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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Blackboard SaaS release 3900.123.0
Blackboard Learn SaaS Continuous Delivery v3900.123.0
Release to Test/Stage: Tuesday, 8 July 2025 | Release to Production: Thursday, 7 August 2025
Original Course View, Ultra Course View
For full feature details, please review the corresponding notes for the Blackboard 3900.123.0 version included below on this page. Details can be found on Anthology Global Support.
Latest release to Test/Stage servers to take place on 8 July 2025.
For more information on updates and bug fixes, please visit Anthology Global Support.
The August 2025 - 3900.123 release is robust with features in six areas:
- Instructional design;
- Communication and collaboration;
- Gradebook;
- Blackboard core;
- Upgrade to Ultra; and
- Premium
These improvements impact instructors, students, and administrators. Some features do require administrative action.
Instructors:
- Video Studio: Use Video Studio in Announcements
- Enhance Documents with block styling options
- Increased accessibility in the student Overview page
Instructors and Students:
Students
- Adding Table of Contents to Learning Modules for students
- Course Catalog: Discover important information about courses on redesigned course tiles
- Course Catalog: Clarify enrollment steps with improved prompts and feedback
- Increased accessibility in the student Gradebook
Instructors and Administrators:
- Ensure new courses use the latest Learning Object Repository content
- Ensure consistency with course-level group conversion
- Enhance usability on the Associations page of the Learning Object Repository
- Improve LTI tool management with flexible copy options
Administrators:
Instructional Design
Enhance Documents with block styling options – 3900.123
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Create Documents
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-5171
Instructors
We added block styling to Documents, giving instructors new ways to enhance visual appeal and guide student attention. The styling options feature both color and icons. The style options include:
- Question
- Tip
- Key points
- Next steps
- Highlight
Image 1. Instructors can select styling options from a dropdown menu that appears in Edit mode on all block types.
This update helps instructors create more engaging content.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Ensure new courses use the latest Learning Object Repository content – 3900.123
Impact: Instructors and administrators
Updated Help Topic: Learning Object Repository
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Instructors and Administrators
We enhanced the syncing logic in the Learning Object Repository. Courses that have ended or are marked as complete don't receive updates from the Learning Object Repository. This means Learning Object Repository objects may be updated after a course ends, but before that course is used as a template for a new one, which could cause outdated content to be copied forward.
Image 1. The current sync model can result in an outdated copy of an object.
Now, when content is copied from one course to another, the system will automatically pull in the latest version of each Learning Object Repository object to ensure that new courses always start with the most current materials. As a result, content authors no longer need to manually update Learning Object Repository objects after a course begins.
Image 2. Copied objects are automatically updated in the new sync model.
The new behavior doesn't apply if the destination course is past its end date or has been marked as complete.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Enhance usability on the Associations page of the Learning Object Repository – 3900.123
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: Learning Object Repository
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
The Associations Page has been improved for better clarity and usability.
- Added support for courses with a duration type of "Days from the date of enrollment"
- Fixed an issue where a 0 would display when loading the Associations Page
- Associations that aren't part of a term will now display as "--" under the Term Column
- Accessing an object's associations from the More options menu will now take the user to the tab view of the Associations page
Image 1. The Associations tab now shows a “--” under the Term column.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Track sync progress from Learning Object Repository to courses and organizations – 3900.123
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: Learning Object Repository
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
We added a new task type, "Sync from Repository/Template," to the Tasks and Logs page in the Learning Object Repository. This feature allows users to monitor the progress of updates being applied from the repository to all linked courses and organizations. Users can track when the sync is created, started, and completed. This enhancement helps users confirm that updates have been successfully delivered to the appropriate courses and organizations.
Image 1. The new task type, “Sync from Repository/Template,” is on the Tasks and Logs page.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Improve LTI tool management with flexible copy options – 3900.123
Impact: Instructors and administrators
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Instructors
Previously, LTI tools were only included when performing a full course copy. With this update, users who have the appropriate permissions can now select and copy individual LTIs. This enhancement provides greater flexibility and control for instructors and administrators using LTI tools.
While the LTI standard—particularly LTI 1.3 with LTI Advantage—supports copying tools between courses, the actual behavior of copied LTIs depends on how each provider has implemented the standard. Some tools may function immediately after copying, while others might require manual relinking or configuration to work properly in the new course.
