Release Notes for Learn SaaS

The June 2025 - 3900.118 release is robust with features in eight areas:  

• Instructional design;
• Tests and assignments;
• Communication and collaboration;
• Gradebook;
• Learner progression and personalized experience;
• Blackboard core;
• Security and Accreditation; and
• Premium

These improvements impact instructors, students, and administrators. Some features do require administrative action.

Instructors:  

• Add resizable dividers to Documents
• Student Activity Log: Simplify review of student content access
• Create Jumbled Sentence Questions
• Generate AI Jumbled Sentence Questions
• Perform Bulk Category Changes in Item Management
• Navigate the Gradable Items tab in the Gradebook
• Grade Export v2: Choose the number of items per page
• Enhance grading workflow with better navigation and layout
• Enhance stability and usability of commenting tools

Instructors and Students:

• Enhance student engagement with discussion activity indicator
• Enhanced overall appearance and usability of Knowledge Checks
• Video Studio: Create and share recordings in Discussions

Instructors and Administrators:

• Assign new Viewer system role and entitlement to manage system access
• Select IP Restriction Profiles with new search function

Administrators:

• Convert activity-level groups to course-level groups during course restores
• Anthology Adopt: Create embedded user guides
• Anthology Adopt: Track user interaction with Guides in Path reports 

Add resizable dividers to Documents – 3900.118

Impact: Instructors 
Updated Help Page: Create Documents 
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-5102 

Instructors 

We added a divider block to Documents. Dividers can be used to help students easily identify related and unrelated sections. This new feature will greatly improve the readability and structure of educational materials. 

Key Features: 

• Flexible: Dividers can be used in various ways to suit different instructional needs.
• Resizable: Dividers can be resized across up to four columns, providing flexible options. 

Image 1. The new option to add a divider is now included among the various block types.

Image 2. The divider block spans three columns in the Document.

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to June 2025 – 3900.118.0 Release description

Enhanced overall appearance and usability of Knowledge Checks - 3900.118

Impact: Instructors and students 
Updated Help Page: Create Documents 
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable 

We made several adjustments to the appearance and responsive behavior of Knowledge Checks. These changes enhance the visual effects and usability for both instructors and students. 

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 colored 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.

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to June 2025 – 3900.118.0 Release description

Tests and Assignments

Create Jumbled Sentence Questions - 3900.118

Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Page: Jumbled Sentence Questions
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-1677

Instructors

Instructors can now create jumbled sentence questions for online exams. This feature lets instructors define one or more paragraphs with blanks for students to complete. Additionally, instructors can:

• Define distractors to challenge students
• Add automated feedback for correct and incorrect answers
• Designate questions as extra credit
• Use accessibility tools, such as keyboard-only workflows, to create this question type

To create a variable, insert the variable in square brackets within the paragraph. Each variable is automatically recognized as the correct answer. Instructors can enable partial credit to award points for partially correct responses. For example, if half of the answers are correct, half of the max points are awarded.

Variables can include the following characters:

• Letters
• Digits (0-9)
• Periods (.)
• Underscores (_)
• Hyphens (-)

The question text and variable input are validated for syntax correctness, notifying instructors of any errors, such as a missing bracket.

Example paragraph with variables:

Single water molecules are held together by [covalent] bonds and multiple water molecules are held together by [hydrogen] bonds. The kind of bond where atoms are sharing electrons but are not sharing them equally is [polar covalent bond].

Saved questions display variables in bold and underlined in purple for clarity. Instructors can also manually add feedback to student responses and use the Edit/Regrade workflow during grading.

Image 1: Instructor creates a jumbled sentence question type.

Students

Answer options are displayed in a random order, ensuring fairness in the assessment experience.

Students can:

• Identify if a question is marked as extra credit
• Answer questions using assistive technology
• Auto-save their responses as they work
• Reset the question to clear all selections

Administrators

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.

Activation: None needed.

Configuration: None needed.

Return to June 2025 – 3900.118.0 Release description

Generate AI Jumbled Sentence Questions - 3900.118

Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Page: Jumbled Sentence Questions
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable

With the release of the new jumbled sentence question type, instructors can use AI to generate jumbled sentence questions.

Instructors

Jumbled Sentence is now an option in the Question Type dropdown. When creating the question in a test or a question bank, instructors can select Generate to produce the question content. Instructors can add the AI-generated jumbled sentence question to question pools or tests. Instructors can edit the AI-generated question, including points, distractors, automated feedback, extra credit, and partial credit settings.

Administrators

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.

Activation: None needed.

Configuration: None needed.

