May 2025
Gradebook: Text-Based Item
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.
- Character limitation: the text item allow instructors to record up to 32 characters.
- The text item can accept letters, numbers (alphanumerical values).
- It will not be available for calculations.
Instructors can:
- Create text-based columns from the Gradable Items or Grades options;
- 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 calculations
- Content in a text-based item auto-posts. The students will see the text as soon as you press the ENTER key on your keyboard.
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You can sort on the text-based item.
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Instructors can also download and upload text-based columns using the Gradebook's upload/download function.
No Points Rubrics
Instructors can now create and use no-points rubrics for qualitative evaluation. This rubric type allows instructors to assess student work based on criteria and feedback, rather than numerical values. In addition, the AI generation option now supports no-points rubrics, providing a streamlined method to create detailed evaluation criteria.
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.
One-Time View of Results
We added 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. The View submission one time option lets instructors provide students with immediate feedback.
Remember that students can still copy and paste your questions and answers when you allow them to view the feedback. If this propose an opportunity to compromise your question bank of questions, consider the following alternatives:
- Students should take the test in a lab where the computers settings are controlled and students cannot use their cell phone to take a picture or to print the questions.
- Use QuestUP.
On the Test Settings, select the way the feedback should be displayed:
Discussion Enhancements & Group Discussions
We made several enhancements to discussions to improve the user experience and make discussions more engaging and efficient.
- Updated wording: We used to call discussion contributions "responses" and "replies." We changed this to "posts" and "replies."
- Improved input field text: Previously, the text within the input field was "Type a response." The text within the input field is now "Post a response to the discussion."
- Avatar update: We previously included the user's avatar beside the input field. We removed the avatar to increase the area for adding content to the discussion.
Auto-generate AI Conversation
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
Follow these steps:
- On the Course Content page click on the plus (+) sign where you want to add the AI Conversation.
- Click on Create
- On the side panel scroll down to the bottom of the items that you can add
- Choose AI Conversation
- Click on the Auto-generate conversation button.
It will display the conversation options.
6. Select the content that should be used - when testing prompts the EI team discovered that you should be as specific as possible, providing the context, what you need the persona to be, etc.
7. Select the type of AI conversation that should be created
8. Select the complexity levels
9. Select generate.
April 2025
Course Activity will display all students
Courses with over 3000 students now correctly include all students in the report.
Access the Course Activity report by following these steps:
- Click on Analytics.
- The Course Activity report is the first page that will open.
Send messages from Course Activity report
Instructors can select all students for courses with over 3000 students.
Take the following steps:
- Click on Analytics. The Course Overview report displays.
- Click on the List tab.
- Filter the students you need to send the message to.
- Click the tick box to select all the students in the selected filter.
- Click on Send Message.
This is what the send messages screen will look like:
To be more user-friendly, the Recipients field now includes the following group labels:
- All students
- Selected students
- Selected students with alerts
- Selected students without alerts
These enhancements make it easier to communicate with students in large classes, including students with or without alerts.
Gradebook: Students Reviewed Feedback
In the Gradebook, instructors have enhanced ability to monitor student engagement with assessment feedback. An indicator on the student Overview page now displays whether a student has reviewed the feedback for a given assessment.
This is an example of what it will look like on your Instructor view per student:
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.
Grade Group Assignments using Flexible Grading
You can now grade group assignments using flexible grading.
Still to come: Some capabilities such as:
- per question feedback and
- pop-out rubric
on group assignment submissions, will be added to group submissions after this initial release.
Achievements in Student Preview
Instructors can access Achievements through the Student Preview. This helps instructors preview achievements from the student perspective, providing a more accurate representation of the student experience. Instructors can also verify that the Achievements page is available for students in their courses.
Print Ultra Document
Instructors and students can now print Documents or save them to PDF, providing more ways to engage with content.
To print a Document, select Print. Use the browser to print options to select the following:
- A printer or the PDF option
- The page range
- The layout
When printing from a mobile device, the Document prints as displayed on a desktop web browser.
