Release Notes for Learn SaaS

This page contains features and updates currently on Learn SaaS Test/Stage and Production environments. Visit Archived SaaS Release Notes to see features and updates in older versions. Visit In-Product Updates to learn more about in-product updates.

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Learn SaaS release 3900.110.0

Blackboard Learn SaaS Continuous Delivery v3900.110.0
Release to Test/Stage: Tuesday, 14 January 2025 | Release to Production: Thursday, 6 February 2025
Original Course View, Ultra Course View

For full feature details, please review the corresponding notes for the Blackboard 3900.110.0 version included below on this page. Details can be found on Anthology Global Support.

Latest release to Test/Stage servers to take place on 14 January 2025.

For more information on updates and bug fixes, please visit Anthology Global Support.


The February 2025 - 3900.110 release is robust with features in 8 areas:  

  • Instructional design;
  • Tests and assignments;
  • Communication and collaboration;
  • Gradebook;
  • Learner Progression & Personalized Experience;
  • Learn core and security; and
  • Premium features

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

Instructors:  

Instructors and Students:

Instructors and Administrators

Students

Students and Administrators

Administrators:


Instructional Design

Exclude descriptions from learning modules generated by AI Design Assistant – 3900.110

Impact: Instructors 
Updated Topic: AI Design Assistant 

Instructors 

We added the option to exclude descriptions from learning modules generated by the AI Design Assistant. Instructors who want to write their own descriptions no longer have to manually remove them from auto-generated learning modules. 

Image 1. The Auto-Generate Learning Modules page has a new option to include or exclude descriptions.

The Auto-Generate Modules page, with the checkbox for Include descriptions selected

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Change folders to learning modules or learning modules to folders – 3900.110

Impact: Instructors 
Updated Topic: Create Containers for Content 

Instructors 

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. 

Image 1. The new option to change a folder to a learning module in the dropdown menu.

Course Content page, with the More options menu open and Change to Learning Module highlighted beside a folder

To give instructors more control over their courses, they can also change learning modules to folders. Instructors are warned that all learning module functions are removed when converting a learning module to a folder. 

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: Administrators can turn the feature on or off by going to Ultra Experience Management and selecting Change Folder to Learning Module or Learning Module to Folder.

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Improvement to rendering of uploaded files - 3900.110

Impact: Instructors, Students 

Instructors and students

Files uploaded by instructors to Blackboard now retain their original formatting and characteristics wherever instructors can upload files. Previously, formatting changes may have displayed with uploaded files, such as PowerPoints or Excel worksheets. With improved rendering, students can view files in their original format, leading to a better overall user experience.

This improvement is now available in both test/stage and production environments for Ultra and Original courses.

Image 1. A student's view of a Document, where an embedded PowerPoint slide displays next to a text block.

A student's view of a Document, with a PowerPoint slide displayed beside a greeting to the class

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


AI Design Assistant -- Set a larger maximum number of generated questions and learning modules – 3900.110

Impact: Instructors 
Updated Topic: AI Design Assistant 

Instructors 

When using the AI Design Assistant, instructors can now set the number of questions generated for tests and question banks to a maximum of 20. The maximum number of learning modules that the AI Design Assistant generates also increased to 20. Generating more questions at once reduces the chance that similar questions will be generated. The default number of questions and learning modules generated remains 4. 

Image 1. The Auto-Generate Questions page displays a new maximum number of questions of 20.

The Auto-Generate Questions page, with the Complexity and Number of questions options highlighted on the left

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Upload images to Documents using the new image block – 3900.110 

Impact: Instructors 
Updated Topic: Create Documents 

Instructors 

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. 

Image 1. The new image block option in Documents.

The menu for adding blocks to Documents, with Image highlighted

Image 2. The preview of an image within a Document.

A Document with an image block beside a content block, with a knowledge check below

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Tests & Assignments

Mask access code for an assessment – 3900.110

Impact: Instructors, Students
Updated topic: Access Codes section of Assessment Settings

Instructors and Students

When an instructor or exam proctor enters an access code for an assessment on a student's computer, the code is masked (*******) to ensure enhanced security. Previously, the code was visible when entered on a student's screen, compromising the secure testing environment. An option to view the code is available but the default state keeps it hidden, providing better privacy and protection during testing.

