TABLE OF CONTENTS

• About the Updates
• Course Content Page Improvements
  • Knowledge Check in Ultra Documents
  • AI Conversations
  • Change Folders to Learning Modules or Learning Modules to Folders
• Assessments and Grading Improvements
  • Indicator if Student Has or Has Not Reviewed Grades and Feedback
  • Pop-Out Rubric
  • Rendering in Bb Annotate Improvements
  • Gradebook Overview Tab
• Additional Resources and Support

About the Updates

Blackboard is releasing new Ultra features and improvements every month! Some of these new features are large updates with completely new functionality while others are small enhancements. This page highlights some of the newer features and improvements from the past few months.

Course Content Page Improvements

These improvements focus on course content, including Ultra Documents, Learning Modules and Folders, and more.

Knowledge Check in Ultra Documents

You can now insert a Knowledge Check block into your Ultra Document. Knowledge Checks allow students to engage with the content and receive immediate feedback. 

Watch the Knowledge Checks in Blackboard Documents tutorial video to learn more.

AI Conversations

The AI Conversation allows students to engage in role play exercises or Socratic questioning. At the end of the conversation, students will be prompted to reflect on the activity, highlighting strengths or weaknesses of the activity, or noting if the AI bot showed bias or inaccuracies. 

None of the content generated during the AI Conversation activity is used to train the AI model. For more information on how Anthology's Trustworthy AI program applies to AI Conversation, refer to the AI Conversation Transparency Note.

Once students submit the activity, instructors are able to review a transcript of the conversation and reflection, giving full transparency of the interactions.

For more information and detailed instructions, refer to the AI Design Assistant: AI Conversation support page.

Want to know more about the exciting new AI features in Ultra? Check out the AI Design Assistant support article.

Change Folders to Learning Modules or Learning Modules to Folders

Instructors can now easily change a folder to a learning module or change a learning module to a folder. The benefits of changing a folder to a learning module include: 

• Thumbnail images: You can add thumbnail images to Learning Modules, which provide a visually appealing course experience .
• Progress bar:  Learning modules feature a progress bar for students that highlights the number of items that they need to complete and their progression through the module. 
• Student Navigation Buttons: Students can quickly navigate to the next or previous item in a learning module  by clicking on the Previous and Next buttons at the top of the page.

To convert a Folder into a Learning Module, click on the More Options (three dots) menu. This will open a menu. Select Change to Learning Module.

You may also convert Learning Modules into Folders. However, this will remove the additional features of Learning Modules, including the image, forced sequence options, and student navigation. 

To convert a Learning Module into a Folder, click on the More Options (three dots) menu. This will open a menu. Select Change to Folder.

Assessments and Grading Improvements

These improvements focus on Assessments (including Assignments and Tests), the Gradebook, and grading workflows. To learn more about the Ultra Gradebook, grading tasks, and more, refer to the Gradebook and Grading support article.

Indicator if Student Has or Has Not Reviewed Grades and Feedback (Coming April 4)

Once a grade is posted, instructors can now go to a student's Grades page to find out whether a student has viewed their grade and feedback. In the Status column, a Not Reviewed or a Reviewed label will display. If you hover your mouse over the indicator you will see a timestamp of when the student reviewed the feedback. 

If the grade is updated or another attempt is submitted and graded, the timestamp will update when the student reviews the feedback again.

Pop-Out Rubric

To enhance grading efficiency, instructors can now pop out the rubric into a separate window when grading an assignment submission. Popping out the rubric allows instructors to view the student submission and the rubric side-by-side. Additionally, instructors can print a blank or completed rubric using the browser's print function.

Watch the Grade Using Rubrics tutorial video to learn more.

Rendering in Bb Annotate Improvements

Previously, when students submitted files Bb Annotate would change the formatting, font, etc. making grading more challenging for instructors. Now, files display with the exact same formatting as when the student submitted them, ensuring a smoother grading experience. 

Watch the Annotate in Blackboard Learn tutorial video to learn more.

Gradebook Overview Tab

The latest improvement to the Ultra Gradebook includes the much-requested Overview tab. Much like Needs Grading in Original Course View, the Overview tab will help you easily stay on top of your grading.

The Overview tab features two sections: Needs Grading and Needs Posting.

• Needs Grading: The Needs Grading section highlights the items ready for grading. Click on Grade Now to begin grading.
• Needs Posting: The Needs Posting section highlights the graded items ready to be posted. Click on Post Now to post the grades.

Additional Resources and Support

What's New in Ultra?

Blackboard is releasing new Ultra features and improvements every month! Some of these new features are large updates with completely new functionality while others are small enhancements. Check out Blackboard's monthly roundup of new features: What's New in Ultra?

Faculty Quick Start Guide

This guide contains instructions and tutorial videos to get you started with Ultra Course View: Blackboard Ultra Course View Faculty Quick Start Guide

Student Quick Start Guide

This guide contains information for students taking an Ultra course: Taking Your First Ultra Course? Here's What You Need to Know.

Contact Us

Reach out to eLearning and Instructional Support (eLIS) at elis@lesley.edu with any questions or to request a 1:1 or small group training.