AllY - Math Support for HTML and Beeline formats
When you include mathematical expressions anywhere in clickUP and you use the AllY Beeline or HTML format, then the mathematical expressions will display.
March 2025
Rubric pop-out on individual assignments
To enhance grading efficiency, instructors can now pop out the grading rubric into a separate window when grading an assignment submission. The pop-out rubric is a separate, moveable window and formatted in a grid view. Previously, the rubric was only available in a side panel and formatted in a stack.
This update makes it easier to navigate and grade student submissions by providing a clearer, more comprehensive view of the rubric. Popping out the rubric lets instructors view the student submission and the rubric side-by-side for a more efficient grading experience. Instructors can quickly select performance levels and provide feedback in the rubric while viewing the student submission.
Watch the video (NO SOUND) to explore these features in action:
Release conditions panel: due dates now included
When you add the release condition to display the gradable item from a specific date, the due date will be displayed when you select the Access from tick box.
Instructors are no longer required to go back to the item to check the due date, which saves time and reduces errors.
Copy Banners Between Courses
Instructors now have the option to copy banners between courses. This is ideal for instructors who prefer to copy course content in parts rather than performing a full course copy.
The Settings option only displays if there is a course banner to copy.
Course Access user experience improvements
Take note that the options are now better described:
Usability improvements for discussions
The following changes were made to the Discussions:
a. Improved visibility: Posts now have a gray background to stand out better against the page.
b. Full post display: Long discussion posts are now fully visible without the need for scrolling, enhancing readability.
c. Direct edit option: The Edit button is now directly accessible from the post, saving instructors time.
d. 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.
Display of student submission review page for tests has changed
We are introducing a new and enhanced student-facing submission review page for tests. This review page is similar to the review page for assignments:
- All questions and feedback provided to the student is displayd on one long page.
- This has the potential for students to copy the text and paste it in MS Word which will compromise the security of your question bank which could then be distributed or sold to other students.
The new test submission review page displays the following information and feedback formats:
- Test content
- Student submission with question-level grades and feedback
- Submission timestamp
- Submission receipt
- Final grade and calculation model
- Attempt grade and feedback
- Override grade and feedback (if applicable)
Refer here for setting up the display of assessment results to students in tests ...
February 2025
Upload images to documents using the new image block
We added an image block to Documents. Instructors can use image blocks to upload their own images, use the AI Design Assistant to generate images, or select images from Unsplash. Image blocks can be moved throughout a Document, just like other block types. Instructors have the option to resize images, set height, and maintain aspect ratios in image blocks. A dedicated image block makes adding images more apparent. Adding images via the image block also reduces white space around images and provides greater control over content design.
Watch this animated gif for more information on how to use the image block:
Include IP addresses in student activity log
Take note that an additional field (IP address) was added on the Activity Log:
- Click on Gradebook.
- Click on Student View.
- Click on a Student Name.
- Click on Activity Log.
On this page you can also see the students' IP address and Attempt log.
Change folders to learning modules or learning modules to folders
Instructors can now change a folder to a learning module or a learning module to a folder. Benefits of changing a folder to a learning module include:
- Thumbnail images: Learning modules come with thumbnail images, which provide a visually appealing course experience.
- Forced sequencing: Instructors can force students to navigate learning modules in linear paths.
- Progress bar: Learning modules have a progress bar for students that highlights the number of items that they need to complete and their progression on those items.
- Previous and next navigation: Students can quickly navigate to the next or previous item in a learning module.
Follow these steps:
- On the Course Content page, navigate to the Folder.
- Click on the ellipses.
- Choose Convert to Learning Module.
Improved Mapping when uploading grades and feedback
Instructors can now upload grades and feedback for assignments, journals, and discussions with improved accuracy. Previously, when instructors uploaded grades, they were always stored at the override level, which left the underlying attempts or submissions ungraded. This caused the Needs Grading and New Submission flags to remain visible, even when grading had been completed offline.
