Tool Updates

Poll Everywhere - Use multiple poll types to gauge student understanding. Polls can require student login or be anonymous and poll results can be synced with the Blackboard grade book. More information >

Class for Zoom creates a teaching specific interface on top of Zoom. It adds features such as viewing all breakout groups at once, tracking who is paying attention, and allows students to share their camera only with the instructor. More information >

Gradescope is an assignment collection, grading, and feedback tool with automated functionalities. More information >

Chosen Pronouns in Blackboard

Chosen pronouns (as selected in PatriotWeb) will soon display wherever a user profile displays in a Blackboard course, such as in discussion boards. Users can also add their name pronunciation (typed and recorded) by clicking their name on the Blackboard menu. Reminder, a user’s Chosen name (as selected in PatriotWeb) displays as the user’s first name throughout Blackboard.

Kaltura Video Deletions

Kaltura MyMedia retention guidelines have been established. Videos will be deleted from the Kaltura system after not be played by anyone for four years. The media owner will receive an email 30 days before deletion and simply needs to play the video to save it for another 4 years. Read the full guidelines.

Blackboard Updates

Instructors using the inline annotate tool to comment on Assignments will now have an undo/redo button. The tool selection will be retained.

A file progress indicator will show that a file is uploading (gives confidence when larger files are uploaded).

Blackboard will warn users when they are nearing the three-hour timeout limit.

LaTeX display improvements.

Collaborate Ultra

Engagement Insights show how participants are engaging in the session.

Moderators can now pause Breakout Groups. so participants groups without losing their work or group membership.

Participants can download all files shared that were uploaded AND shared on the whiteboard. If you do not want participants to download files, you must use application sharing (not File Upload).

Blackboard App

Blackboard is consolidating their apps. Previously, instructors used the “Blackboard Instructor” app to view courses on the go. Beginning August 9, instructors should install the “Blackboard” app (same app as students). The app will update based on your course role. Download from the app store.

Publisher Integrations

A number of publisher/textbook have recently updated their integrations with Blackboard, specifically Pearson and Cengage. General publisher integration information is available.

Tool Updates

Harmonize and VoiceThread are new tools, however usage is limited in this pilot period. Complete the form for access.

Leganto is the Libraries new course reserves and course readings platform.

Piazza has moved to a paid model and is no longer available in Blackboard. Harmonize (see below) may be a good replacement.

Anonymous Feedback (Feedback Box) is no longer available, as the company is not supporting the tool. We suggest you use the Blackboard survey tool (similar to building a test) or Qualtrics.

Microsoft Office 365 Tools for Teaching

OneNote Class Notebook is available in Blackboard courses. Create a class notebook for information gathering and multi-user collaboration. When created through Blackboard, students are automatically populated in the Notebook.

While there is no Blackboard integration at this time with other Office 365 tools, we have provided tips on using Microsoft Teams for course collaboration. Looking for students to schedule their office hour visits (in person or online) in advance? Try Microsoft Booking for office hours.

Collaborate updates

Blackboard Collaborate Ultra, the live, secure online class meeting tool in Blackboard, has received a number of updates. Up to 25 videos can be viewed at once in gallery view. An updated whiteboard is coming soon.

Video in Blackboard

We encourage all video placed in Blackboard courses to be uploaded though Kaltura MyMedia. This helps optimize video playback and storage expenses. Students can also submit video in discussion boards, assignments, and other places using Kaltura. 

Send Midterm and Final grades to Patriot Web

The new PatriotWeb-Send Grades tool allows the instructor of record to send a Blackboard Grade Center column to Patriot Web as the Midterm Evaluations or Final grade. Read more. 

Grade Center External Grade mark

Many faculty have asked about the External Grade (green checkmark) column in the Blackboard Grade Center. In addition to being used by the new tool mentioned above, it impacts other areas as well. This External Grade displays prominently as a student’s current course grade on main “Grades” link from the Blackboard homepage left menu and in the Blackboard app. It is also used in reports available in Blackboard courses under Control Panel > Evaluation > Course Analytics. For these reasons, it is best practice to set the running final grade column (for example a Weighted Total Column) as the External Grade at the beginning of the semester. In the Grade Center, choose the column's menu options and select Set External Grade.

Enrollment Add/Drops

Previously, course enrollment changes would take up to 12 hours to display in Blackboard. Now, add/drops will appear in Blackboard in near real-time when a registration change is made.

Blackboard Cross-listed course name convention

Cross-listed courses are in Blackboard as a single course site. The display has changed and no longer uses the word “master” to indicate the Blackboard site is part of a cross-listing. The new Blackboard course name format is: Term - Name of Course - (Section, Section). For example: Fall 2021 - Intro to Mason - (MASN-100-001, MASN-100-002)

Content editor updates

When the new content text editor was updated in Blackboard last fall, there were issues with font size and line spacing in preview versus what was published. Those issues are fixed. In addition, files can be added to more places in test questions.