Image 1: Masked access code

Numbers in the Access Code field in the test panel for students is masked with asterisks

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Improved performance for assignment file submissions – 3900.110

Impact: Students
Updated Topic: Submit an Assignment section of Submit Assignments

Students

The latest updates bring significant improvements to assignment submission uploads, ensuring a smoother experience for students:

  • Timed assessments: When a student uploads a file just before the timer runs out, the upload will complete before the attempt is auto-submitted.
  • Re-upload workflow: If a student's file doesn't upload correctly, they can easily re-upload it using the new workflow.

Students can now be confident that their files are successfully attached, received, and stored. They will be notified immediately if there are any issues with their file submissions.

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Communication & Collaboration 

Improvements to avatar size and time stamp positioning for discussion replies – 3900.110

Impact: Instructors, Students 
Updated Topic: Discussions 

Instructors and Students 

We adjusted the size of avatars and the position of time stamps to improve the user experience. Replies to posts are now easier to identify and avatar sizes are consistent. 

Image 1. The new standard indentation and avatar sizes for discussions.

A discussion post, with a reply below. The avatars and timestamps are both highlighted.

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Enhancements to course groups – 3900.110

Impact: Instructors, Administrators
Updated Topic: Create and Manage Groups

Instructors

To simplify group management and enhance usability for instructors, we made several improvements to course groups: 

  • Activity-level groups are now course-level: All new groups are now course-level. Instructors can create course-level groups directly from a content item, eliminating the need to manage groups at the activity level. 
  • More warnings and restrictions: To prevent the creation of empty group sets during group assignments, we added restrictions and additional warning messages. This helps instructors make informed decisions and avoid disruptions in group management. 

Image 1. The new warning for when an instructor creates a group assignment with an empty group.

A popup warning message saying "No Groups Found: This group set has no groups. Add groups to assign content."
  • Simplified group creation: The option to reuse activity-level groups was removed. This change encourages instructors to focus on course-level groups and reduces confusion. 

Existing activity-level groups in a course will remain activity-level. 

Administrators 

When copying course materials to a new course from the Administrator Panel: 

  • Group assignments with activity-level groups associated with a copied content item will not be duplicated. 
  • Copied content will indicate that it previously had groups with a “No groups” label, helping instructors understand the history of the content and encouraging the use of the new group management system. 

For more details, visit Methods to Copy a Course. 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Gradebook

Excluded attempts removed from Needs Grading count – 3900.110

Impact: Instructors 

Instructors

Instructors can choose to exclude attempts that they do not intend to grade. Excluded attempts are removed from the Needs Grading workflow and any gradebook calculations.

With this release, we have ensured that excluded attempts are removed from the Needs Grading count in all gradebook views. This provides instructors with a more accurate overview of their outstanding grading workload.

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Conversion of existing assignments to the new assignment workflow released in 3900.98 – 3900.110

Impact: Instructors 

In the 3900.98 release in August 2024, we separated the workflows for creating a test and creating an assignment. Prior to the 3900.98 release, the Create Assignment and Create Test workflows shared the same content and settings. The 3900.98 enhancement made each workflow distinct, where the Create Assignment workflow now contains only assignment-specific content and settings, while the Create Test workflow remained unchanged. The new assignment workflow enhancements included:

  • A new Instructions box with a full content editor for detailed assignment instructions.
  • A streamlined Settings panel with only options relevant to assignments.
  • No option to add questions, as assignments cannot contain questions.
  • Attempts are only created when students interact with the assignment, such as submitting a file or adding content to the editor.

As part of this release, we are performing a one-time, automatic bulk conversion of assignments created created prior to the new assignment workflow released in the 3900.98 release. After the bulk conversion, all assessments will follow either the assignment workflow released in the 3900.98 release or the test workflow. This will ensure that converted assignments benefit from the new assignment workflow's features. 

Assignments will be converted in a one-time, bulk process following these definitions:

  • Assignment: Any existing assessment without questions (such as MCQ, Essay, Hotspot) is classified as an "assignment.". Assignments will be converted.
  • Test: Any existing assessment with questions (such as MCQ, Essay, Hotspot) is classified as a "test." Tests will not be converted.

