Notas de la versión de Learn SaaS

Learn SaaS release 3900.108.0

Blackboard Learn SaaS Continuous Delivery v3900.108.0
Release to Test/Stage: Tuesday, 10 December 2024 | Release to Production: Thursday, 9 January 2025
Original Course View, Ultra Course View

For full feature details, please review the corresponding notes for the Blackboard 3900.108.0 version included below on this page. Details can be found on Anthology Global Support.

Latest release: ​​​​​​​3900.108.0-rel.28+dfa83d8 to Production servers to take place on 9 January 2025.

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

Improvements to AI Design Assistant Outputs – 3900.108

Blackboard Learn SaaS  
Ultra Course View  
Impact: Instructors 
Updated Topic: AI Design Assistant 

We improved the following auto-generation features of the AI Design Assistant to have faster and more complex outputs. Outputs for learning modules are more descriptive and focused on the topic than in 3900.106. Assignments, discussions, and journals also present more depth in relation to prompts and content selected by instructors. In addition, images for AI Conversation avatars are more realistic. Instructors can now save time both with generating content and using that content in their courses. 

• Assignments 
• Discussions 
• Journals 
• Test questions 
• Learning modules
• AI Conversation avatars 
• Keywords for Unsplash 

Our latest optimizations continue the work we did in the December 3900.106 release to optimize rubrics. 

Image 1. The learning modules on the left were generated with the 3900.106 release. The learning modules are described with a few sentences. The learning modules on the right were generated with the 3900.108 release. The learning module descriptions are longer in 3900.108 than in 3900.106.

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to January 2025 – 3900.108.0 Release description

Improvements to AI Design Assistant Image Generation – 3900.108

Blackboard Learn SaaS 
Ultra Course View 
Impact: Instructors 
Updated Topic: AI Design Assistant 

We improved the quality of the images generated by the AI Design Assistant, making them look more realistic and related to instructors' prompts. Instructors can generate images faster and the image files require less storage space. 

Image 1. The two images on the left were generated by the AI Design Assistant with the 3900.106 release. The prompt used is “construction.” These images are related to tall buildings in cities. The two images on the right were generated by the AI Design Assistant with the 3900.108 release. The prompt used is also “construction.” 

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to January 2025 – 3900.108.0 Release description

Expanded Language Outputs for AI Design Assistant – 3900.108

Blackboard Learn SaaS  
Ultra Course View  
Impact: Instructors 
Updated Topic: AI Design Assistant 

The output languages available for AI workflows now include Greek, Catalan, Croatian, Irish, and Slovenian. More instructors can take advantage of the features of the AI Design Assistant. We added these languages based on feedback from instructors. For a list of all languages available for AI outputs, refer to AI Design Assistant for Instructors. 

Image 1. Changing the output language is available as an advanced option in the AI Design Assistant.

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to January 2025 – 3900.108.0 Release description

Improvements to Content Blocks for Content Designer: Documents – 3900.108 

Blackboard Learn SaaS  
Ultra Course View  
Impact: Instructors 
Updated Topic: Create Documents 

We made editing content blocks in Documents easier. When instructors create or edit a Document, the content block no longer closes when they collapse the menu in the editor. Also, the editor no longer closes when editing table settings. 

Image 1. A content block is open for editing while the menu remains open. 

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to January 2025 – 3900.108.0 Release description

Improvements to File Uploads for Content Designer: Documents – 3900.108

Blackboard Learn SaaS  
Ultra Course View  
Impact: Instructors 
Updated Topic: Create Documents 

We made uploading files to Documents easier. The default file option when instructors upload files to Documents is now View and Download. 

Image 1. The View and download button is automatically selected when instructors go to Edit File Options.

Also, instructors can now use the Undo and Redo functions for file uploads. 

Image 2. The Undo and Redo buttons are now available for file uploads.

