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More on Learn with the SaaS Deployment | How to enable the Ultra experience
Browse the list of features or view the maintenance items.
You can also see our instructions to create and export a list of Known Issues in Behind the Blackboard.
Check earlier versions' notes at the end of this page.
January 2024 – 3900.82 Release
We're aware that updates to copy workflows for admins are causing issues and we're actively working on a resolution.
The January 2024 - 3900.82 is robust with features in 9 areas:
- Instructional design;
- Mastery learning / Competency based education;
- Tests and assignments;
- Flexible grading;
- Gradebook;
- Learner progression and personalized experience;
- Integrations;
- Mobile; and
- Upgrade to Ultra
These improvements impact instructors, students, and administrators. Some features do require administrative action.
Instructors:
- AI Design Assistant – Authentic Assessment prompt generation
- AI Design Assistant - Generate Rubric Improvements
- Delegated Grading improvements
- Improved attempt display in Flexible Grading
- Sorting controls in Students view for assessments graded anonymously
- Enhanced grid view
- Total & Weighted Calculations
- Category information on the Gradable Items page
- Original Course View: Updated options display when sending email from the Grade Center
- Attempt logs for enhanced assessment integrity
- Unused files management
- Batch Edit: Change to specific date and/or time
Instructors and students:
All users:
- Multi-Factor Authentication for the internal authentication method
- Mobile: Help Center and About sections added to More menu
Instructors and Administrators:
Administrators:
Instructional Design
AI Design Assistant - Authentic Assignment prompt generation – 3900.82
Blackboard Learn SaaS
Ultra Experience
Ultra Course View
Impact: Instructors
AI plagiarism is a growing concern among academics. Research indicates a variety of issues with a reliance on AI detection. Detection models cannot keep up with advancements in AI technologies. Our approach to combatting AI plagiarism is different. We empower instructors to lean into the effective practice of authentic assessment.
Learn more with our academic paper AI, Academic Integrity, and Authentic Assessment.
Now instructors can generate assignment prompts that encourage students to:
- engage in higher-order thinking,
- apply their learned knowledge,
- produce authentic submissions that are evidenced, and
- emulate real-world situations.
To ensure the instructor is in control, the generation process allows instructors to:
- enter an assignment description,
- select a desired cognitive process based on Bloom's Taxonomy,
- set the complexity, and
- generate an assignment title.
The instructor can review the generated prompts and select one to add to the assignment. After adding the prompt, the instructor can edit or further refine the prompt as appropriate.
Image 1. The auto-generate assignment option
Image 2. Three generated prompts; each include a title, prompt, and cognitive level
Image 3. Instructors can add additional context through a description, select the desired cognitive level and complexity, and then generate prompts
Image 4. Selected title and prompt added to an assignment
For administrators: To use this feature, enable the AI Features option in Ultra Experience Management. Select Building Blocks from the Administrator Panel, then select Installed Tools. Locate AI Design Assistant and Unsplash and select Settings from the drop-down. The default state is off. Set Enable AI Design Assistant to on. Set Generate Assignments to on. You must also activate privileges. Assign the following privilege for the appropriate Course Roles (e.g., Instructor): Use AI features.
AI Design Assistant - Generate Rubric Improvements – 3900.82
Blackboard Learn SaaS
Ultra Experience
Ultra Course View
Impact: Instructors
The AI Design Assistant helps instructors create rubrics for assessments. We've streamlined a time-intensive task and created efficiency for instructors with rubric creation. Being careful to consider user feedback, we have made some improvements to rubric generation. The improvements improve column and row labels . We also improved the distribution of percentages/points for criteria.
Image 1. Rubric generation outputs using the AI Design Assistant
For administrators: To use this feature, enable the AI Features option in Ultra Experience Management. Select Building Blocks from the Administrator panel, then select Installed Tools. Locate AI Design Assistant and Unsplash and select Settings from the menu. The default state of the AI Design Assistant is set to Off. Select Enable AI Design Assistant to turn the feature on. You must also set Generate Assignments to On. Assign the Use AI features privilege for the appropriate Course Roles (for example, Instructor).