Return to June 2025 – 3900.118.0 Release description

Enhance stability and usability of commenting tools - 3900.118 

Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Page: Bb Annotate
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable

We made several bug fixes in Bb Annotate.

• We fixed an issue where selecting a comment made the document turn opaque and the Close button no longer worked.
• We resolved several visual inconsistencies that occurred after the latest update.
  • The group dropdown in the toolbar is now showing in dark theme.
  • Colors are consistent when hovering and selecting tools.
  • Dropdown menus are now always in white.
  • Buttons on the toolbar are white.
  • Bookmarks now all have the same color background.
  • The Save and Cancel buttons in the comment box are correctly aligned.
  • Anonymous comments can be added. o Comments can be customized when the comment box is open while the screen is resized.
• We fixed an issue in Firefox where using the Backspace key made the cursor go to the top of the comment box when released.
• The Save button now correctly displays in comment boxes instead of an up arrow.
• Comment formatting options are available in Annotate Fit Width view while editing a comment.
• When a link is selected within a comment, editing options remain available. 

These fixes will go to production on the following dates:

Asia Pacific: May 23, 2025

Europe, Africa, and the Middle East: May 26, 2025

North and South America: May 26, 2025

Return to June 2025 – 3900.118.0 Release description

Enhance grading workflow with better navigation and layout - 3900.118

Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Page: Bb Annotate
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable

We added two new features to Bb Annotate. 

• We added bookmarks to the navigation. Instructors can use bookmarks to quickly move between pages in a student submission while grading. This enhancement streamlines the grading workflow by allowing instructors to navigate student submissions more efficiently.

Image 1. Instructors can select bookmarks to navigate.

• At low resolutions or zoomed in, the comment box spans the bottom of the screen instead of being a pop-up. This update improves accessibility and usability, enhancing the overall grading experience.

Image 2. The comment box now appears at the bottom instead of as a pop-up.

Return to June 2025 – 3900.118.0 Release description

Communication & Collaboration

Enhance student engagement with discussion activity indicator – 3900.118

Impact: Instructors and students 
Updated Help Page: Discussions (for instructors), Discussions (for students) 
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable 

Instructors and students 

We 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.

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to June 2025 – 3900.118.0 Release description

Convert activity-level groups to course-level groups during course restores – 3900.118

Impact: Administrators 
Updated Help Page: Restore Courses 
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable 

We simplified the process of converting groups when a course is restored. Previously, activity-level groups remained activity-level groups during a course restore. Now, activity-level groups are converted to course-level groups. This change is part of our ongoing transition to exclusively use course-level groups in Blackboard. The first stage of this process is course restoration and import. 

This update provides more consistency for instructors and streamlines the course restoration process for administrators. 

Key Features: 

• Content Associations: Groups keep their associations with content items.
• Enrollment and Membership: Enrollment and membership details are retained. 

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to June 2025 – 3900.118.0 Release description

Gradebook

Perform Bulk Category Changes in Item Management - 3900.118

Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Page: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-311

Building on the new Item Management Gradebook view, instructors can now perform bulk category changes for Gradebook items.

Instructors

Instructors can select one or more gradebook columns on the Item Management page and assign them to an existing category.

This feature allows instructors to efficiently organize and manage gradebook items. Changing the category of a gradebook item updates the category label for display purposes without altering the item itself. The process follows the familiar Bulk Edit interface pattern, where instructors can select items, select Change Category, and use the modal to view and select available categories.

Image 1: Instructor is bulk changing the category for multiple selected gradebook items. 

Administrators

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.

Activation: None needed.

Configuration: None needed.

Return to June 2025 – 3900.118.0 Release description

Navigate the Gradable Items tab in the Gradebook 

Impact: Instructors 
Updated Help Page: Accessibility Overview 
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable 

Instructors

We have an ongoing commitment to the usability and accessibility of the Gradebook. The Gradable Items tab uses a table-based layout to improve navigation and interaction for instructors who use keyboards and screen readers. This makes the Gradebook more accessible for all instructors. 

Image 1. The Gradable Items tab is accessible from the Gradebook page.

Navigate the Gradable Items tab by keyboard 

1. Use the Tab key to go to the Gradable Items tab.
2. Tab to the Gradable Items table header to enter the table.
3. Use the arrow keys to navigate the table.
4. The Tab key will take you out of the table and to the Close button. Shift + Tab returns you to the Settings button. 

Navigate the Gradable Items tab with screen readers 

Screen reader users can navigate to the Gradable Items tab using the keyboard instructions. You can also use the specialized keyboard combination for your screen reader to go directly to the table. 

