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Blackboard Ultra: Faculty Resource: Roadmap and Updates

Blackboard Ultra: Faculty Resource

December 2025

  • Added participation requirements to Discussion boards
  • Audio and video feedback available for grades
  • Table of Contents for modules now available in instructor view
  • Release conditions available for non-assignment module items

November 2025

  • Added bulk change question points in Tests
  • Improved navigation from Gradebook column headers
  • Added ability to include hidden items in Gradebook downloads
  • Added ability to automatically send messages to students based on your criteria

October 2025

  • Improved file management in the Learning Object Repository.
  • Added tagging for questions in tests and question banks.
  • Improved student experience with fill in the blank questions.

Additional Resources:

95% Confidence of Release Q4 2025

Instructional Design

  • Learning Module table of contents for instructors
  • Mathjax delimiters for more flexibility with inline formulae and improved display quality across multiple web browsers
  • Learning Object Repository visibility settings are synced with the courses using those items
  • Upload not just Documents, but files, into the Learning Object Repository

AI Design Assistant

  • Generate Knowledge Checks in Documents

Assessment

  • Bulk update points across multiple questions and question types in a test (Added November 2025)

Gradebook & Grading

  • Record screen, webcam, and audio to offer verbal and visual feedback with available transcripts and captions for accessibility (Video Studio license NOT required)

Collaboration & Communication

  • Ability to define the number and type (Post, Reply, or Post and Reply) of contributions when creating a graded discussion
  • Layout of course messages like texting via a phone with a left and right split

60 - 70% Confidence of Release Q1 2026

Instructional Design

  • Block stacking in Content Designer to reduce unwanted white space by allowing multiple blocks in one row
  • Learning Object Repository institutional hierarchy support to manage access to objects

AI Design Assistant

  • Add rubrics to AI Conversation

Assessment

  • Enable instructors to specify the expected submission type(s) for an assignment: file, text, LTI (Added December 2025.)
  • Multiple choice / multiple answer questions default to 4 answer options
  • Instructor defines how many answers a student may select for multiple answer questions
  • Download, export and print rubrics

Gradebook & Grading

  • Run rubric evaluation reports

Mastery Learning and Learning Paths

  • Flexible performance evaluation with dynamic scales of proficiency
  • Additional release conditions for custom learning pathways

Collaboration & Communication

  • Multiple conversations via course messages with the same users combined into one thread

September 2025

  • Added block styling for documents.
  • Added optional question titles in tests and question banks.
  • Added AI-powered overall feedback based on rubric performance and instructor comments.
  • Added AI-powered suggested revisions for instructor feedback.
  • Added pop-out rubrics for group assignments.
  • Added per-question feedback on group test submissions.
  • Improved accessibility in the gradebook.

August 2025

  • Added a table of contents to Learning Modules.
  • Improved the Learning Object Repository.
  • Improved Grade Export.

July 2025

  • Added ability for "AI Design Assistant" to suggest layouts, generate "Knowledge Checks", and suggest images.
  • Added a captions option to image blocks in Documents.
  • Added ability to import QTI v2.1 formatted questions into banks.
  • Added "No Category" option to the "Grade Category dropdown menu.
  • Added enhancements to the pop-out rubric.
  • Improved the workflow used to grade group submissions.
  • Redesigned the Activity page to include a responsive course section with new activity summaries.

June 2025

  • Added resizable dividers as a new block type in Documents.
  • Adjusted the appearance of Knowledge Check results view.
  • Added "Jumbled Sentence" as a "Question Type" for exams.
  • Added an indicator for the number of unread discussion posts next to the Discussions tab.
  • Added ability to bulk change categories for items on the "Item Management" view of the Gradebook.
  • Improved accessible navigation of "Gradable Items" in the Gradebook.
  • Added filters for the "Student Activity Log".

May 2025

  • Added auto-generation of AI Conversations using the AI Design Assistant
  • Added enhanced search capabilities for the Learning Object Repository
  • Added email notifications when users update or make changes to objects in the Learning Object Repository
  • Added "One time" as an option for allowing students to view the results of their submission.
  • Added "No Points" rubric type option to allow qualitative rubrics
  • Improved the functionality and user experience of course discussions
  • Improved accessibility with the Gradebook
  • Added a text-based column option within the Gradebook
  • Improved the user interface and experience with the Grades Approval and Transfer Screen

April 2025

  • Added Learning Object Repository for Documents
  • Documents can be saved to PDF or printed
  • Achievements page hidden from students by default
  • Added Feedback indicator to Status column in the Gradebook, indicating whether feedback has been reviewed or not
  • Replaced Feedback column in the Gradebook for students with Results column, containing a View button for each item

March 2025

  • Quality of life improvements to images generated for learning modules with AI Design Assistant
  • Added Course Goal Coverage and Performance Reports to the Analytics page
  • Added the due date with the date and time fields in the release conditions panel
  • Improved goal name readability of the Mastery tab in Gradebook
  • Hiding a test or assignment from students will not kick students out who already have it open
  • System admins can determine the author of an anonymous discussion post
  • Added a pop-out grading rubric option
  • Can show/hide calculation columns in the gradebook

February 2025

  • Improvements to the AI Design Assistant
    • Can include/exclude AI descriptions from Learning Modules
    • Increased the maximum number of questions of Learning Modules generated
  • Improvements to content containers
    • Can convert between folders and Learning Modules
    • Formatting of files uploaded by instructors now retained
    • Added an image block to Documents
  • Assessment access codes now masked by default for students
  • Improved student assignment submission uploads
  • All groups are now course-level groups
  • Improved accuracy of Needs Grading and New Submission flags for grade uploads and grades from the Grid view
  • Grading interface displays more of a student's work

January 2025

  • Improvements to the AI Design Assistant
    • More complex outputs
    • Improved image generation
  • Improvements to the Content Designer: Documents
  • Availability controls/settings for the Mastery tab in the Gradebook
  • Added "Attempt submitted" as a release condition
  • Added show/hide columns from instructors in the Gradebook
  • Set automatic zeros to off as a default
  • Direct grade entry from Grid view or Submissions page updates "Needs Grading" and "New Submissions" flags appropriately
  • Moved course access settings

Additional Resources:

You can view the Full Release Notes for Blackboard Learn directly from Anthology*.

*Please be aware, that these are the full release notes for all content released by Anthology, this can include products and features that we do not currently use or are unavailable for Northwood Technical College.