Mastery Learning/Competency Based Education
Grade visible to students in Gradebook when item is hidden by release conditions – 3900.82
Blackboard Learn SaaS
Ultra Experience
Ultra Course View
Impact: Instructors, Students
Release conditions provide options for custom learning paths through course content. When instructors set release conditions, content is unavailable until students meet those conditions. An option to 'Hide' selected content from students is available. This setting also hides the grade from the student view of the gradebook.
Now, instructors can set release conditions without concern of hiding grades. Regardless of the setting in "When will content appear?", students can see the grade. All other functionality of release conditions is unchanged.
Image 1. Release conditions settings with date/time release condition set in combination with Hide state in “When will content appear?”
Image 2. Student gradebook view with display of student’s grade regardless of the release condition setting in Image 1
For administrators: This feature is available for all Ultra courses. There are no configurations needed.
Tests & Assignments
Delegated Grading improvements – 3900.82
Blackboard Learn SaaS
Ultra Experience
Ultra Course View
Impact: Instructors
Instructors sometimes distribute the grading workload for an assessment to multiple graders. This is a popular practice in larger classes. Instructors can assign graders to groups of students with the new delegated grading option. Each grader only sees the submissions made by students in the group(s) assigned to them.
Now instructors can also use delegated grading in combination with anonymous submissions and tests.
Image 1: Instructor view of the assessment Settings panel for a test with the Delegated Grading and Anonymous grading options enabled
For administrators: This feature is available for all Ultra courses. There are no configurations needed.
Flexible Grading
Improved attempt display in Flexible Grading – 3900.82
Blackboard Learn SaaS
Ultra Experience
Ultra Course View
Impact: Instructors
Multiple-attempt assessments result in more submissions, which can increase the complexity of grading.
In the past, when an instructor selected a student in the list the most recent attempt displayed. Now, the attempt selected for display is based on the grading status and attempt aggregation model selected.
| Attempt Aggregation Model | Grading Status and Attempt Displayed |
|---|---|
| Average of all attempts | If all attempts are graded, the most recently submitted attempt displays. If ungraded attempts exist, the most recent, ungraded attempt displays. |
| First attempt with a grade | If all attempts are graded, the first submitted attempt displays. If ungraded attempts exist, the oldest ungraded attempt displays. |
| Attempt with highest grade | If all attempts are graded, the attempt with the highest grade displays. If ungraded attempts exist, the most recent, ungraded attempt displays. |
| Last attempt with a grade | If all attempts are graded, the most recently submitted attempt displays. If ungraded attempts exist, the most recent ungraded attempt displays. |
| Attempt with lowest grade | If all attempts are graded, the attempt with lowest grade displays. If ungraded attempts exist, the most recent ungraded attempt displays. |
For administrators: This feature is available for all Ultra courses. There are no configurations needed.
Sorting controls in Students view for assessments graded anonymously – 3900.82
Blackboard Learn SaaS
Ultra Experience
Ultra Course View
Impact: Instructors
We are adding sorting controls to assessments graded anonymously. Now instructors can apply these sorting options:
- Submission date (oldest - newest) of latest attempt
- Submission date (newest - oldest) of latest attempt
The grading interface stores the most recently used sorting option. If an instructor stops grading an assessment and resumes grading later, the last sorting option is applied.
Image 1: Sorting options on an anonymously graded assessment in flexible grading
For administrators: This feature is available for all Ultra courses. There are no configurations needed.
Gradebook
Enhanced Grid View – 3900.82
Blackboard Learn SaaS
Ultra Experience
Ultra Course View
Impact: Instructors
To improve usability and maximize the screen real estate of the gradebook grid view, we have made several enhancements:
Improved row visibility and display more rows:
- We reduced the size of the column icons and the spacing around them.
- We removed group names and highlighting on group assessments.
- The course name moves up and hides when vertically scrolling.
Improved student identification:
- When hovering over a truncated student name, the full name displays in a tooltip.