Uploaded grades and feedback are now correctly mapped to the corresponding attempt or submission whenever possible. This reduces confusion and provides better clarity for instructors.
Assignments with Single Attempts
- Ungraded Attempts. When an ungraded attempt is found, the grade is stored at the attempt level, the Needs Grading and New Submission flags are cleared, and any auto-zero is removed.
- Graded Attempts. If the attempt is already graded, the existing grade is updated accordingly.
- Existing Overrides. If an override already exists, only the override is updated. No changes are made to the attempt grade.
- No Submission. If a student has not submitted an attempt, the grade is stored as an override.
Assignments with Multiple Attempts
- Ungraded Attempts. If all attempts are ungraded, the grade is assigned to the appropriate attempt based on the aggregation model:
- First: The grade is assigned to the first attempt.
- Last: The grade is assigned to the last attempt.
- All (Min, Max, & Average): The grade is assigned to the last attempt. All other attempts are excluded.
- Single Graded Attempt. For a single graded attempt, the existing grade is updated.
- Multiple Graded Attempts. If more than one attempt is graded, the grade is stored as an override. The Needs Grading and New Submission labels remain unchanged.
- Existing Overrides. If an override already exists, the override grade is updated.
- No Submission. For students with no submission, the grade is stored as an override.
Discussions and Journals
- Ungraded Submissions. For ungraded submissions, the grade and feedback are added to the submission, and the Needs Grading and New Submission flags are cleared.
- Graded Submissions. If the submission is already graded, the grade and feedback are updated.
- Overrides. If a student has an override grade, the override grade and feedback are updated.
Improvements to grade entry for discussions and journals from the Grid view or Submissions page
Instructors can now enter discussion and journal grades directly in the Grid view or Grades & Participation page with improved accuracy and consistency.
Follow these steps:
- Click on Gradebook.
- Click on Grades.
- Enter the grades.
Improvements to avatar size and time stamp positioning for discussion replies
The image display has been improved in Discussions.
Improvements to assignment grading interface
To optimize the use of screen space and to give graders a larger view of the student submission, we redesigned the grading interface for assignments and tests.
We implemented the following design changes:
- Relocated the Previous Student and Next Student navigation controls next to the attempt grade pill and removed the gray bar that these buttons were on.
- Replaced the Previous Student and Next Student buttons with <> arrows.
- Moved the avatar, student name, and submission information to the existing black bar and removed the white bar where the information was previously listed.
January 2025
Welcome back. May 2025 be an #Ultra good year.
This release includes the following:
- Manage course access from Course Settings
- Release conditions: added submission attempts
- Show/hide columns from instructors in the gradebook
Manage course access from Course Settings
Note that the opening and closing of the courses moved. It is now available under Course Settings.
Take note of the following:
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The status of the course is visible at the top of the page.
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Click on Course Settings to open the course.
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Read the text on this section carefully.
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Close/Open course
Use the slider to open the course. If the slider is green, the course is closed. This means students cannot access the course. If the slider is grey, it means the course is open - students can access the course to participate in the activities.
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Complete Course
Do not click on this slider in front of Complete Course as it will completely lock the course! EI will complete the courses in batch based on the PeopleSoft integration.
Release conditions: added submission attempts
You might have a need to display content to students before you have graded an assessment. You will now be able to set the performance criteria as follows:
Show/hide gradable items from instructors in the gradebook
You can now show and hide gradable items from instructors:
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Click on Gradebook
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Click on the settings icon
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Scroll down until you see Item Management. Click on Manage Gradebook Items:
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A summary of gradable item visibility is displayed.
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Student visibility - this displays the status of each gradable item for the students.
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Use the slider of the gradable item to hide or show the item.
The meaning of the slider icons are as follows:
a. You will see this next to the calculation items - you cannot edit their visibility here.
b. The grey cross indicates that it is hidden from the Instructor view.
c. The green tick indicates that it is visible on the instructor view.