The conversion will not affect the following items:

  • Existing student assignment attempts and grades
  • Existing gradebook calculations
  • Assignment Settings and Category designation
  • Tests

To ensure a successful, consistent conversion to the new assignment workflow, we updated the following processes:

  • Converting courses
    • Assignments will convert to the new assignment workflow.
    • Tests without questions will be set to Hidden from students.
  • Copying items
    • Assignments copied from Original courses will convert to the new assignment workflow.
    • Tests without questions copied from Original and Ultra courses will be set to Hidden from students.
  • Restoring Original archive/export packages
    • Assignments will convert to the new assignment workflow.
    • Tests without questions will be set to Hidden from students.
  • Restoring Ultra archive/export packages
    • Assessments without questions will convert to the new assignment workflow.
    • Tests without questions will be set to Hidden from students.

Administrators 

During the conversion, assessments that are being converted will have an entry of Assignment added to the BBMD_ASSESSMENT_SUBTYPE column in the QTI_ASI_DATA table.

The bulk conversion will occur during the release upgrade. The release upgrade might take longer than normal.

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Test Settings usability improvements – 3900.110

Impact: Instructors 

Instructors

To enhance usability and improve the test-building experience, we streamlined the Settings panel for tests by removing the following assignment-specific options:

  • Collect submissions offline
  • Use grading rubric
  • Maximum points
  • 2 grades per student
  • Peer review

By simplifying the Settings panel, we reduce complexity and save instructors time, allowing them to focus more on creating effective assessments rather than navigating through numerous options.

Additionally, we updated the functionality for student visibility options and release conditions for tests. Now, instructors must add one or more questions to their test to make it visible to students or to add release conditions. This ensures that students only see assessments that they can actively engage with.

Image 1: Settings panel with assignment-specific options removed

Test-specific settings removed from the assessment settings panel

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Improvements to grading interface – 3900.110

Impact: Instructors 

Instructors

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.

Image 1: Grading interface prior to design changes

Grading interface prior to design changes

Image 2: Newly designed grading interface

Grading interface after design changes

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Improved accuracy when uploading grades and feedback – 3900.110

 Impact: Instructors 

Instructors

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.

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Improvement to rendering in Bb Annotate - 3900.110

Impact: Instructors, Students 

Instructors and students

We enhanced how files submitted by students are rendered in Bb Annotate. Previously, formatting changes during the rendering process made grading more challenging for instructors. Now, files display with the exact same formatting as when they were submitted, ensuring a smoother grading experience. This feature was well-received by customers in a tech preview! 

Supported file types include: 

  • PowerPoints
  • Excel worksheets
  • PDFs
  • Other common formats 

Additionally, the warning about potential formatting changes during the conversion process has been removed.

This improvement is now available in both test/stage and production environments for Ultra and Original courses.

A PowerPoint file rendered by Bb Annotate now displays in the original format, ready to be annotated.

A PowerPoint slide in Bb Annotate, with a colored chart to the left and bullet points to the right

Administrators 

Availability: Available for Ultra courses. This feature is not available to GovCloud.

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Improvements to grade entry for discussions and journals from the Grid view or Grades & Participation page – 3900.110

Impact: Instructors 

Instructors

Instructors can now enter discussion and journal grades directly in the Grid view or Grades & Participation page with improved accuracy and consistency. Previously, grades entered in these views were stored at the override level. This caused confusion as underlying attempts remained ungraded and continued to display the Needs Grading and New Submission flags. This update ensures that grades entered this way are properly mapped to the underlying attempt or submission when applicable.

Grade Entry Requirements

  • 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.

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Learner Progression & Personalized Experience

Include IP addresses in student activity log – 3900.110

Impact: Instructors and Administrators 
Updated Topic: Student Activity Log 

Instructors and administrators 

IP addresses are now in the student activity log for assessment submissions and drafts. This new information can help with comparing data while reviewing a student’s test taking behavior 

Image 1. The new IP address column that’s included in the student activity log.

The columns of the Student Activity Log, which includes IP addresses

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Learn Core & Security

Create multiple profiles for IP address restrictions on assessments – 3900.110

Impact: Instructors, Administrators 
Updated Help page: Assessment IP Address Filtering (admin), Restrict Location (Instructor, Ultra), Restrict Location (Instructor, Original)

Administrators can now create more than one profile associated with one or more ranges of IP addresses. Each profile supports different IP filter rule configurations. These filters help secure testing environments. Instructors can select the desired testing location from available profiles.

Within Grading Security Settings in the Administrator Panel, administrators can now select Add Profile to define another profile with specific IP filter rules. You can now also select Edit on an existing profile to make changes to that profile.  

