Anthology releases monthly incremental updates to their Blackboard software, the May & June updates bring the following new features and improvements:
May (3900.91)
June (3900.95)
- Post announcements immediately.
- Print tests and assessments (staff only).
- Send a copy to email when scheduling an announcement.
This blog post will guide you through these new features, how they can benefit a module and the workflows to implement them.
1. Improved Gradebook Navigation
Currently, the Blackboard Ultra Gradebook offers three different views accessible under two gradebook sub-tabs, one of which includes a grid/list selector. These views are:
- Markable items (list view).
- Markable items (grid view).
Navigating these views can be somewhat confusing. To streamline this, the May SaaS upgrade will assign each Gradebook view its own sub-tab:
- Markable items (list view) will be renamed to Markable items.
- Markable items (grid view) will be renamed to Marks.
- Students will remain unchanged.
Previous Gradebook Navigation
New Gradebook Navigation
2. Supporting multiple performance criteria in release conditions.
Currently, in Blackboard modules, staff can only set performance-based release conditions for items based on a single criterion, such as a grade in the Gradebook. For example, if there are three tests and you want to make an item available only to students who score above a certain threshold on each test, it’s impossible. The workaround is to use cascading release criteria, like releasing the second test when the first is passed, the third when the second is passed, and the content item when the third test is passed. However, this approach might not always be appropriate and complicated to set up.
Staff can now set release conditions based on multiple performance criteria. This means they can selectively release content to students who meet several conditions simultaneously. Performance-based release conditions can be set to release content to students who score a specific number of points or a percentage or can specify custom ranges.
These release conditions are especially useful for automatically releasing content based on assessment scores. For instance, you can release one set of content to support students who failed an assessment, another set to those who passed, and more challenging content to students who performed exceptionally well.
New option to add additional criteria to release conditions.
3. Post announcements immediately.
June’s upgrade will streamline the process of posting announcements. Currently, you need to save and close an announcement before posting it from the announcements panel. This process can be confusing, as the save button does not actually post the announcement. Now, a ‘Post’ button will be added directly to the announcement creation panel, allowing you to compose and post the announcement in the same panel. You will still have the option to compose, save, and post the announcement later if needed.
Upgraded announcements screen with ‘Post’ button highlighted.
4. Print option in tests and assessments.
A print button has been introduced enabling staff to generate a PDF copy of a Blackboard Ultra test or assignment or send a printable version directly to a printer. This feature is available exclusively to staff, with no plans to extend it to students.
Please note that the initial release of the print functionality has certain limitations. Specifically, question pools used as a question type will not be included in the print.
A Blackboard test with the ‘Print’ button highlighted
5. Send a copy to email when scheduling an announcement.
Previously when creating scheduled announcements in Blackboard modules, the option to also send a copy of the announcement to recipients was unavailable. With the June update, it is now possible to enable both the ‘Send an email to recipients’ and ‘schedule announcement’ simultaneously for a single announcement.
The advantage that this update gives, is providing multiple ways in which the student will be notified that the announcement has been received:
- Checking their email inbox
- Next log on into the associated Blackboard module.
Setting up a new announcement where both options can be configured and enabled concurrently.
Contact Us
If you would like to discuss any of the above in more detail, please contact the Digital Learning Specialists, to arrange bespoke coaching and mentoring sessions.
They are contactable at elearning@tees.ac.uk