To ensure a smooth experience, we recommend testing all copied LTI links, especially those involving grade synchronization, user data, or other course-specific functionality.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Communication & Collaboration
Video Studio: Use Video Studio in Announcements – 3900.123
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Video Studio (Instructor)
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Announcements now support video and audio content through Video Studio. This update, including a new Video Studio button in the Announcements content editor, replaces the Capture tool. This feature is integrated in the core Blackboard product and doesn’t require a separate Video Studio license. Video Studio in Announcements makes video and audio creation more consistent across the platform, improving both usability and accessibility.
Instructors
Instructors can use Video Studio in Announcements to record or upload video and audio. The redesigned Video Studio button launches the standard Video Studio workflow, which automatically generates captions and transcripts. This makes content more accessible and supports personalized, engaging communication.
Administrators
Availability: Included as part of Blackboard. This feature doesn’t require a Video Studio License.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Ensure consistency with course-level group conversion – 3900.123
Impact: Instructors and administrators
Updated Help Topic: Create and Manage Groups
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Instructors and administrators
We streamlined the process of converting groups from activity-level to course-level to improve consistency and ease of use for instructors.
All activity-level groups are now automatically converted to course-level groups:
- During course conversion from Original to Ultra.
- When course materials are copied into a new course.
All group associations with content items are preserved, so instructors don’t need to manually reassociate groups with content. Course-level groups offer more consistent group management and are easier to use across the course. This update ensures a smoother experience for instructors managing group activities.
Group behavior for exact copies hasn’t changed.
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Gradebook
Increased accessibility in the student Gradebook – 3900.123
Impact: Student
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
To improve accessibility, we updated the student Gradebook to use a semantic HTML table structure. This change replaces the previous layout, which relied on stacked <div> elements. The new structure improves screen reader support and keyboard navigation.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Increased accessibility in the student Overview page – 3900.123
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
To improve accessibility, we updated the student Overview page to use a semantic HTML table structure. This change replaces the previous layout, which relied on stacked <div> elements. The new structure improves screen reader support and keyboard navigation.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Turn on DirectSubmit functionality – 3900.123
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: DirectSubmit
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
The DirectSubmit feature allows instructors to submit papers directly to SafeAssign for originality checking, even outside of student assignments. With this update, administrators have the ability to manage faculty access to DirectSubmit based on institutional preferences. By default, DirectSubmit remains available, ensuring seamless access to SafeAssign’s plagiarism detection capabilities.
This update to DirectSubmit includes several additional enhancements:
- Instructors can delete submitted items.
- Mobile app callbacks improve integration.
- A new column provides direct links to download original submissions.
- A workflow for suggesting URLs enhances content comparison.
- Grading icons now align with updated design standards.
Instructors
When administrators set DirectSubmit as available, instructors can delete submitted items, access original submission downloads, and benefit from consistent grading icons. These enhancements streamline the workflow and improve usability.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: This feature is turned on by default. Administrators can turn it on or off by going to the Administrator Panel. Select Configure in The Ultra Experience is Here! module. Select SafeAssign Direct Submit to turn on or off.
Blackboard Core
Adding Table of Contents to Learning Modules for students – 3900.123
Impact: Students
Updated Help Topic: Learning Modules (Student)
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-159
A table of contents for the instructor view is coming in a future release.
We’ve redesigned the Learning Module experience for students by adding a collapsible Table of Contents. This update improves navigation, orientation, and progress tracking. As part of this improvement, assessments now open in a full panel instead of a smaller panel. These updates create a more consistent and focused user experience.
This feature will be released to test environments in July and production in August. Institutions can opt out during the initial rollout.
Students
Students now have a simplified way to navigate and track progress in Learning Modules. Updates include:
- A table of contents for the items in a Learning Module. Select Contents to open and collapse the table of contents
Image 1: Learning Modules now contain a Table of Contents panel to orient students within Learning Modules for their courses. The panel can be collapsed with the arrow button at the top of the Table of Contents.
- Easy navigation between items
- Manual or automatic item completion tracking from within the Learning Module
- Next and Previous buttons moved closer together at the top of the page for an improved experience.
Image 2: The navigation buttons Previous and Next now appear closer to each other in the user interface within Learning Modules to give an improved user experience.
Assessments within Learning Modules. Assessments now open in a full panel, providing a consistent and distraction-free experience.
Image 3: The Assessments pages within Learning Modules now appear as a full-sized panel.
Forced sequence in Learning Modules. When sequencing is enforced, students must use the Next and Previous buttons to move through content in order. Students can’t jump ahead using the table of contents unless they have already completed the item they are navigating to. Skipping ahead without completing a Learning Module item is disabled in this mode.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: Opt-out during rollout. To opt out: in the Administrator Panel, select Configure in The Ultra Experience is Here! module. Select and switch off Content navigator to navigate between learning module items.