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to January 2025 – 3900.108.0 Release description

Add Submission Attempts for Release Conditions – 3900.108 

Blackboard Learn SaaS  
Ultra Course View 
Impact: Instructors and Students 
Updated Topic: Content Release Conditions 

Instructors can now use item submission status for a release condition. For example, an instructor who wants students to access a document only after submitting a quiz would use a release condition. Students can access content items without needing to wait for a grade to be posted. 

Image 1. The new Attempt submitted option is in the dropdown menu for a gradable item in the Release condition panel.

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: Turned on by default. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to January 2025 – 3900.108.0 Release description

Availability of Achievements Tab in Courses – 3900.108

Blackboard Learn SaaS  
Ultra Course View  
Impact: Instructors and Students 
Updated Topic: Achievements 

We changed the availability of the Achievements tab in courses. The Achievements tab is now hidden from students until the instructor creates and posts Achievements for students to earn. Students will no longer have questions about an Achievements tab if it is not applicable to their courses. 

Image 1. A student's course that with Achievements activated has a page for Achievements.

System administrators determine whether Achievements are available for use in courses at the institution-level. System administrators can configure the availability of Achievements in Ultra Experience Management in the Administrator Panel. 

Image 2. The control for Achievements is in Ultra Experience Management.

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to January 2025 – 3900.108.0 Release description

Mastery tab in Gradebook availability controls - 3900.108

Blackboard Learn SaaS  
Ultra Course View  
Impact: Instructors, Administrators
Updated Topic: Mastery Tab and Course Settings

Administrators and instructors now have the flexibility to control the availability of the Mastery tab in the Gradebook. This configuration lets institutions align the use of the Mastery tab in Gradebook with their curriculum approach, while also giving instructors control over when and how it is visible to students.

Administrators determine whether the Mastery tab in Gradebook is available for use in courses at the institution-level. In the Administrator Panel, go to Course Settings. Select Course Tools. You must turn on Goal Performance. Set the availability of Goal Performance to ON.

Image 1. The option for turning the Mastery tab in Gradebook on and off is in Course Tools.

• Goal Performance set to locked: the Mastery tab in Gradebook will be in all gradebooks and instructors can’t control whether the Mastery tab in Gradebook is available or not. 
• Goal Performance set to unlocked: instructors choose whether the Mastery tab in Gradebook is in their gradebooks. Instructors control this feature through the Course Settings options for their courses.

Administrators who initially turned off the Mastery tab in Gradebook must also make sure that the Goal Performance Course Tool is set to OFF. Otherwise, instructors will still have the option to turn the Mastery tab in Gradebook on. 

Instructors can manage the availability for themselves and their students. The configuration includes the Instructor Visibility toggle and the Student Visibility toggle. The Mastery goal tab for instructors setting determines if the Mastery tab in Gradebook is available for the instructors in their course. The Mastery goal tab for students setting determines if the Mastery tab in Gradebook is available to students in the course.

With the release of Mastery tab in Gradebook visibility settings, the Mastery Tab in Gradebook default at the course-level is automatically set to OFF. Therefore, instructors must go to Course Settings to make the Mastery tab in Gradebook visible at the course-level.

Image 2. The options for turning the Mastery tab in Gradebook on and off are in Course Settings.

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: None needed. 

Configuration: System administrators can configure Mastery Tab in Gradebook visibility by going to the Administrator Panel, then Course Settings. Goal Performance is in Course Tools. If the Mastery Tab in Gradebook is turned on at the institution-level, instructors can configure Mastery Tab in Gradebook visibility in Course Settings.

Return to January 2025 – 3900.108.0 Release description

Gradebook

Show/hide columns from instructors in the gradebook - 3900.108

Blackboard Learn SaaS  
Ultra Course View  
Impact: Instructors
Updated Topic: Ultra Gradebook

Instructors can now configure column visibility for their gradebook view, ensuring a cleaner and more organized workspace when grading. We've added a new Items Management page accessible from the Gradebook Settings panel. From this page, instructors can configure visibility for a single column selection or in bulk.