• JAWS: Use Insert + Control + T
• NVDA: Use T, then Control + Down arrow to enter the table
• VoiceOver: Use Control + Option + Command + Right arrow key to choose the table option

1. Once in the table, screen reader users can use table navigation (Control + Alt + arrow keys) to navigate the table.
2. If you want to add content, use the down arrow to go to the More options button at the end of the row. The next down arrow will be the Add content button. 

Note for JAWS users 

1. JAWS users can move left or right in any row by using table navigation keys.
2. To move up and down between assignment rows, navigate to the Item column first. 

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to June 2025 – 3900.118.0 Release description

Student Activity Log: Simplify review of student content access – 3900.118

Impact: Instructors 
Updated Help Page: Student Activity Log 
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-6169 

Instructors

We 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.

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to June 2025 – 3900.118.0 Release description

Assign new Viewer system role and entitlement to manage system access – 3900.118

Impact: Instructors, Administrators 
Updated Help page: Roles and Privileges (Administrator); System Roles (Administrator) 
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable

Administrators can now assign an entitlement and role that provides access to all course materials, grades, and user information without editing capabilities by default. Administrators can also customize this role to give it specific capabilities as needed.  This role is ideal for academic deans, department chairs, and external auditors who need comprehensive access to review academic content and performance within Blackboard.

More about the Viewer role:

• System role. This is a system-level role that can be flexibly implemented based on institutional needs.  By default, users with this role can enter the Administrator Panel to search for courses.
• Comprehensive viewing access. Users with this role can view all course materials, grades, attempts, feedback, discussions, and unavailable content, as well as user information.
• No editing capabilities. By default, this role is strictly read-only, ensuring users can’t make any changes to the content, grades, user information, or system configurations.  Administrators can customize the role and add specific editing privileges as needed.
• Customizable privileges. While the default settings provide broad viewing access, institutions can customize the privileges to restrict access to specific areas if needed. In addition, it can be customized to allow the role to edit specific information as needed.  

Use cases:  

• Academic deans reviewing student coursework and academic standards;
• Department chairs monitoring faculty adherence to course requirements and instructional design standards for both available and unavailable courses within their department; and
• External auditors conducting reviews for accreditation purposes.  

Administrators

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.

Activation: None needed.

Configuration: None needed. Entitlements included in Viewer role:

• user.only.VIEW
• course.gradebook-grades.execute.only.VIEW
• course.gradebook.only.VIEW
• course.groups.admin.only.VIEW
• course.pool.VIEW
• system.admin.only.VIEW
• course.announcements.VIEW
• course.adaptiverelease.VIEW
• course.assessment.results.VIEW
• course.calendar.VIEW
• course.content.VIEW
• course.content.designer.VIEW
• course.assessment.exceptions.VIEW
• course.gradebook-item.exceptions.VIEW
• course.gradebook-grades.VIEW
• course.gradebook-metadata.VIEW
• course.gradebook.attempts.VIEW
• course.groups.VIEW
• course.progress.information.VIEW
• course.rubrics.VIEW
• course.tools.VIEW
• system.administration.top.VIEW
• system.course.VIEW
• system.org.VIEW
• system.user.VIEW
• system.user.course.enrollment.VIEW
• system.user.org.enrollment.VIEW
• course.assessment.VIEW
• course.learningstandards.alignment.VIEW
• Course.ultra.discussion.groups.VIEW

Return to June 2025 – 3900.118.0 Release description

Select IP Restriction Profiles with new search function – 3900.118

Impact: Instructors, Administrators 
Updated Help Topic: Restrict Location (Instructor), Assessment IP Address Filtering (Administrator) 
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable

Instructors and administrators can now use a search function to select IP restriction profiles for defining test-taking locations when creating tests. This search functionality enhances the user experience by simplifying the process of identifying and managing profiles.

Administrators can access this search functionality in the Administrator Panel. Select Course Settings, then Grading Security Settings. After entering letters in the search bar and selecting Go, the list of profiles is filtered to display profiles that match the entered letters.

Image 1: The Grading Security Settings page now includes a search bar that filters profiles based on the letters entered.

Instructors

When creating or revising a test, instructors can restrict the test-taking location by selecting an available profile in the Location Restriction field of the Assessment Settings.

Instead of scrolling through a long dropdown menu containing many profiles, instructors can simply perform a search. This new search functionality allows instructors to enter letters in the search bar, filtering the available profiles to those that match the entered letters. This improves the user experience by reducing the need to scroll.