- Student IDs display beneath student names to aid in distinguishing between students with similar names.
Image 1. Improvements to gradebook grid view
For administrators: This feature is available for all Ultra courses. There are no configurations needed.
Total & Weighted Calculations – 3900.82
Blackboard Learn SaaS
Ultra Experience
Ultra Course View
Impact: Instructors and other users with permissions
Instructors need a gradebook that supports diverse grading scenarios. The gradebook supports the creation of calculated columns and an overall course grade. We are expanding gradebook functionality to also support total and weighted calculated columns. These types of calculations are helpful for specific events or periods, such as midterms or finals.
Total calculated columns can be point-based or weighted calculations. Like setting up the Overall Grade, instructors may link/unlink items in a category in the calculation. They may also choose to exclude categories from the calculation. For an included category, instructors may edit the calculation rule. The calculation rule allows instructors to drop scores or to include only the lowest or highest score in the category.
Instructors may wish to define a total calculated column for their own use. In this case, they can choose to hide from students. If desired, instructors can include a total calculated column in the overall grade calculation.
Image 1. Add a Total Calculation column from the Grid view
Image 2. Add a Total Calculation column from Gradable Items view
Image 3. Editing a Weighted Total Calculation Column
Image 4. Define rules for the Weighted Total Calculation column
For administrators: This feature is available for all Ultra courses. There are no configurations needed.
Category Information on the Gradable Items Page – 3900.82
Blackboard Learn SaaS
Ultra Experience
Ultra Course View
Impact: Instructors
To provide greater efficiency and clarity in the gradable items view, we have added a Category column. This column, along with the grading item icon, helps instructors more readily identify to which category, if any, an item belongs. Instructors can sort this column ascending or descending alphabetically.
Image 1. Category column on the Gradable Items, sorted Z – A
For administrators: This feature is available for all Ultra courses. There are no configurations needed.
Original Course View: Updated options display when sending email from Grade Center – 3900.82
Blackboard Learn SaaS, Blackboard Learn 9.1
Original Course View
Impact: Instructors
Instructors can send emails to students in places like the Grade Center and Retention Center. Previously, the option to include student names in the sender copy was misleading. The checkbox seemed to apply to both sending a copy of the message and including recipient names. We’ve improved the presentation to clarify the expected behavior. A copy is always sent to the sender. The sender can opt-in to including recipient names in their copy of the email.
Image 1. The options to add attachments and include the names of recipients are better organized
For administrators: This feature is available for all Original courses. There are no configurations needed
Learner Progression & Personalized Experience
Attempt logs for enhanced assessment integrity – 3900.82
Blackboard Learn SaaS
Ultra Experience
Ultra Course View
Impact: Instructors
Assessment integrity is a paramount concern for educational institutions. We empower instructors with valuable insights into students' progress for native assessments. The Attempt Logs prove to be an indispensable tool for validating issues students may encounter during an assessment. The logs also help instructors identify signs of academic dishonesty.
For tests, the logs provide the following:
- Detailed information, including the date and time of the start and answers to each question
- Question-specific details, such as question number, a preview of the question, and estimated time spent on each question
- Submission receipt number, final grade, and attempt grade
- Easy toggling between all in-progress and submitted attempts for comprehensive assessment tracking
Image 1. Test attempt log with multiple attempts made by the student
For Assignments, the logs offer:
- Start and submission date and time
- Submission receipt number
- Seamless toggling between different attempts for a holistic view
Image 2. Assignment attempt log
Instructors can access the Attempt Logs from two primary areas:
- Context Menu on Submission Page - exclusive to individual assessments
- Grades Tab under Student Overview Page - available for both group and individual assessments
Image 3. Access from the Submission tab
Image 4. Access from the Grades tab from the student overview
For anonymous assessments, the report becomes active after grades are posted, and the anonymity is lifted. This ensures that the Attempt Logs report is a robust tool even in scenarios where student identities are initially concealed.
For administrators: This feature is available for all Ultra courses. There are no configurations needed.