Visibility settings apply to the Grade page and Gradable Items page for non-student users (instructors, TAs, graders). The student view of any grading-related page is unaffected. If an instructor hides a column from their gradebook, that column continues to appear for students.

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: Turned on by default. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to January 2025 – 3900.108.0 Release description

Set default automatic zeros to off in the gradebook for new courses - 3900.108

Blackboard Learn SaaS  
Ultra Course View  
Impact: Instructors, Students
Updated Topic: Ultra Gradebook

The Assign Automatic Zeros for Past Due Work option is now turned off by default for newly-created Ultra courses. Existing courses are unaffected. Changing the default setting to off prevents students from automatically receiving zeros for past due assignments. Instructors can turn on automatic zeros for late submissions in the Gradebook Settings panel.

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: Turned on by default. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to January 2025 – 3900.108.0 Release description

Direct grade entry for assignments from the Grid view or Submissions page - 3900.108

Blackboard Learn SaaS  
Ultra Course View  
Impact: Instructors

Instructors can now enter assignment grades directly in the Grid view or Submissions page with improved accuracy and consistency. Previously, grades entered in these views were stored at the override level, which 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.

All grades entered via file upload continue to be stored a override grades.

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.

Administrators 

Availability: Available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: Turned on by default. 

Configuration: None needed.

Return to January 2025 – 3900.108.0 Release description

Manage course access from Course Settings – 3900.108

Blackboard SaaS
Ultra Course View
Impact: Instructors
Updated Topic: Course Settings (instructor), Managing Course Terms and Access (admin)

Instructors can now manage course access state settings through the Course Settings page. This change streamlines administrative tasks and enhances usability for instructors teaching courses.

Instructors or users with appropriate privileges can set the course state from Course Settings. This functionality was previously called Course is Open/Private and found in the Details & Actions panel.

Course access states are as follows:

• Open. Course content is available to students.
• Closed. Course content is not available to students. Previously called Private.
• Complete. No changes can be made by students or instructors.

Image 1. The Course Settings page now has a section called Course Access where instructors can set a course as Open, Closed, or Complete.

At the top of a course, the current course access state is displayed as a colored pill next to Course Settings. This change makes it easier for instructors to manage course states.

Image 2: At the top of a course, there is now an indicator that displays whether a course is Open, Closed, or Complete.

Additionally, instructors can access Course Settings from the Courses page. From the three dot menu, the instructor can select Course Settings.

Image 3. Course Settings option from the course card edit menu.

Administrators:  

Availability: This feature is available for all Ultra courses. 

Activation: The Course Access section is turned on by default, but only available to privileged users. 

Configuration: These changes in the user interface require changes to role privileges, detailed in Course completion and new privileges for course access management – 3900.108. Instructors need the course settings privilege for Course Settings to display in their course: Course/Organization Control Panel (Customization) > Properties 

Return to January 2025 – 3900.108.0 Release description

New role privileges for course access management – 3900.108

Blackboard SaaS
Ultra Course View
Impact: Administrators, Instructors
Updated Topic: Roles and Privileges, Course Settings (instructors)

There are new and updated privileges to support the new Course Access section of the Course Settings page.

In this release, course access settings moved from the Details & Actions panel to the Course Settings page (refer to Manage Course Access from Course Settings – 3900.108). Course availability to students and course completion are clearly demarcated as separate states:  

• Open/Closed. Course content is not available to students. Previously called Open/Private.
• Complete. No changes can be made by students or instructors.

This change makes course access management easier for instructors.  

Administrators

Availability - Available for all Ultra courses.

Activation - The Course Access section is turned on by default but only available to users assigned the new privileges.