Configuration: None needed.
Use SIS integration to bulk update course completion status – 3900.123
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: Managing Course Terms and Access
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Administrators can now use the Student Information System (SIS) integration to update course and organization completion status in bulk. This builds on last month’s update, which added bulk completion management via the Administrator Panel. With this enhancement, administrators can automate completion and uncompletion actions through SIS, improving consistency and reducing manual work.
Data can now be added to a new column in their SIS flat file called Complete. Use Y to mark a course or organization as complete, or N to mark it as incomplete. This update applies only during SIS update operations—not during course or organization creation.
To use this feature, go to Data Integration in the Administrator Panel, then select Student Information System Integrations. Select Upload Feed File and upload your file.
Administrators
Availability: This feature is available for all Ultra courses and organizations. It can be used for Original Course View, but setting an Original Course to complete will turn off notifications and might block future updates.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Upgrade to Ultra
Enhance visual consistency for embedded LTI tools – 3900.123
Impact: Instructors and students
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Instructors and students
Previously, the width of embedded LTI tools was determined by the dimensions specified by the provider. This often led to unused space and grey letterboxing on either side of the content within Blackboard. With this update, all embedded LTIs now default to 100% width. This ensures that responsive tools make full use of the available space and aligns their behavior with standalone LTIs on the Course or Organization Content page, which also use 100% width by default.
This change brings visual consistency across Blackboard and enhances the user experience by eliminating unnecessary spacing and improving content presentation.
Attention LTI Providers: With our recent update, all embedded LTIs now default to 100% width. This ensures responsive tools utilize the full available space. We strongly encourage providers to test their integrations and make any necessary changes to ensure proper display and compatibility with this new behavior.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Premium
Course Catalog: Discover important information about courses on redesigned course tiles
Test/Stage: week of 14 July 2025; Production: week of 14 July 2025
Impact: Students
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Redesigned course tiles now display important information for guests and logged-in users, preventing the need to open the course details panel to access that information about the course. A consistent Learn More call-to-action button now appears on each tile to provide a consistent look and feel throughout the catalog. These updates make course information more accessible to all students.
Students
Each course tile now clearly states:
- whether the course is free or paid
- how many badges and certificates are associated with the course
- if an access code is required to enroll in the course
- if admin approval is required to enroll in the course
Each tile also includes a Learn More button that provides a consistent look and feel throughout the catalog.
Image 1: The course tile shows the course is free, that one certificate is associated with it, and that an access code is required to enroll. It has a Learn More button for students to discover more details about the course.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Course Catalog courses
Activation: None needed
Configuration: None needed
Course Catalog: Clarify enrollment steps with improved prompts and feedback
Test/Stage: week of 14 July 2025; Production: week of 14 July 2025
Impact: Students
Updated Help Topic: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
We improved the enrollment experience to reduce confusion and streamline the process for both guests and logged-in users. These updates clarify next steps and provide better feedback during key interactions. They create a smoother, more predictable path from course discovery to enrollment for students.
Students
- Redesigned enrollment prompts provide relevant information about the course, such as whether admin approval is required or an access code must be entered.
Image 1: A window appears that informs the student that the course requires admin approval to enroll and provides a Continue button.
- A confirmation message is displayed after enrollment is complete, giving the user a success message and a choice of actions: Browse Catalog or Go to Dashboard.
Image 2: A confirmation message is displayed after the student enrolls that offers them the options to Browse Catalog or Go to Dashboard.
- When a guest selects an enrollment action and signs in, the system now remembers the original action. After the user signs in, a window appears that prompts them to complete the action they started.
Image 3: A window appears that prompts the user to continue with the action they started before they signed in.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Course Catalog courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Blackboard SaaS release 3900.121.0
Blackboard Learn SaaS Continuous Delivery v3900.121.0
Release to Test/Stage: Tuesday, 10 June 2025 | Release to Production: Thursday, 3 July 2025
Original Course View, Ultra Course View
For full feature details, please review the corresponding notes for the Blackboard 3900.121.0 version included below on this page. Details can be found on Anthology Global Support.
Latest release to Test/Stage servers to take place on 10 June 2025.
For more information on updates and bug fixes, please visit Anthology Global Support.