Kaltura and Captioning text

Last semester we added the ability to request machine/automated captioning for any Kaltura video. Now, when you add a video to your course you can optionally choose to have the text display directly below the video.

Lockdown Browser and Chromebooks

Chromebook users can now install Lockdown Browser and use Monitor for tests requiring the software. However, there are some limitations for students using Chromebooks.

Blackboard Browser requirements

Blackboard’s browser requirements were updated in the spring. If a user types text into Blackboard and it does not save, the browser needs updating.

A new look for navigation pages (pages before you enter a course or organization).

1. Kaltura Machine Captioning and Caption Player

Users can now add machine captioning to any video in their MyMedia library. Machine captions are computer-generated transcripts of the text or audio. Machine captioning is not as accurate as professional captioning. Captions times will vary but may take 30-60 minutes or more. Once the captioning is complete, you can edit the text to fix issues. Read more.

When a captioned video is placed in a Blackboard course, the caption text can now be searched and/or displayed below the video for viewers to follow along with the text.

2. Bb Annotate
New as of May 2020. The “inline grading” tool instructors used to read and comment on student assignment submissions was updated in June. The new version, called Bb Annotate, provides many more options, including the ability to save and reuse commonly used comments across an instructor's various courses. Read more.

3. Ally
Ally is an accessibility tool that automatically converts course files into multiple formats (audio, epub, etc.) for students. For instructors only, Ally indicates the accessibility of all documents in the course and provides tips to increase your accessibility score (students do not see these scores). Faculty can also request the Assistive Technology Initiative (ATI) Office convert files using the Ally request form. Read more.

4. Collaborate Ultra Updates

Download Poll Results

Instructors can download a session's polling results. This csv file includes the poll question and how each attendee responded. Click the menu option (three dots) next to a session name (this may be under All Previous Sessions) and choose View Reports.

Share Camera

Moderators can now share any type of camera (webcam, document camera) to the main presentation area. This allows the instructor/moderator video to stay the main focus of the session. A second camera connected to the moderator's computer can also be shared via the normal camera icon at the bottom.

Under the Collaborate panel (purple tab), click Share Content, then Share Camera.

Uses may include sharing content via a USB document camera or using an external camera to demonstrate a lab experiment.

Session Creation

This update prevents unintended changes to a session from being accidentally saved. Instructors now need to save changes with the Create or Save button.

5. Zoom in Blackboard

Instructors can now create Zoom sessions from within Blackboard. Read more.

Collaborate Ultra Updates

Several new Collaborate Ultra features were included in a June 13 update.

Download Poll Results

Instructors can download a session's polling results. This csv file includes the poll question and how each attendee responded. Click the menu option (three dots) next to a session name (this may be under All Previous Sessions) and choose View Reports.

Session Creation

This update prevents unintended changes to a session from being accidentally saved. Instructors now need to save changes with the Create or Save button.

Share Camera

Moderators can now share any type of camera (webcam, document camera) to the main presentation area. This allows the instructor/moderator video to stay as the main focus of the session. A second camera connected to the moderator's computer can also be shared via the normal camera icon at the bottom.

Under the Collaborate panel (purple tab), click Share Content, then Share Camera.

Uses may include sharing content via a USB document camera or using an external camera to demonstrate a lab experiment.

Bb Annotate
The “inline grading” tool instructors used to read and comment on student assignment submissions will receive an upgrade on June 3, 2020. The new version, called Bb Annotate, provides many more options, including the ability to save and reuse commonly used comments across an instructor's various courses. All existing comments will be retained. Instructors do not need to do anything to see the update once it is available. Read more.

Collaborate Ultra
In response to high usage, some Collaborate Ultra features were removed in order to meet demand. Blackboard has not supplied a timeframe when the features will be re-enabled.
-Timer option removed
-Only two webcam videos can be viewed at once (previously four)
-Chat typing indicator was removed

In early June, the ability to download poll results (see responses per student) will be added.

Ally
Ally is an accessibility tool that is in pilot with some summer courses. Ally converts most files into multiple formats (audio, epub, etc.) for students. For instructors only, Ally indicates the accessibility of all documents in the course and provides tips to increase your accessibility score. Faculty can also request the Assistive Technology Initiative (ATI) Office convert files using the Ally request form. Read more and sign up for the pilot. 

All Fall courses will have Ally enabled automatically.

NBC News
NBC News video content is no longer available.

New Help Webpages
In response to online learning, a number of new support pages are now available.

Recordings of Blackboard Webinars for faculty

Best Practice for providing students offline course access

Tracking student activity and participation

In addition a online course tips page for students is available; and a self-paced course (must be logged into Blackboard to view) is now available for students who want to learn how to use Blackboard.