Configuration - The privilege allowing a user to change course availability and completion is now two separate settings. In the Administrator Panel, assign these new and updated privileges to users:

• Course/Organization Control Panel (Customization) > Properties, Availability (updated privilege). This privilege is now only used for opening/closing a course. Previously it gave a user access to opening/closing a course as well as completing/uncompleting a course.
• Change Completion Status (on/off) (new privilege). This privilege allows a user to mark a course as complete, and they can revert this change.
• Partial Change Completion Status (on) (new privilege). This privilege allows a user to mark a course as complete, but they can’t revert this change.

If users have already been given privileges to open/close and complete courses prior to this release with Course/Organization Control Panel (Customization) > Properties, Availability, you don’t need to change privileges to maintain their access to these functions. If a user has not previously been given these privileges, you need to set their privileges for opening/closing a course and for completing a course.

Review Manage course access from Course Settings – 3900.108 for instructor-facing changes to course access options.

Return to January 2025 – 3900.108.0 Release description

Course Catalog 2.13 Release Features

Milestone Integration

Release date: Test/Stage: Week of December 16th; Production: week of January 13th
Impact: Learners, Managers, Administrators 
Updated Topic: Certificate Manager v2 and Create an Offering and Dashboard

Integration with Anthology Milestone allows learners to earn badges in Learn courses taken through Course Catalog. This integration provides a means to increase learner engagement through skill recognition and showcasing.  

Learners

If an offering has a badge associated with it, there will be an icon on the course tile in the catalog that identifies the badge. Learners will also see badges associated with offerings they are enrolled in on the achievements section of the dashboard.

Image 1: Badge appears on catalog offering. 

Managers

Managers define the criteria required to earn a badge when creating or editing an offering, and the learner automatically receives the badge once they achieve the criteria.

Image 2: Manager adds a badge to an offering. 

Administrators

Administrators will enable and configure the Milestone Integration in the Certificate Manager v2 application.

Availability: Available for all Course Catalog courses.

Activation: None needed.

Configuration: The integration is configured in the Certificate Manager v2 application (Admin Panel > Platform Extensions Manager > Certificate Manager v2 > Configuration > Anthology Milestone). It requires licensing of the Anthology Milestone product.

Return to January 2025 – 3900.108.0 Release description

WPM Integration

Release date: Test/Stage: Week of December 16th; Production: week of January 13th
Impact: Learners, Managers, Administrators 
Updated topic: Payment Gateway v2

Integration with WPM allows learners to use this payment service provider to process payments for courses. Offering managers can include a finance code when creating an offering that indicates where the funds from the offering should be distributed. This allows institutions to designate funds collected from each offering for the appropriate department.

Learners

Learners can choose WPM as a payment provider when purchasing an offering.

Managers

Managers can input a finance code when creating an offering.

Image 1: Manager inputs a finance code for the offering.

This feature will only be functional for WPM payments.

Administrators

Availability: Available for all Course Catalog courses.

Activation: None needed.

Configuration: The WPM integration is configured in the Payment Gateway v2 application (Admin Panel > Platform Extensions Manager > Payment Gateway v2 > Configuration > WPM).

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Subscription Model

Release date: Test/Stage: Week of December 16th; Production: week of January 13th
Impact: Learners, Managers 
Updated Help Topic: Configure Course Catalog for a Subscription Model 

Course Catalog can be set up for learners to use on a subscription basis. In this use case, learners purchase access to a catalog of courses rather than purchase individual courses. This model allows institutions to customize Course Catalog for their needs.

Learners

Learners can search the catalog for the subscription membership. When they purchase that offering, they will see the catalog of courses that is available with that subscription and be able to enroll in any of those courses.

Managers

The offering manager configures one offering as the subscription course and sets up other offerings to be viewable only by those learners who have purchased the subscription course. This is accomplished by giving learners who purchase the subscription course a specific institutional role, and allowing only learners with that role to view and enroll in the courses included in the subscription.

Image 1: Manager sets the offering as the subscription offering and assigns the role to the learner.