The July 2025 - 3900.121 release is robust with features in eight areas:
- Instructional design;
- Mastery learning and learning pathways;
- Tests and assignments;
- Gradebook;
- Learner progression and personalized experience;
- Integrations
- Blackboard core;
- Premium
These improvements impact instructors, students, and administrators. Some features do require administrative action.
Instructors:
- Design engaging Documents faster with the AI Design Assistant
- Enhance instructor efficiency with expanded Activity page
- Add captions to image blocks in Documents
- Review student engagement with announcements
- Support QTI question import in banks
- Apply the No Category option to Gradebook Items
- Enhanced pop-out rubric
- Navigate with previous and next functionality in Group Submissions
- Access Progress Tracking tool via Course Settings
- Video Studio: Create and edit recordings in Forms
Instructors and Students:
- Retroactively assign achievements to students
- Render mathematical formulas with MathJax
- Video Studio: Create and edit recordings in Assignments and Tests
- Video Studio: Editing capabilities in Discussions
Students:
- Course Catalog: Access More Information text with keyboard navigation
- Course Catalog: Enter confirmation codes with improved screen reader support
Administrators:
- Control how descriptions convert from Original to Ultra
- Allow instructors to switch between folders and learning modules
- Learning Object Repository: Identify object usage across courses and organizations
- Learning Object Repository: Enhance usability with modification date
- Learning Object Repository: Updated deletion message to show effects on associated items
- Advanced analytics with subject and term type sorting
- Manage Bulk Completion for Courses and Organizations
- Ensure visibility of file attachment options for node administrators in the Institutional Hierarchy
- Course Catalog: Navigate side panels more easily with keyboard and screen readers
All Users:
Instructional Design
Design engaging Documents faster with the AI Design Assistant – 3900.121
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Create Documents
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Instructors
Instructors can now use the AI Design Assistant to build visually appealing, interactive Documents more efficiently. The AI Design Assistant suggests layouts, generates knowledge checks, and generates or suggests images—saving time and helping students stay engaged. Instructors can focus more on teaching rather than formatting.
- Attractive layouts
- The AI Design Assistant suggests clean, structured layouts and adds helpful headings automatically.
- Images
- Instructors can include AI-generated images or choose from a selection of stock images from Unsplash.
- Knowledge checks
- The AI Design Assistant generates multiple choice questions based on the Document’s content to help check student understanding.
Generating document layouts is especially helpful for instructors using the Convert a file block. The Convert a file block efficiently brings all content into a single block, making it quick and easy to get started. The AI Design Assistant enhances this process by automatically organizing the content into separate, structured blocks—saving instructors time and effort while improving the overall course layout.
Image 1. The Document has two content blocks of text content and nothing else.
Image 2. The Document now has a heading, an image positioned alongside the text, and a knowledge check.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: The AI Design Assistant must be turned on before it can be used for Document layouts. In the Administrator panel, go to Building Blocks. Select Installed Tools to access AI Design Assistant and Unsplash settings. Make sure that the AI Design Assistant is turned on, then set Suggest document layout to On.
Add captions to image blocks in Documents – 3900.121
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Create Documents
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-4541
Instructors
Instructors can now add captions above or below image blocks in Documents. Captions provide context and support understanding, helping students engage more deeply with visual content.
Image 1. Instructors can go to Edit File Options to add image captions and set positions.
Image 2. The image caption appears above the image and provides more context.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Control how descriptions convert from Original to Ultra – 3900.121
Impact: Instructors and administrators
Updated Help Topic: Convert Courses to Ultra - Bulk Conversion
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Instructors
We added a new feature to control how folder and learning module descriptions are converted from Original to Ultra. Original courses support rich formatting, embedded multimedia, file attachments, and over 750 characters in folder and learning module descriptions. When converted to Ultra, descriptions are limited to plain text with a 750-character limit. This can result in data loss. To prevent data loss, we added the option to convert folder and learning module descriptions to Documents during conversions from Original to Ultra.
Administrators
Administrators can find the feature labeled as Convert Folder and Learning Module Descriptions to Documents in Ultra Experience Management. When the feature is turned on, descriptions are converted into Documents to preserve content. The Document is placed within the associated folder or learning module. When the feature is off, descriptions convert as plain text with a 750-character limit.
We turned on this feature by default to prevent the high chance of data loss during conversion. When bulk converting courses, institutions need to decide whether they want this new feature turned on to reduce the amount of work to get courses ready for teaching and learning.
Image 1. The Convert Folder and Learning Module Descriptions to Documents feature is turned on by default.