If one of the lecturers hide a gradable item from the instructor view, it is hidden for all instructors. If you want to view the gradable item in the gradebook, follow the above steps to make it visible.
November 2024
This release includes the following:
- Role play in Ai Conversations
- Print Test with Unanswered Questions from Pool
Role play in Ai Conversations
We expanded our AI Conversation feature to include a role play option. Role play can enhance learning by providing active learning opportunities. Role play also encourages critical thinking. It also provides an opportunity for students to apply knowledge in a simulated environment.
For example, a student could role play a doctor by speaking to a patient, played by the AI persona. In this scenario, a student gains practical experience in a safe environment for experimentation.
Instructors customize the AI persona by giving it a name and image. Instructors also define the AI persona's personality traits and select the complexity of the responses.
Instructors should always preview an AI conversation before releasing the activity to students. AI tools can hallucinate and introduce bias. It is important to ensure that instructions are clear and that the AI persona responds in an expected and appropriate way.
We also introduced a stepped setup. This approach makes it easier for instructors to select the type of conversation and define the topic, student role, and AI persona.
For detailed steps, refer to this page.
Print Test with Unanswered Questions from Pool
Instructors can now print tests that include questions from Question Pools. We also combined the answer key and the corresponding test. This ensures that users always have an answer key that matches the test. We generate the answer key and print it ahead of the test. We also labeled the Answer Key to ensure awareness.
The system generates a different version of the answer key and test each time a test is printed when the test:
- Randomizes questions or answer options
- Includes Question Pools
- Instructors can use the print option to save the answer key and test as a PDF.
For detailed steps, refer to this page.
October 2024
This release includes the following:
- Ability to Generate question banks,
- Enhancements to student submission review page (Student Preview), and
- Ability to Customise email notifications for followed discussions.
Generate question banks
The ability to autogenerate reusable groups of questions is available in the Question Banks.
For detailed steps, refer to this page.
Email notifications for "followed" discussions
If you select to follow a discussion, you can now also receive email notifications if new posts were made to the discussion. Emails are sent if you opt for Email me right away notifications.
On your Profile page, there are now new user Notification Settings to manage the emails for discussions you follow:
- Activity on my responses
- Activity on responses I have replied to
- Responses from instructors
- Responses for followed discussions
- Replies for followed discussions
Read more on how to edit your notification settings
Read more on how to follow a discussion
Enhancements to student submission review page
The student submission review page makes it easier for students to access instructor feedback on their submissions.
- Instructor can now access the Student Submission review page from the Student Preview.
- Students can now access offline submissions from this page.
- Students now have a Read more option for overall and attempt feedback.
September 2024
This release includes the following:
Details & Actions move to right
Grades Overview
A summary of the Needs grading and Needs posting items are displayed on the Overview tab.
Student activity log
Instructors often need to review student activity. Student activity helps inform decisions in academic disputes and aids in troubleshooting. You can also analyze the course participation of students at risk.
Instructors can use student participation to support financial aid decisions. For example, requests for tuition fee reimbursements if a student hasn't participated in a course. Course participation records can also help with awarding scholarships.
Follow these steps:
- Click on Gradebook.
- Click on Student View.
- Click on a Student Name.
- Click on Activity Log.
Content Designer
The automatic quiz generator was removed in this version. Watch this space.
August 2024
This release includes the following:
Ultra Document Re-design
You can now organise the Ultra Document page to display text and images next to each other. Please watch the animated gif below (no sound) to see this in action:
Assessment change
Please note that Assignments and Tests no longer look the same:
| Assignments | Tests |
|---|---|
| Students can submit multiple files. | Add questions to the test. |
| Add Turnitin similarity report. | Students can still add a file with evidence to the test (if the instructor allows). |
Release Conditions: Multiple rules
You can now add multiple release condition rules. Read more ...