Administrators

Availability: Available for all Course Catalog courses.

Activation: None needed.

Configuration: See Configure Course Catalog for a subscription model.

Return to January 2025 – 3900.108.0 Release description

Graduation and Withdrawal Emails

Release date: Test/Stage: Week of December 16th; Production: week of January 13th
Impact: Administrators 
Updated Topic: Notification Settings

Administrators can set up templates for Graduation and Withdrawal Emails to be sent to learners. Graduation emails are sent automatically based on a date configured in the system. Withdrawal emails are sent to learners you select from the database of Course Catalog users on demand. The withdrawal email also allows you to make learner accounts unavailable or disabled and to remove learners’ graduation dates from the system. These emails can be used to manage communication about learners’ Course Catalog accounts.

Administrators

Availability: Available for all Course Catalog courses.

Activation: None needed.

Configuration: These email templates are configured in Course Catalog at Administration > Settings > Notifications. The configuration for when the Graduation Email is sent will be done by Anthology Professional Services experts; you should submit a ticket for assistance with this configuration.

Return to January 2025 – 3900.108.0 Release description

Accessibility Improvements

Test/Stage: Week of December 16th; Production: week of December 16th 
Impact: Learners

Various accessibility improvements have been released, including improvements to the consistency of the language tags used for screen readers throughout the application. These improvements make the application more accessible to all learners.

Learners

Learners will see an improved experience with screen readers.

Administrators

Availability: Available for all Course Catalog courses.

Activation: None needed.

Configuration: No configuration is needed.

Return to January 2025 – 3900.108.0 Release description

Course IDs column added to Payment Code list

Test/Stage: Week of December 16th; Production: week of December 16th 
Impact: Administrators

A Course IDs column has been added to the Payment Code list display in the Settings area of Course Catalog. This column makes it easier for administrators to manage codes because they can see at a glance which courses the codes apply to.

Administrators

Image 1: The Payment Code list now has a Course IDs column. 

Availability: Available for all Course Catalog Courses.

Activation: None needed.

Configuration: No configuration is required. 

Return to January 2025 – 3900.108.0 Release description

Ally 2.11.0 and 2.11.1 Release Features

Download Original File is Now Available from the Alternative Formats Dialog

Release date: Production: Week of December 16th
Impact: Learners, Administrators 
Updated Topic: Alternative Formats and Usage Report

Learners

Learners now have the option to download the original file version of a file uploaded by their instructor directly from the Alternative Formats download dialog without having to navigate back to the course. Selecting the download icon next to the file name downloads the file.

Image 1: Download alternative formats dialog

Administrators

Administrators can track the usage of this feature within the Usage Report Export, available in the Institutional Report. This counts in the total downloads and shows as Original File in the distribution as part of overall engagement. This data is useful for institutions that want to analyze how alternative formats are being used.

Image 2: Ally Usage Report

Availability: This feature is now available for file content in Blackboard but does not apply to WYSIWYG/Rich Content items.

Activation: Activated by default.

Configuration: No configuration is needed.

Return to January 2025 – 3900.108.0 Release description

Alternative Formats for Video Studio Videos within Blackboard Documents

Release date: Production: Week of January 20th
Impact: Learners, Administrators 
Updated topic: Alternative Formats

Learners

Learners will have the ability to download Alternative Formats for Video Studio videos within Blackboard Documents when using the Ally Alternative Formats feature. When enabled by the administrator, students see the video as a valid file type to download a variety of Alternative Formats based on the transcript of the video when navigating through the Alternative Formats menu for Blackboard Documents.

Administrators

Administrators can configure this through the Ally Admin Configuration console to enable the ability to download alternative formats for Video Studio videos.

Availability: Available for Blackboard Video Studio videos only.

Activation: Not activated by default.

Configuration: Ally Admin Configuration console

Return to January 2025 – 3900.108.0 Release description