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: Go to Ultra Experience Management to find the new toggle switch for the Convert Folder and Learning Module Descriptions to Documents feature.
Learning Object Repository: Enhance usability with modification date – 3900.121
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: Learning Object Repository
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
We added a Date Modified column to the Learning Object Repository. This enhancement allows users to quickly review the most recent modification date for each learning object. Users can easily identify the most recently updated content and sort objects by newest or oldest.
Image 1. The Date Modified column is now in the Learning Object Repository.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Learning Object Repository: Identify object usage across courses and organizations – 3900.121
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: Learning Object Repository
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
We added a new Associations page to the Learning Object Repository. The Associations page lists which courses and organizations are using a specific object from the repository. With this enhancement, institutions can better understand how widely a resource is used and identify which courses may be affected before making updates. This supports more informed decision-making and change management.
Image 1. The Associations page lists the courses an object is associated with and includes the course availability.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Learning Object Repository: Updated deletion message to show effects on associated items – 3900.121
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: Learning Object Repository
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
We updated the pop-up Delete message associated with deleting an item in the Learning Object Repository. Users now receive more information about what happens to associated objects when they delete an item, including the number of objects affected. This change responds to feedback that the original message was unclear.
Previous text when deleting an object:
"Are you sure you want to permanently delete this object? This action cannot be undone."
Revised text when deleting an object:
"Are you sure you want to permanently delete this object? This action cannot be undone. Deleting this object will affect [number] associated objects in courses and/or organizations. The associated objects will be disconnected from the Learning Object Repository, allowing full editing within courses and organizations."
Image 1. Users will receive a new, longer message when they select Delete.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Allow instructors to switch between folders and learning modules – 3900.121
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Create Learning Modules
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Instructors
We streamlined the teaching experience by removing the Change Learning Module to Folder or Folder to Learning Module feature flag. Starting in version 3900.121, instructors can always change folders to learning modules and vice versa. Institutions that previously turned the feature off will now have it on by default. This update reflects Blackboard’s strategy of rolling out new features incrementally, while allowing institutions the flexibility to adopt them at their own pace.
Image 1. The Change Folder to Learning Module or Learning Module to Folder feature flag is in Ultra Experience Management.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Advanced analytics with subject and term type sorting – 3900.121
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Topic: Institutional Hierarchy
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Administrators can now sort courses by subject and terms by type to better organize data and improve reporting. These updates support deeper insights into student performance across programs, departments, and academic structures. The update to terms is fully backwards compatible.
- Sort Courses by Subject: Group courses by subject to analyze learning outcomes across similar programs and course types. Subjects can be linked to nodes to reflect your institution’s hierarchy.
- Sort Terms by Type: Compare performance across different academic calendars or structures with more flexible term organization.
Benefits Across Roles
These enhancements support a range of institutional needs:
- Administrators
- Organize courses into parent-child relationships and term types.
- Generate reports that highlight trends in student performance and engagement.
- Program Directors
- Review data across programs and departments.
- Identify trends and areas for curriculum improvement.
- Support accreditation reporting with data-driven decisions.
- Instructional Designers
- Review data across programs and departments.
- Identify trends and areas for curriculum improvement.
- Support accreditation reporting with data-driven decisions.
These new sorting options bring more structure to academic data, helping institutions make informed decisions at every level.
Image 1. Administrators can access the new Subjects sorting feature directly from the Administrator panel.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Retroactively assign achievements to students – 3900.121
Impact: Instructors and students
Updated Help Topic: Achievements
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-6358, LEARNU-E-336
Instructors and students
Achievements can now be awarded after an assessment is created or completed. Instructors can use them more flexibly to recognize student progress. Students automatically receive any Achievements they’ve earned, no matter when they were added. This update empowers instructors to use Achievements more dynamically and ensures students are recognized for their accomplishments.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Tests & Assignments
Support QTI question import in banks – 3900.121
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Page: Question Banks and Import or Export Test, Surveys, and Pools
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-2654
Instructors
To enhance interoperability and streamline assessment creation, we now support importing questions from QTI packages into banks. Instructors and instructional designers often use different tools to create assessments, and ensuring a smooth transfer of questions between platforms is critical. With this update, users can import QTI v2.1 formatted questions into banks efficiently, maintaining compatibility with industry standards.
Questions that are supported include:
- True/False
- Multiple Choice
- Multiple Answer
- Fill-in-the-blank
- Essay
During the import process, users will receive notifications indicating the upload progress, success, or failure. If any individual questions cannot be converted due to unsupported types or behaviors, the system will provide clear feedback, ensuring instructors are informed of limitations.
