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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Instructional Design
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.
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. Administrators can configure the availability of the Mastery tab in Gradebook in Ultra Experience Management in the Administrator Panel.
Image 1. The option for turning the Mastery tab in Gradebook on and off is in Ultra Experience Management.
If an administrator turns on the Mastery tab in Gradebook at the institution-level, instructors can manage the availability of the Mastery tab in Gradebook at the course-level in Course Settings. If an administrator turned off the Mastery tab in Gradebook at the institution-level, the Mastery tab in Gradebook is not visible for instructors, and Visibility Settings appear as read-only in Course Settings.
Administrators who initially turned off the Mastery tab in Gradebook must also make sure that the Goal Performance Course Tool is turned 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 in Administrator Tools Panel > Ultra Experience Management. If the Mastery Tab in Gradebook is enabled at the institution-level, instructors can configure Mastery Tab in Gradebook visibility in Course Settings.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Looking for older release notes?
Check out the Blackboard Learn Release Notes Archive for more information on past releases.
