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 3900.121.0
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:
- Enhance instructor efficiency with expanded Activity page
- Add captions to images 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
Instructors and Administrators:
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
- Turn on SafeAssign DirectSubmit functionality
- 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
Add captions to images 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 images 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.
Turn on SafeAssign DirectSubmit functionality – 3900.121
Impact: Administrators
Updated Help Page: Not applicable
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.
DirectSubmit includes the following functionalities:
- 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
If DirectSubmit is available, instructors can delete submitted items, access original submission downloads, and benefit from consistent grading icons. These enhancements streamline the workflow and improve usability.
If an institution adjusts DirectSubmit access, faculty will not have access to this feature. Only administrators can manage this setting.
Administrators
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: Administrators can manage access to DirectSubmit using a feature flag. By default, DirectSubmit remains available, but administrators can adjust access based on institutional needs.
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: Activated by default via feature flag.
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.
Use upgraded Rustici SCORM Engine – 3900.121
Impact: Administrators, Instructors
Updated Help Page: Add SCORM Packages (Instructor), SCORM Engine (Administrator)
Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable
We’ve upgraded the Rustici SCORM Engine from version 20.1 to version 23 to ensure continued support, improved performance, and access to the latest SCORM standards. This update enhances compatibility, applies critical security patches, and lays the groundwork for future SCORM-related improvements.
Updating to Rustici SCORM Engine 23 allows users:
- xAPI 2.0 support along with Engine LRS improvements
- Import and launch streaming video formats HLS or MPEG-DASH
- Alternate configuration sources for Hashicorp’s Vault and Consul
This update also resolves most bugs reported by clients related to SCORM. The upgrade supports a wide range of SCORM standards, including SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004, and others. It also reduces bugs and improves the stability of SCORM content delivery in Blackboard Ultra.
Do not modify SCORM-related database tables. Changes may disrupt the functionality of the upgraded engine.
Administrator
Availability: Available for all Ultra courses.
Activation: None needed.
Configuration: None needed, but institutions are encouraged to test SCORM content post-upgrade.
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.