This improvement allows institutions to leverage QTI-based assessment content more effectively, making course transitions and content management more seamless.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Gradebook
Apply the No Category option to Gradebook Items – 3900.121
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Page: Grade categories
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-4041, LEARNU-I-4803, LEARNU-I-3649, LEARNU-I-5824
Managing graded items is now more flexible with the addition of the No Category option in the Grade Category dropdown menu. This change allows instructors to remove an item from a category without needing to assign it elsewhere. By selecting No Category, no category data is stored, keeping grading workflows simple while maintaining consistency.
Instructors
Instructors can now remove an item from a category when it's not needed, without automatically assigning it to another category. The No Category option appears in the Grade Category dropdown menu for all items, making it easy to keep grading structures clean and organized.
Selecting No Category ensures that the item is not linked to any grading category, and no data is stored for it in the system. This provides a more streamlined way to manage grades without unnecessary assignments. Instructors can now tailor grade organization more precisely to fit their course needs.
Image 1: No Category option is available in the Grade Category dropdown menu.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Enhanced pop-out rubric – 3900.121
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Page: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
We made several enhancements to the pop-out rubric in the Gradebook.
- Attempting to close the pop-out rubric without saving your changes prompts a warning, reminding you to save your changes.
- Selecting Save no longer closes the pop-out rubric.
- We improved keyboard navigation, specifically arrow key and tab interaction, for the grid table.
Image 1: Warning appears when an instructor attempts to close the pop-out rubric without saving changes.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Navigate with previous and next functionality in Group Submissions – 3900.121
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Page: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Reviewing and grading group submissions is now more efficient with the addition of Previous and Next navigation controls. Instructors can efficiently move between group submissions using header bar controls, creating a smoother grading experience with fewer clicks.
Instructors
Instructors can now navigate between group submissions without needing to return to the submission list. The Previous and Next buttons appear in the header bar.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Learner Progression & Personalized Experience
Enhance instructor efficiency with expanded Activity page – 3900.121
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Activity Page
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-171, LEARNU-I-868
We expanded and optimized the Activity page for instructors in Blackboard. Previously, the Activity page featured only the activity stream, which provided a chronological overview of course activity and upcoming events. Our latest update, developed in close collaboration with our global learning community, addresses the challenges instructors faced in managing a large number of courses. This update makes course management easier and more efficient.
The Activity page is responsive across all devices and can be accessed from both desktop web browsers and the Blackboard app. The activity stream is included with the new Activity page.
Instructors
New features on the Activity page:
- Course Section: The updated Activity page now includes a course section that outlines new activity in current, open courses since an instructor last logged into Blackboard.
- Shortcuts: New shortcuts have been added to enhance instructor efficiency.
- Go to items that need grading
- Find courses with new messages
- Access the Course Activity report directly to review students with alerts
- Shortcuts: New shortcuts have been added to enhance instructor efficiency.
- Announcements: Read important institutional announcements.
Image 1. The new Activity page has sections for announcements, courses, and the activity stream.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: This feature is turned off by default. Turn the feature on to use the new Activity page.
Configuration: Go to Ultra Experience Management in the Administrator Panel. Select Instructor Dashboard to turn the new Activity page on and off.
Review student engagement with announcements – 3900.121
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Topic: Announcements
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-730, LEARNU-I-1701
Instructors
Instructors can now verify which students have marked an announcement as viewed. By selecting the viewer count on the main Announcements page, instructors can open a list showing who has and hasn’t acknowledged the message. From this list, instructors can send a message to follow up with students who haven’t viewed the announcement or confirm that key information was received. This helps instructors understand how effectively their announcements are reaching students.
Image 1. Each announcement comes with a Viewers column on the Announcements page.
Image 2. The list of viewers for an announcement shows that two students have read the announcement and one hasn’t.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Integrations
Render mathematical formulas with MathJax – 3900.121
Impact: Instructors, Students
Updated Help Page: Math Editor (Instructor)
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
We’ve enhanced the formula rendering experience in the Content Editor by implementing MathJax, a powerful tool for displaying mathematical notation. This update improves the visual accuracy and consistency of LaTeX-based formulas, aligning them more closely with scientific and academic standards.
MathJax offers a more precise rendering style preferred by many STEM instructors. When activated, MathJax will automatically render LaTeX code entered directly in the Content Editor across supported areas of Blackboard. Wiris is still available as the default to render formulas for the Content Editor. If MathJax is not activated, Wiris will render formulas.