Image 2: Location Restriction field now includes a search bar for filtering available profiles.

Image 3: When letters are entered in the Location Restriction search bar, the profiles are filtered to show those that match the letters entered.

Administrators

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.

Activation: None needed.  

Configuration: None needed. 

Return to June 2025 – 3900.118.0 Release description

Video Studio: Create and share recordings in Discussions - 3900.118

Impact: Instructors, Students 
Updated Help Page: Video Studio (Instructors), Video Studio (Students) 
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable

Update title and edit transcript capabilities in Discussions will be available in July 3900.121 release.

Instructors and students can now record, upload, and view Video Studio recordings in Discussions. Previously, students could only view Video Studio content. Now, they can create Video Studio recordings in Discussions. These improvements enhance the course experience by allowing both instructors and students to create dynamic discussions with engaging video and audio recordings.

Instructors

When creating a discussion topic, instructors can access Video Studio by selecting the camera button on the Rich Text Editor (RTE) panel. They can upload or create a recording using the existing Video Studio workflow, which embeds the recording in the Rich Text Editor. Instructors can also add descriptive text along with the embedded recording.

Image 1: Instructors can now embed Video Studio recordings when they create Discussion topics in a course.

Instructors can also add Video Studio content in discussion responses by selecting the camera button in the RTE panel.

Instructors can also view Video Studio content within Discussions, both their own and that of their students.

Students

Students have the same ability as instructors to respond to discussion topics with responses with Video Studio recordings. When creating a response, students select the camera button in the RTE panel to create or upload a recording.

All video and audio content created or uploaded within a discussion thread can be viewed by students.

Image 2: Students can now create and upload Video Studio recordings in Discussion posts.

Administrator  

Availability: Video Studio is a premium solution.

Activation: We are offering customers a free trial until June 30, 2025. This trial provides access to the full version of Video Studio. Video Studio is set to OFF as a default in test/stage and production environments. If you want to enable it in your institution’s environment, you can do that for free until the end of June 2025.

Configuration: To configure Video Studio: select Configure in The Ultra Experience is Here! module. Select Enable creating/uploading videos using Video Studio. Beyond June 30, 2025, your institution will have to purchase Video Studio to continue using it. 

Return to June 2025 – 3900.118.0 Release description

Anthology Adopt: Create embedded user guides

Impact: Administrators  
Updated pages: Anthology Adopt Guides
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable 

Administrators can now create embedded guides, which provide guidance directly embedded into Blackboard. Unlike overlay guides, embedded guides are placed inline within Blackboard content areas, ensuring a seamless user experience.  

Embedded Guide capability:  

• Embed guides. Surface guidance directly within Blackboard, without needing to launch a guide.
• Enhance usability. Create a non-disruptive experience by having guidance embedded in the page.
• Customizable appearance. Align an embedded guide to match the design and user experience of your Blackboard instance.

Image 1: Administrators can now create embedded guides inline with Blackboard content areas.

For more information, go to Anthology Adopt Guides.

Administrator

Availability: Anthology Adopt Powered by Pendo is a premium offering from Anthology.

Activation:  None needed.

Configuration: None needed. 

Return to June 2025 – 3900.118.0 Release description

Anthology Adopt: Track user interaction with Guides in Path reports

Impact: Administrators  
Updated pages: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable  

Administrators can now see how users interact with Guides in Path reports. This feature provides insights into how users reach and continue their journey after experiencing a guide. This update improves path analysis by offering visibility into guide views within user paths.  

Guide Activity in Paths feature:  

• Improved visibility. Create a deeper understanding into user behavior based on interactions with guides within their journey.
• Enhance guide optimization. Pinpoint where users drop off or continue after interacting with guides.

Image 1: Anthology Adopt Path reports from Base Navigation-Activity Stream.

Administrator

Availability: Anthology Adopt Powered by Pendo is a premium offering from Anthology.

Activation:  None needed.

Configuration: None needed. 

Return to June 2025 – 3900.118.0 Release description

Grade Export v2: Choose the number of items per page – 3900.118

Test/Stage: week of May 19th; Production: week of May 19th
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Page: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable

Instructors can now choose to display 10, 50, or 100 items per page in the approval workflow. Displaying more items on a single page reduces the need to switch pages, making the approval process more efficient. Instructors can adjust the number of items shown to match their preferences and workflow needs.

Image 1: Instructors can choose the number of items to display on each page in the approval workflow.

Administrators

Availability: Available for all Ultra and Original courses.

Activation: None needed.

Configuration: None needed.

Return to June 2025 – 3900.118.0 Release description