Integrations
Multiple LTI Deployments improvements – 3900.82
Blackboard Learn SaaS
Ultra Experience, Original Experience
Impact: Administrators
Related topic: Managing LTIs
Some administrators need to add multiple domains to a single LTI integration. We have expanded support of multiple domains for a single LTI integration. Now administrators can approve or exclude the deployment tool status. This provides greater flexibility for the creation and use of multiple domains. Administrators can also associate deployment IDs with different domains managed by a third party tool.
Image 1. Deployment Tools Status – select approved or excluded
When an administrator creates new deployments of an LTI tool, the default setting is “Approved.” Administrators can change the setting to “Excluded.” This prevents the use of that deployment. Manage Deployments now displays a status column to ensure clarity of the status of the deployment.
Image 2. Status column indicates if a deployment is approved or excluded
Some institutions merge courses (create parent and child courses). If a parent course has an LTI deployment ID associated with it, the child course inherits that deployment ID.
We support multiple domains for LTI integrations that appear in Books & Tools in an Ultra course and in the rich text editor.
For administrators: This feature is available for Ultra and Original environments.
Enhanced grading control via REST API
Blackboard Learn SaaS, Blackboard Learn 9.1
Ultra Experience, Original Experience
Ultra Course View, Original Course View
Impact: Administrators
Related topic: Learn APIs
Each institution has its own evaluation methods. Some courses have specific grading criteria. To support varied grading and evaluation methods, we have enhanced the Gradebook API.
Previously, the Gradebook API allowed users to update the overall grade formula. Now, the API aligns with the same formula validation rules enforced in the user interface. This ensures consistency and accuracy in the grading processes.
Users can still modify and validate of the formulas through the API using the endpoint:
PATCH /public/v2/courses/{courseId}/gradebook/columns.
This update reflects our commitment to providing a seamless and controlled grading experience.
For administrators: The required entitlements for Users API remain unchanged.
Converting Building Block content to LTI: Panopto Course Content – 3900.82
Blackboard Learn SaaS, Blackboard Learn 9.1
Original Experience
Original Course View
Impact: Administrators
Related topic: Converting Building Block Content to LTI
The Panopto conversion is now available to users.
The Panopto integration makes it easy for users to create, share, and view videos. Users can embed these videos in Blackboard Learn courses.
Panopto provided a Building Block for customers using Original Course View. To ensure a smooth transition we have updated the conversion tool so that users can convert Panopto content from Building Block to LTI content.
This conversion supports the following Building Block content:
- Course tools content
- Mashup links within the content editor
This tool only converts links created through the building block. Also, it validates the standalone links within the course to change the way those are processed. This will prevent standalone links from breaking after the building block deactivates.
Image 1. Converting Building Block Content to LTI
Administrators can select from a drop-down menu the building block for configuration:
- Echo360
- Kaltura
- Panopto
Administrators can configure the required IDs and custom parameters for the conversion details. For Panopto, we have added the following custom parameters:
- Instancename: The administrator must modify the instance name if it has been changed in the general configuration of the Panopto Building Block.
- folderid: This is a Panopto identifier for the courses in the different folders; this custom parameter does not need to be modified.
Image 2. Migration settings for Panopto, Echo 360 and Kaltura, including Panopto custom parameters
Building block mappings are displayed. Administrators can edit, delete, or turn off the building block for the conversion tool.
Image 3. Building block mappings
Once configurations are set, administrators can manage the placements. They have the option to choose the courses for which they want to initiate the content link conversion for a specific Building Block.
Image 4. Migrate courses with building block content
Finally, at Migration Run Status, users can monitor the status of the conversion process for each course.
Image 5. Migration run status
For administrators: If a course contains content from Panopto, Kaltura and/or Echo360 building blocks, the conversion process must be performed once for each building block.
Multi-Factor Authentication for the default authentication method – 3900.82
Blackboard Learn SaaS
Ultra Experience
Impact: All users
Related topics: Identification and Authorization, Quick start for Blackboard App
Some institutions enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to fulfill security policies and best practices. To better support these institutions, we now offer a second authentication factor for the internal authentication method (where a user provides a username and password).