Image 1: On the Grading Security Settings page, select the new Add Profile option to create a new profile. Each profile has an edit option in the drop-down menu.

The Grading Security Settings page in the Administrator Panel. The Add Profile button is highlighted with a blue box around it. A list of IP filters below the button, and the cursor is selecting the edit option on one IP filter item.

For more information on Assessment restrictions, go to Assessment IP Address Filtering.  

Instructors

Instructors administering assessments in both Ultra and Original courses can now select the location of their choice from available profiles configured by the administrator.  

In the Assessment Settings panel, instructors can apply a location restriction by selecting a location from available profiles.  

Image 2: Instructors can now select from multiple locations in the Location restriction field in Assessment Settings.

The Assessment Settings panel open for a test. The Restrict Location option is highlighted with a blue box.

Administrators

Availability: Available for all Ultra and Original Blackboard Courses

Activation:  None needed.

Configuration: In the Administrator Panel, select Course Settings, then Grading Security Settings. If an existing course with IP restrictions is copied for a new course, IP restrictions need to be configured again. 
 

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Improved student email notifications in multi-brand environments – 3900.110

Impact: Students, Administrators 
Updated Help page: SIS Framework Overview

We have updated the Blackboard SIS Integration Framework to support multi-brand environments. It now includes a field that stores the login URL for each user. This update improves the accuracy of email notifications to students.  

A multi-brand environment is a single Blackboard environment that supports multiple institutions, such as an instance shared by several different universities within a regional system. If a student or instructor has not previously logged into a Blackboard environment that supports multiple institutions, an automated email notification could potentially direct them to an incorrect login URL.  

If your institution doesn’t use a multi-brand Blackboard environment, there is no action you need to take.

Students and instructors

Email notifications will be more accurate and support requests will be reduced with this update. There are no user interface changes.    

Administrator

Availability: Available for all Blackboard courses.

Activation: None needed.

Configuration: Ensure that correct login URL data is entered when creating or updating student records within your SIS.

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Privilege label change for two privileges introduced in 3900.108 release - 3900.110 

Impact: Administrators 
Updated Help page: Course Settings (Instructors)

In Blackboard release 3900.108, we introduced two new privileges to enhance course access management. To better reflect their functionality, the label names for these privileges were changed for in the 3900.110 release. 

Privilege descriptions and updated labels  

A new privilege introduced in 3900.108 called Partial Change Completion Status (on) allows a user to mark a course as complete and to revert this change.  

  • New privilege label: Make Course/Organization complete  

A new privilege introduced in 3900.108 called Change Completion Status (on/off) allows a user to mark a course as complete and to revert this change.  

  • New privilege label: Make Course/Organization complete and revert to not complete   

Administrator

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.

Activation: None needed.

Configuration: None needed.

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Premium features

Video Studio – Add video content within the Course Content page – 3900.110

Impact: Instructors, Students 
Updated Help pages: Video Studio (administrator), Video Studio (instructor), Video Studio (student)

Instructors and course builders can now add video content to the Course Content page with Video Studio. While video can be incorporated within the announcements, feedback, and Documents, this new functionality enhances the ability to show compelling instructional content on the main course page.

Instructors

To add video content to the Course Content page, select + and then Record Audio/Video. To record the video, follow directions for using Video Studio.  

Image 1: Record Audio/Video now appears among menu options when adding content to the Course Content page.

On the Course Content page, the cursor selects the drop-down menu to add an item. The option Record Audio/Video is highlighted in a blue box.

Students

Students can now view video content directly from the Course Content page. Video content appears with a camera icon. Select the video content, and a panel opens to display the recorded content.

Image 2: For students, video content on the Course Content page is designated by a camera icon next to the title of the content.

A student view of the course content page. A new recording created with Video Studio is displayed on the page and is highlighted with a blue box.

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 environments. If you want to enable it in your institution’s production environment, you can do that for free until the end of June 2025.

Configuration: In the Administrator Panel, 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 February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Video Studio - Edit captions and transcripts 3900.110

Impact: Instructors 
Updated Help pages: Video Studio (administrator), Video Studio (instructor)

Instructors can now edit video captions and transcripts for content created using Video Studio. This functionality allows instructors to correct minor errors and add clarity to the captions and transcripts that are automatically generated during a recording.

Instructors

To edit captions and transcripts of a recording, select Edit Content.

Image 1: To edit captions or transcripts within Video Studio, first select Edit content.

