August 2025 Release Notes (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may be updated after a course ends, but before that course is used as a template for a new one, which could cause outdated content to be copied forward.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 The current sync model can result in an outdated copy of an object.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.

Note

The new behavior doesn't apply if the destination course is past its end date or has been marked as complete.

Impact: Administrators

Updated Help Topic: Learning Object Repository

Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable

The Associations Page has been improved for better clarity and usability.

Image 1. The Associations tab now shows a “--” under the Term column.

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.

Impact: Instructors and administrators

Updated Help Topic: Not applicable

Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable

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.

Impact: Instructors and administrators

Updated Help Topic: Create and Manage Groups

Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable

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.

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.

Impact: Administrators

Updated Help Topic: DirectSubmit (Instructor)

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:

Test/Stage: 11 July 2025; Production: 11 July 2025

Impact: Instructors

Updated Help Topic: Not applicable

Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable

A notification now appears at the top of the screen when graders take an action in the approval workflow, such as approving or extracting grades. This message indicates success or displays an error message. The notification helps users understand the outcome and avoid confusion.

Instructors

Image 1: A notification banner appears at the top of the screen stating that the grades were approved successfully.

Test/Stage: 11 July 2025; Production: 11 July 2025

Impact: Instructors

Updated Help Topic: Not applicable

Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable

Graders can now sort columns in the approval workflow by selecting the arrow next to the column header name. They can sort in ascending or descending order to organize items in a way that fits their workflow and makes items easier to find. This helps users quickly focus on the most relevant items and reduces time spent searching.

Instructors

Image 1: Instructors can click the arrows next to the column header name to sort the items in the column.

Test/Stage: 11 July 2025; Production: 11 July 2025

Impact: Instructors

Updated Help Topic: Not applicable

Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable

We added the student username as a column to the grade level approval screen. This gives graders a way to differentiate between students who have the same or similar names, preventing confusion.

Instructors

Image 1: The grade level approval screen now has a username column.

Test/Stage: 11 July 2025; Production: 11 July 2025

Impact: Instructors and Administrators

Updated Help Topic: Not applicable

Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable

When using the Advanced Course Search, administrators and instructors who have the correct permissions will now be able to specify a wider variety of approval statuses to filter by, including Error, Locked, Partially Approved, and more. This gives users the ability to fine tune their searches and obtain more granular results, resulting in increased efficiency.

Instructors and Administrators

Administrators and instructors with appropriate permissions can now choose from the following statuses to filter by in the Advanced Course Search:

• All

• Approved

• Extracted

• Error

• Locked

• Partially Approved

• Partially Extracted

• Submitted

• Unapproved

• Unlocked

Image 1: The Status filter in the Advanced Course Search now has a wider variety of options to choose from.

Impact: Students

Updated Help Topic: Learning Modules (Student)

Idea Exchange ID: LEARNU-I-159

We’ve redesigned the Learning Module experience for students by adding a collapsible table of contents. This update improves navigation, orientation, and progress tracking. Additionally, assessments now open in a full panel in Learning Modules. 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.

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.

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.

Impact: Administrators

Updated Help Topic: Managing Course Terms and AccessManaging 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.

Impact: Administrators, Instructors

Updated Help Page: SCORM Packages (Instructor), SCORM Engine (Administrator)

Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable

Rustici SCORM Engine is upgraded from version 20.1 to version 23 to ensure continued support, improved performance, and access to the SCORM standards. This update enhances compatibility, applies critical security patches, and lays the groundwork for future SCORM-related improvements.

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.

Benefits of version 23 include:

Impact: Instructors and students

Updated Help Topic: Not applicable

Idea Exchange ID: Not applicable

Test/Stage: week of 14 July 2025; Production: week of 14 July 2025

Impact: Students

Updated Help Topic: Catalog 

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.

Test/Stage: week of 14 July 2025; Production: week of 14 July 2025

Impact: Students

Updated Help Topic: Enroll in a Course 

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.