When the administrator enables MFA, users start the MFA registration process after providing a correct username and password. Users can use an authenticator app of their preference or the one suggested by their institution.
Image 1. Initial instructions described in the MFA registration process
Image 2. Request of temporary code to complete MFA registration
Image 3. Confirmation of successful MFA registration
Users are asked for a code generated by the authentication app on their trusted device(s) each time they log in.
If a user loses access to their trusted device, they can request a reset of their MFA (via normal institution-defined support channels). This allows the user to start the registration process of a new device.
For administrators: MFA is inactive by default. MFA is compatible with any kind of authenticator app.
For this release, MFA is only compatible with the Force to Web authentication method in the mobile App. If the institution has the native authentication method activated, the users won’t be asked to enter the TOTP code when logging in the mobile app. Compatibility with the native authentication method will be available in a future release.
To set MFA to active, go to the Administrator Tool Panel -> Integrations -> Authentication -> Default -> Edit -> Multifactor Authentication -> Active.
Image 4. Enable MFA feature from Administrator Tool Panel
To reset a user’s MFA, go to Administrator Tool Panel -> Users -> Search and select user -> Reset MFA.
Image 5. Reset MFA for a specific user
MFA is compatible with the Account Locking feature. To protect accounts from unauthorized access, we recommend enabling the Account Locking feature. To confirm the current configuration, go to the Administrator Tool Panel -> Account Lock Settings -> Enable Account -> Locking.
For audit and monitoring purposes, events related to MFA log in and reset can be found in Administrator Tool Panel -> Tools and Utilities -> Logs -> Authentication Logs.
Unused files management tool – 3900.82
Blackboard Learn SaaS
Ultra Experience
Ultra Course View
Impact: Instructors
File management is important to many institutions that want to be cognizant of their digital footprint. To help instructors understand the usage of files in their course, we've created the Unused Files tool. This tool helps instructors find and delete course files that are not in use. Instructors can locate the Unused Files tool in the three-dot menu on the Course Content page.
Image 1. Unused Files tool
There are two views available: unused files (default view) or all files. The file name, upload date, and file size display along with an option to download a copy of the local file. Instructors can easily delete unused files.
Image 2. List of unused files
Image 3. List of All files
Course roles will need “Course/Organization >Files Manage Files” privileges to access the Unused Files tool.
For administrators: A new configuration option is available from the Configure option in The Ultra Experience is here! module on the Administrator Panel. In the Available Features section, locate “Unused files management.” The default state is on.
Create Message privilege improvement – 3900.82
Blackboard Learn SaaS
Ultra Experience
Ultra Course View
Impact: Administrators
We've made some improvements to the privilege for creating messages in courses and organizations. This change improves the experience for system administrators and other users who are not enrolled in the course.
Now administrators and other privileged users can
Access and use the message tab to communicate with course users
Course users will not be able to send messages to the administrator or respond to the administrator's messages.
- Make changes to the Course Tools - Messages and Messaging Options
For administrators: This improvement applies to all Ultra courses. Apply this privilege to appropriate roles as appropriate: “Course/Organization Control Panel (Customization) -> Create Message”.
Mobile
Help Center and About sections added to More menu – 3900.82
Blackboard Learn SaaS
Ultra Experience, Original Experience
Impact: All users
Related topic: Blackboard Learn App Help
To elevate user accessibility and awareness, we've added two improved segments to the More menu: Help Center and About.
The About section is a comprehensive reservoir that empowers users with essential information to navigate their app experience.
This includes:
- Accessibility details
- Institution policies: Institutions can add their institutional privacy policy URL if this link has been configured in the "Data Use and Privacy Disclosure" Building Block settings.
- A dedicated channel for mobile app feedback
- Privacy policies
- Release notes
- Terms of use
- App version information
Users can explore the Help Center for more information, providing a seamless and enriched user experience. The release notes provide users with information on enhancements, optimizations, and introduced features. This ensures users are well-acquainted with the app's evolving capabilities.
