{"id":9157,"date":"2025-04-03T16:11:23","date_gmt":"2025-04-03T15:11:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.aber.ac.uk\/e-learning\/?p=9157"},"modified":"2025-04-03T16:12:10","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T15:12:10","slug":"whats-new-in-blackboard-april-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.aber.ac.uk\/e-learning\/2025\/04\/03\/whats-new-in-blackboard-april-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s new in Blackboard April 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New: Learning Object Repository<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

The new Learning Object Repository is an institutional repository designed to centralise resources across courses and organisations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some initial ideas from us include links to generic skills resources, generative AI policies, and optional health and safety statements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have any ideas about how we might use the Learning Object Repository, please contact elearning@aber.ac.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Content Designer: Print Document<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Image 1. The new Print button for Documents is now available for students.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Grading and Feedback<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

There are some minor enhancements to Grading and Feedback this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indicator to see if a student has reviewed their feedback<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the Gradebook, instructors now have enhanced ability to monitor student engagement with assessment feedback. An indicator on the individual student\u2019s Overview page now displays whether a student has reviewed the feedback for a given assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Image 1: Instructor Gradebook view has Reviewed and Not Reviewed labels in the Status column.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To see whether a student has viewed their feedback:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

    Enhanced grading experience for group submissions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Blackboard Assignment can manage group submissions<\/a> where a student in a group submits a file, and marks and feedback can be allocated for all students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In this month\u2019s update the grading interface for group submissions has been updated to match that of individual submissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Replace Feedback column with actionable Results column in student Gradebook<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The students\u2019 Gradebook has changed to include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n