MathJax feature only supports $$..$$ delimiters at this time. MathJax rendering does not apply to the Math Editor (which is opened by selecting the plus button, then the Insert Math option in the Content Editor). Formulas created in the Math Editor continue to be rendered by Wiris.
Administrator
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: To enable Mathjax rendering for LaTeX formulas in the Content Editor, select Tools in the Tools and Utilities module in the Administrator Panel. Locate MathJax for LaTeX (Ultra Only) and with Availability ON for Course Tool and/or Organization Tool, depending on the institution's preference.
Ensure visibility of file attachment options for node administrators in the Institutional Hierarchy – 3900.121
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Page: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-585
We’ve enhanced the course archiving experience for Institutional Hierarchy Node Administrators by ensuring consistent access to file attachment options without requiring administrator enrollment in the course.
Previously, Node Administrators experienced intermittent issues where file attachment settings (such as Include File Attachments, Calculate Size, and Manage Package Content) were not visible unless administrators were manually enrolled in the course. This workaround led to unnecessary administrator enrollments in archived courses.
Enhancements include:
- Reliable Access: Node Administrators can now consistently access all archive-related options without needing to be enrolled in the course.
- Privilege Improvements: We updated system role privileges to ensure that Node Administrators inherit the necessary permissions to:
- Include or exclude file attachments during archiving
- Calculate course size
- Manage package content
- Manage archived packages
- Improved Workflow: This update eliminates the need for manual workarounds, streamlining the archiving process and preserving clean user lists.
This change improves administrative efficiency and ensures a more predictable and professional experience when managing course archives.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra and Original courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: Ensure Node Admins have the appropriate archive privileges assigned through their system roles.
Blackboard Core & Security
Access Progress Tracking tool via Course Settings – 3900.121
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Page: Progress Tracking (instructors), Progress Tracking for Administrators
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
We’ve streamlined the instructor experience by relocating the Progress Tracking tool from the Details & Actions section on the Course Content page and moving it to the Course Settings page. This change aligns with our ongoing effort to simplify the user interface.
Instructors
Instructors can now activate or deactivate Progress Tracking from the Course Settings page, under a new section labeled Progress Tracking. This improves an instructor’s experience by placing the tool outside of the Course Content page, which is primarily for daily work.
Image 1: The option to turn on the Progress Tracking tool for tracking student progress is now located in Course Settings.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: Instructors need the following privileges to modify Progress Tracking:
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Customization) > Modify Progress Tracking Configuration
- Course/Organization Control Panel (Customization) > Properties to access the Course Settings page
Manage Bulk Completion for Courses and Organizations – 3900.121
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Page: Managing Course Terms and Access
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Administrators can now manage the completion status of their institution’s courses and organizations in bulk. With the new Bulk Completion feature, administrators can now mark multiple Ultra courses or organizations as Complete or Not Complete in a single action—saving time and reducing manual effort.
Select Courses in the Administrator Panel and then use the search to create a list of courses to manage. Administrators can now select multiple courses or organizations on this page and apply a bulk action to update their completion status. Two options are available:
- Mark as Complete
- Unmark as Complete
Image 1: Now administrators can mark courses complete or revert complete status in bulk within the Administrator Panel.
A new green check icon appears in the Status column to indicate when a course or organization is marked Completed. If a course is both Completed and Unavailable, both the green check and the red unavailable icon display side by side.
Image 2: When a course is marked as Complete, a green check icon appears next to the course listing for that course.
Improved sorting
Status column sorting now includes completion and availability statuses as well as other usability improvements, enhancing sorting capability.
Per-Course Completion Toggle
Each course or organization now includes a dropdown menu with context-aware options:
- If the course is Not Completed, the option to Mark as Completed appears.
- If the course is Completed, the option to Mark as Not Completed appears.
Additionally, a course has context aware options for Availability. Instead of showing both options, Make Available or Make Unavailable is displayed based on context, providing a consistent and intuitive user experience.
Administrator
Availability: This feature is available for all Ultra courses and organizations. It can be used for Original Course View, but setting an Original Course as complete will disable notifications and may block other updates in the future.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: To use this feature, users must have the appropriate privileges:
- Change Completion Status (on/off)
- Partial Change Completion Status (on) (if applicable)
- Access to the Administrator Panel and course list
Premium
Video Studio: Create and edit recordings in Assignments and Tests – 3900.121
Impact: Instructors, Students
Updated Help Page: Video Studio (Instructors), Video Studio (Students)
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Instructors and students can now create, upload, and edit Video Studio recordings directly within Assignments and Tests. This enhancement supports more dynamic and personalized learning experiences by enabling multimedia instructions and submissions.