Image 1. New sections in the More menu: About and Help Center
Image 2. New About section in the More menu
Image 3. Help Center for the Blackboard Learn App Help
For administrators: There are no configurations needed.
Upgrade to Ultra
Restricting Original Copy Workflows – 3900.82
We're aware that updates to copy workflows for admins are causing issues and we're actively working on a resolution.
Blackboard Learn SaaS, Learn 9.1
Original Experience
Original Course View
Impact: Instructors, Adminstrators
We had several issues related to copying items from Original to Ultra and Ultra to Ultra course view. The issues stemmed from users copying materials using Original workflows. The Original workflows opened the door for partial copies of items. The Original copy workflows were never designed or updated to support Ultra courses.
Here are two examples:
Example 1
The instructor would select "Discussions" and not select "Grade Center Columns and Settings." The discussions would copy without their associated grade center columns. The discussion would come over in a partial state and would not function. Instructors would need to delete and copy using the supported workflow.
Example 2
The instructor selects a "Content Area" with course links to discussions. They did not select "Discussions" or "Grade Center Columns and Settings." The course links copy. The course links don't function. The "Discussions" were not selected, and the course links have nothing to reference. Instructors would need to delete and copy using the supported workflow.
Previous Behaviors:
- Instructors could use Original workflows to Copy from Original to Ultra.
- Administrators could use Original workflows to copy from Original to Ultra.
- Administrators could use Original workflows to copy from Ultra to Ultra.
New Behaviors:
- Instructors can no longer use Original workflows to copy from Original to Ultra.
- Administrators can no longer use Original workflows to copy from Original to Ultra.
- Copy Course Materials into a New Course
- Copy Course Materials into an Existing Course
- Administrators can no longer use Original workflows to copy from Ultra to Ultra.
- Copy Course Materials into a New Course
- Copy Course Materials into an Existing Course
Alternatives
- Instructors can copy from an Original to Ultra using the copy items workflow.
- Administrators can copy from an Original to Ultra using the copy items workflow.
- Administrators can copy from Ultra to Ultra using the copy items workflow.
- Administrators can copy from Ultra to Ultra using the “Copy Course with Users (Exact Copy).
- Administrators can export a course package from Ultra to import into another Ultra course.
- Administrators can use the SIS Integration Framework to copy from Ultra to Ultra.
For administrators: This feature is available for all Ultra courses. There are no configurations needed.
Batch Edit: Change to specific date and/or time – 3900.82
Blackboard Learn SaaS
Ultra Experience
Ultra Course View
Impact: Instructors
We heard that instructors want to change the date and time for selected items in their course. For example, the due date times are currently set to 8:00 PM and the instructor would like to change them to 11:59 PM. The change would give students more time to make their submissions. The problem with making that change is that it would be very tedious if you had to do one item at a time.
Using Batch Edit, instructors can override the existing date and/or time for selected items. Instructors can adjust the due date time for all assessments using this option. The same feature also works on show on and hide after dates and times.
Batch edit of dates/time only works with items that have pre-existing date and time values. Items without a date or time value will not have one applied.
Image 1. Change to a specific date and/or time option for Batch Edit
For administrators: This feature is available for all Ultra courses. There are no configurations needed.
Learn SaaS release 3900.82.0
Blackboard Learn SaaS Continuous Delivery v3900.82.0
Release to Test/Stage: Tuesday, 12 December 2023 | Release to Production: Thursday, 4 January 2024
Original Experience, Ultra Experience
Original Course View, Ultra Course View
For full feature details please review the corresponding notes for the Learn 3900.82.0 version included below on this page. Details can also be found on Behind the Blackboard.
Latest release: 3900.82.0-rel.51+579fa4e to Production servers to take place on 25 January 2024.
For more information on updates and bug fixes, please visit Behind the Blackboard.
Release notes for earlier versions
Release notes for earlier versions available in English only:
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