Gradebook
- Download to Excel removes the status information in Excel:
Grading Assignments
For flexible grading of assignments next and previous student navigation has been added:
Other updates
Image Generation Improvements
This update allows instructors to generate higher quality, higher resolution images in the following workflows:
- Learning Module images
- Document images
- Announcement images
- Assessment question images
- Journal prompts images.
For example:
Allow anonymous submissions for Forms
Under the Settings option you can decide if the form should accept anonymous submissions or not. The default option is NOT anonymous.
July 2024
This release includes the following:
Assessments and grading
Gradebook
- Grading multiple attempts
- Add audio/video feedback, when grading by student or question:
Announcements
- If you want to release an announcement on a specifice date, or show it only for a specific time period, set the dates and times.
- If you select the send email tick box, the announcement will also be sent via email to the students on this specific date.
May 2024
This release includes the following:
Assessments and grading
Gradebook
- New layout - please download the updated cheat sheet.
- Weighted calculations improved.
Content
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Set more than one performance criteria per content item.
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You will get warned when you want to copy content from an Original course to an Ultra course.
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Take note when copying content to your Ultra course that all Folders in Original will be copied as Learning Modules in Ultra.
April 2024
This release includes the following:
Assessments and grading
- Duplicate questions in tests, assignments, forms and question banks
- Question default point value changed from 10 to 1 - this means any newly created questions will have a default point value of 1. This change helps reduce the need for manual adjustments.
Flexible grading improvements:
* Multiple attempts is available at the top of the page.
* Override grade displays the original grade as well as the overwritten grade.
* The submission receipt for the selected attempt displays beneath the attempt selector.
Gradebook
- Current Grade included in Gradebook Download
Content
- Persistent navigation for Learning Modules - this means even when you have a long scrolling page, the forward and backward navigtion persists at the top of the page.
Engagement
- Anonymous Discussions
- Self-Enrollment Group Improvement: Self-enrollment groups provide an important part of student autonomy throughout the learning experience. When creating self-enrollment groups, the maximum members per group is reduced from 2 to 1.
March 2024
This release includes the following:
Announcements
Mark announcements as read or unread.
Assessments
No due date setting.
Due dates are an important aspect of the teaching and learning process. In some scenarios, such as self-paced learning, an instructor may not want to apply a due date. To make the option for not having a due date more evident, we've added a "No due date" option for Tests and Assignments.
Flexible Grading
Last used view state of flexible grading side panels preserved.
Instructors want to configure the grading interface according to their preferences. In flexible grading, instructors can collapse or expand the left panel (student cards) and right panel (feedback and rubrics). To provide a better user experience, the last used state is preserved in the browser.
Navigating between student attempts and across sessions provides a more efficient experience.
Gradebook item statistics
When the Head of Department asks for statistics of your latest assessment, you can access the statistics on the Grid view in the Gradebook.
Student Activity on Tests
Send messages to students from the Student Activity report for assessments on small and medium devices and the mobile app:
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Access the Blackboard Learn app.
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Open the course.
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Go to test on the Course Conent page.
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Click on the elipses (three dots).
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Click on Student Activity.
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Click on the elipses (three dots) of the student you want to message.
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Click on Send a Message to....
Turnitin
You will now also be able to copy previously created Turnitin assignments. Read more ....
February 2024
This release includes the following:
Missed due dates are available in Analytics on the Course Activity Report.
Grading with Rubrics will now remember your selection to show or hide the level descriptors.
Send Reminders - if there are release conditions on the assessment, you will not be able to send reminders.
Forms - this is a first phase implementation of a tool with which to get information from students (almost like a survey). There is a likert type question available for forms. Watch this space!
January 2024
This release includes the following:
Assessments and grading
- Attempt Logs
- Flexible Grading - Multiple Attempt Aggregation
Gradebook
- Additional total and weighted columns in the Gradebook
- Category Information Columns within Gradable Items Page
Content
- Batch Edit -Date and Time settings
- Improved visibility state for content items with release conditions
- Unused File Cleanup Tool
Previous updates
Access this link to view earlier updates. Click on the month to view the updates for that month.