Top portion of a Video Studio recording with the Edit Content button on top right corner highlighted with a blue box.

Next, hover your cursor over the video to display the option to edit (the button labeled with a pencil icon). If navigating with your keyboard, you can also select tab until you focus on the screen, which then displays the editing options. Select the button labeled with a pencil.  

Image 2: Select the pencil button to reach the new caption/transcript editing capability within Video Studio.

Top portion of a Video Studio recording with the button with a pencil icon for editing recordings highlighted in a blue box.

Next, select Transcript, which displays the transcript. Select the pencil next to the text you want to edit within the transcript. Once you make your edits, select the checkmark to save the edit or select X to discard changes. Once you finish making all your edits, select Save Video. The changes now appear in both the captions and the transcript.

Image 3: The new Transcript button appears when you are editing a recording. After editing your text, select either the check button to save your change or X to discard it.

Panel for editing Video Studio transcripts is open. A line of transcript text has been selected. The transcript tab is highlighted in a blue box and the options to discard or save an edit have been highlighted with a blue box.

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 environments. If you want to enable it in your institution’s production environment, you can do that for free until the end of June 2025.

Configuration: In the Administrator Panel, 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 February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Video Studio - Download recording transcripts – 3900.110

Impact: Instructors, Students 
Updated Help pages: Video Studio (instructor), Video Studio (student)

Users can now download transcripts for content created using Video Studio. Video and audio recordings make for compelling teaching material, but if users don’t have ready access to text, it can pose a challenge for study and instruction. Giving users access to transcripts for recordings to print or highlight allows recorded content to be a powerful study tool.

Instructors and students

Once you’ve selected your recording and press play, select the transcript button at the bottom corner of the video screen. This opens the transcript panel displaying the text of the transcript. Select the download button at the top of transcript column. The transcript is downloaded as a VTT file that includes time stamps and speaker narration.

Image 1: A download button now appears in the Transcript panel of a Video Studio recording.

A video studio recording with the transcript panel displaying the transcript. At the top of the transcript panel is the button to download transcripts, which is highlighted in a blue box.

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 environments. If you want to enable it in your institution’s production environment, you can do that for free until the end of June 2025.

Configuration: In the Administrator Panel, 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 February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Change Badge size in Anthology Adopt

Impact: Administrators 
Updated pages: Anthology Adopt Accessibility Page

A badge is one of the ways users can activate an Anthology Adopt guide in Blackboard. To enhance accessibility, you can now increase the size of badges. To change badge size, select Activation to open Activation Settings. Under Badges, select Edit Settings.

Image 1: When creating an Anthology Adopt guide, administrators can now adjust the badge size in Activation Settings.

The Visual Design Studio open in Anthology Adopt. The Activation drop-down menu is open and the Edit Badge option is highlighted with a blue box.

In the Styling tab, there is a new size field that allows you to adjust the badge pixel size within a range of 8px to 300px. The default size is 14 pixels. The minimum target size for WCAG 2.2 AA is 24 pixels.  

Image 2: In Badge Settings, under Styling, there is now a field to adjust the size of the badge.

The Badge editing panel is open. The Styling tab is selected and the option to change badge size is highlighted with a blue box.

Instructors and Students

When badge size is adjusted, the change appears automatically in Blackboard for all users.

Administrator

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

Activation:  None needed.

Configuration: No configurations required.

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description


Anthology Adopt – Task List building block

Impact: Administrators 
Updated pages: Anthology Adopt building blocks

Anthology Adopt now features a Task List building block to create onboarding workflows and in-app experiences to guide Blackboard users through specified workflows.

An administrator may want to create Adopt guides within Blackboard that align with the order of a user’s workflow. The Task List building block makes it easy to design logical, customizable guides to align with the look and functionality of an institution’s Blackboard instance.

The Task List building blocks provides:  

  • Sequential progression. Organize guides in a logical order to create structured learning or task completion.
  • Progress tracking. Indicate completed guides to give users a sense of accomplishment and encourage them to continue.
  • Customizable appearance. Align a task list to match your app's design and user experience.
Panel for editing Anthology Adopt Task List

For more information on creating guides using the Task List building block, go to Anthology Adopt building blocks

Administrator

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

Activation:  None needed.

Configuration: No configurations required.

Return to February 2025 – 3900.110.0 Release description



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Check out the Blackboard Learn Release Notes Archive for more information on past releases.

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