available throughout.

Location: Research Dialogue Hub, Visualisation Centre, Penglais Campus.

Tŷ Trafod Ymchwil | Research Dialogue Hub – The Dialogue Centre (aber.ac.uk)

The Learned Society of Wales would like to invite you and a guest to join us at a drop in ‘meet and greet’ session being held at Aberystwyth University on Tuesday 13th February 2024.

Tea, coffee and light refreshments will be served and you are welcome to join us for as long as you wish between 12.30 and 1.30pm.

You will be able to meet and talk to staff from the Learned Society including Olivia Harrison (CEO) and Helen Willson (Strategic Engagement Manager) as well as our University Representatives at Aberystwyth University – Emeritus Professor Eleri Pryse and Professor Iwan Morus.  We will also be joined by the President of the Learned Society of Wales – Professor Hywel Thomas.

It will be an opportunity for Fellows of the Learned Society to come together and for all those who attend to meet others who are interested in research and its impact in Wales as well as network and find out more about the Learned Society of Wales including its work with Early Career Researchers.

Who is this event for?

  • Current Fellows of the LSW
  • Anyone interested in research in or about Wales and its impact on policy
  • People interested in learning more about becoming a Fellow of the LSW
  • Early Career Researchers who would find benefit from joining an interdisciplinary network to engage with and learn from

You can find out more about the LSW and our work here. This is a drop-in session and there is no obligation to sign up or formally accept this invitation.  However, we would appreciate an indication of numbers so If you know you’ll be coming along or if you would like further information please email us on lsw@wales.ac.uk

Upcoming Trace CPD Workshops

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Sara Childs will be delivering two workshops over the coming weeks based on the findings of ongoing research on trauma-informed communication. Aberystwyth University is committed to becoming one of Wales’s only two trauma-informed universities along with Wrexham university. We are currently in the self-assessment phase of a two-year project, of which the next phase will identify individual projects for enhancing our trauma-informed approach. In parallel, sessions are being offered to the community which raise awareness of trauma-informed approaches.

The upcoming workshops will provide an opportunity for those engaged in teaching, or roles that involve direct contact with students, to develop their practice to incorporate this ground-breaking research.

Towards a trauma-informed approach – theory and reflective practice Part 1

Date: 5/12/23 15.00-16.00

Location: Hugh Owen E3

Towards a trauma-informed approach – theory and reflective practice Part 2

Date: 12/12/23 14.00-16.00

Location: Hugh Owen E3

Blackboard Messages

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Staff teaching on Blackboard courses can use the Messages tool to send messages to their students, and these are often sent by email.

Because of the way that the Message tool works, all messages are sent from the e-learning support email address (bb-team@aber.ac.uk ), rather than the staff members’ personal email addresses. Replying to a Message sends it to our e-learning support staff.

Students – please don’t click the Reply button to respond to a Message.  Instead, use the Forward option, adding in the relevant email address for the staff member. If you aren’t sure what their email address is, you can find it on the University Directory.

Staff – to help students get back in touch with you, we recommend including your email address in any Messages you send.

This is an example of a Blackboard Message sent via email

[Alt text: screenshot of a Blackboard Message sent via email]

And the image below shows what happens when you click on the Reply button in your email – the To: box sends the message to bb-team@aber.ac.uk

[Alt text: Screenshot of the email message created when you Reply to a Blackboard Message]

We are working with Blackboard / Anthology and colleagues to resolve this issue, but in the meantime please check before replying to a message. This is especially important if you are sending personal information.