Instructors
Instructors can use the camera icon in the Rich Text Editor (RTE) to launch Video Studio when creating an Assignment or Test. They can record or upload a video or audio file to provide detailed instructions, visual examples, or emphasize key concepts. Recordings are embedded directly into the assignment or test content.
Image 1: Video Studio recordings can now be embedded within Blackboard Assessments.
Students
Students can respond to Assignments and Tests using Video Studio. They can create or upload a video or audio file as part of their submission, offering a more expressive and flexible way to demonstrate understanding.
Upload limits for students:
- Recording limit: 5 minutes
- Upload limit: 5GB
Administrator
Availability: Requires Video Studio.
Activation: We are offering customers a free trial until June 30, 2025.
Configuration: To configure Video Studio: select Configure in The Ultra Experience is Here! module. Select Enable creating/uploading videos using Video Studio.
Video Studio: Create and edit recordings in Forms – 3900.121
Impact: Instructors
Updated Help Page: Video Studio (Instructors)
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Video Studio is now available in Forms, allowing instructors to create or upload video and audio content as part of form responses. This feature enhances engagement and clarity in feedback, surveys, and other form-based interactions.
Instructors
Instructors can embed Video Studio recordings when creating Forms, using the camera icon in the Content Editor. This allows them to provide multimedia context or instructions.
Image 1: Instructors can now embed Video Studio recordings within Blackboard Forms.
Administrator
Availability: Requires Video Studio.
Activation: We are offering customers a free trial until June 30, 2025.
Configuration: To configure Video Studio: select Configure in The Ultra Experience is Here! module. Select Enable creating/uploading videos using Video Studio.
Video Studio: Editing capabilities in Discussions – 3900.121
Impact: Instructors, Students
Updated Help Page: Video Studio (Instructors), Video Studio (Students)
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
We’ve expanded Video Studio functionality in Discussions to include editing the title, captions, and transcripts. Instructors and students can now edit their Video Studio recordings directly within discussion threads, using the same intuitive editing tools available in other areas of Blackboard.
This enhancement supports more polished and purposeful video contributions, improving the quality of asynchronous discussions.
Image 1: Instructors and students now have editing capabilities for Video Studio recordings in Discussions.
Administrator
Availability: Requires Video Studio.
Activation: We are offering customers a free trial until June 30, 2025.
Configuration: To configure Video Studio: select Configure in The Ultra Experience is Here! module. Select Enable creating/uploading videos using Video Studio.
Course Catalog: Navigate side panels more easily with keyboard and screen readers
Test/Stage: 9 June 2025; Production: 9 June 2025
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Page: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
When a side panel opens on administrative screens, the focus now remains within the panel instead of returning to the underlying page. This enhancement reduces navigation disruptions and provides an improved experience for users who navigate using keyboards and screen readers.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Course Catalog courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Course Catalog: Select a language with clearer guidance for screen readers
Test/Stage: 9 June 2025; Production: 9 June 2025
Impact: Students, Managers, and Administrators
Updated Help Page: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Students and Managers
The language selection button now includes improved accessibility support. The button now includes descriptive alt text, and screen readers announce it with "Select language" verbiage. These changes provide clearer guidance and a more inclusive experience for all users.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Course Catalog courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Course Catalog: Access More Information text with keyboard navigation
Test/Stage: 9 June 2025; Production: 9 June 2025
Impact: Students
Updated Help Page: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Students
The More Information text on the course tiles in the catalog is now accessible through keyboard navigation. When the information icon receives the keyboard focus, the text appears. This update ensures that users who rely on keyboard navigation can easily access additional information about courses.
Image 1: The More Information text is accessible through keyboard navigation.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Course Catalog courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Course Catalog: Enter confirmation codes with improved screen reader support
Test/Stage: 9 June 2025; Production: 9 June 2025
Impact: Students
Updated Help Page: Not applicable
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
Students
We enhanced the accessibility of the confirmation code input fields in the sign-up workflow. Instead of multiple inputs without context, there is now a single, properly labeled input field. Screen readers correctly announce the label, providing users with the necessary context to enter information. This update improves usability and aligns with accessibility best practices.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Course Catalog courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed.
Looking for older release notes?
Check out the Blackboard Learn Release Notes Archive for more information on past releases.
