Feature highlights
This video shows some of the Blackboard Ultra features and updates released on July 4th 2024. Updates will be automatically available within your courses, organisations and content menus. You’ll find more detailed release notes below.
You can catch up on updates from previous months on the Blackboard Monthly Updates Page.
Emails available for scheduled announcement
Print Tests – Updated Page Break
Print Tests – Include the Answer Key
Needs Grading Workflow limits to attempts needing marking rather than all attempts
Update Mobile App when prompted
Send Emails for Scheduled Announcement
Topic: Communication
Feature Details: Further enhancement of Announcements now includes the ability to send an email version of a scheduled announcement.
What does this mean for you?: The Send email feature for Announcements was previously only available to announcements sent that day. This feature now allows you to schedule an announcement and send it as an email, giving the opportunity for greater reach to students on your module or organisation.
Guide: Announcements in Ultra
Print Tests – Updated Page Breaks
Topic: Assessment
Feature Details: Much-needed update when printing tests which stops the split of question text and images across pages.
What does this mean for you?: The Print Test function allowed printing of tests, but sometimes questions could be split across multiple pages, especially if images, graphs or lists were used within the question. This caused confusion for students. This feature now allows you to have the complete question text and information printed on one page, although some answer options might be split across pages.
Print Tests – Include Answer Key
Topic: Assessment
Feature Details: When printing your test you will be given the option to include the answer key.
What does this mean for you?: You will now have the option to print the test as a paper alternative to Blackboard or include the answer key. This could be valuable for a tutorial follow up, for example, where you are discussing the answers. This also allows you to keep a copy of the test or share older tests with students with or without the answers.
Needs Grading Workflow limits to attempts needing marking rather than all attempts
Topic: Assessment
Feature Details: When setting up a test and marking, you can change the settings to choose which papers to mark.
What does this mean for you?: When a student submits multiple attempts of a marked item, only the specified submission is shown to the marker. Once marked, the other attempts are removed from the needs marking filter, allowing you to see what truly still needs marking.
Feedback Recording Options
Topic: Assessment
Feature Details: Record video and audio feedback in per question marking.
What does this mean for you?: This release means that all areas of Blackboard feedback, whether general assessment feedback or per question feedback, now have the option to record audio and video feedback. This could be useful for personalised feedback, or to show a specific demonstration of the answer, correct diagram working or perhaps feedback to BSL students of the correct words signing.
Guide: Blackboard Announcement Video Feedback
Update Mobile App when prompted
Topic: Mobile
Feature Details: Mobile App enhancements need the app to be updated. Allowing increased session timeout allowance and log-in ease.
What does this mean for you?: Most apps update automatically via your phones app store. You may receive a session error notification on the log-in screen, in which case check your app to make sure it is up to date and log back in.
If you have an query about Blackboard Ultra, please raise a ticket with the TEL Team.