What's new in Blackboard?

Each month Blackboard updates follow a certain process: a staging release, testing, changes, and finally a production release. Some of these updates are mandatory, while others are optional and can be decided upon by the institution. Currently, Academic Technology Services may not immediately release new Blackboard features to production when they become available to the broader Blackboard community. We may require additional testing both externally and internally to ensure that these changes have minimal negative impact on our instructors. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we strive to provide a stable and effective teaching environment. For more information, please read this document:

LMS Team Service Delivery Model.pdf

Please note that Blackboard Ultra does not have any integrated AI tools at this time.

February 2026

Update to existing features

Reduced gradient on course banners: Based on client feedback, course banners now have a reduced gradient.

Stack blocks vertically in Documents: Instructors can now stack Document content blocks vertically to create clearner layouts and reduce white space.

Document with two vertically stacked blocks in one column.

January 2026

New features

Navigate courses and tools faster with refreshed user interface: The Blackboard interface has been updated with the following changes:
- In the base navigation, the user profile now appears at the top and Sign Out is now at the bottom of the navigation, separated from the other options.
- Courses are now in full-screen panel to maximize horizontal space.
- The course image is now wider and has the course ID and name on the banner.
- A “home” button has replaced the “X” button. The “home” button takes the user to the default landing page.
- A drop down course switcher allows users to switch between their four most recent courses. There is all a “view all” option to navigate to the courses page.

screenshot of updated user interface with updated navigation, full screen view, and wider banner.

Update to existing features

Usability improvements for Document Block Layout: The menu for document block layout has been changed from a single dropdown list to being organized by type of change (row, size, and position). This helps users who use keyboard navigation.

Expanded question options for true/false: The true/false question options have been expanded to include:
- Yes/No
- Right/Wrong
- Agree/Disagree

Screenshot showing drop down of four answer options

Enhanced multiple choice and multiple answer workflow: Updates include:
- Default answer options from 3 to 4
- Number of answer selections can now be limited
- When only one answer is allowed, there are radio buttons. When one or more is allowed, there are checkboxes.

screenshot showing 4 answer options and the answer selection option

Video Studio – Edit description: Instructors can now add and edit descriptions for their audio/video feedback and videos in announcements.

Video Studio – Bulk edit speaker names in video transcripts: Instructors can now bulk edit speaker names in transcripts for their audio/video feedback and videos in announcements.

mesage users see when bulk editing speaker names

Fixes to existing features

Improved Gradebook download option: The Gradebook download option for hidden items now only appears when there are hidden items in the Gradebook.

December 2025

New features

Learning Module Table of Contents – Instructor View: Instructors now have a collapsible Table of Contents in learning modules.

screenshot showing table of contents on left of learning module content

Specify participation requirements for Discussions: Instructors can now set a requirement for how many posts and/or replies are required by a particular due date.

grading and participation settings in discussions now have a on toggle for participaion requirement

Video Studio – Record Screen and Camera Simultaneously & Recording Minimize Workflow: Instructors can now record themselves and their screen simultaneously. Additionally, instructors can minimize the camera view and controls while recording. This helps keep the focus on the screen content.

video and screen recording option with option to minimize the camera view

Update to existing features

Set release conditions for open or started and for non-assessment content items: Release conditions can now be set on non-gradable items such as Documents, media, or course links. Release conditions can be set based on whether these items were opened or not.
Improved handling of group membership changes: When all members are removed from a group, the avatar now displays a ? icon and a “No members” label. If a member leaves an active group, their avatar has a strike through it in the grading view.

screenhot of a submission view with a group with no members showing a question mark

screenshot of the grading platform showing a former group member whith a strike through their avator

Standardized tabbed interface in Flexible Grading: The grading interface now has a consistent tabbed interface for all submission types. Previously, there were only tabs for file-based submissions.

Better Audio and Video in Feedback: Instructors now have an updated way to provide assessment feedback to their students. There is now an option for captioning and transcription, including editing. A/V feedback can now be accessed via a camcorder icon in the feedback editor.
Support Inline and Display Formulas in MathJax: MathJax support in the Content Editor now includes additional LaTeX delimiters for rendering mathematical formulas. This update improves compatibility with standard STEM workflows and simplifies uploading exam content without changing source files.

Fixes to existing features

Aligned gradebook submission counts with Show/Hide Unavailable Students Gradebook setting: Gradebook submission counts now align with the instructor’s “Show/Hide Unavailable Students” setting. When unavailable students are hidden, counts exclude their submissions. When unavailable students are shown, counts include their submissions.

November 2025

New Features

Bulk change question points in tests: Instructors can now bulk change point values for questions added to tests. Changes do not affect question banks.

Checkboxes along the left side of the questions where you can select which questions you want to include in the bulk edit

Updates to existing features:

Choose whether to include hidden items in Gradebook downloads: Instructors can now include or exclude hidden items when downloading Gradebook items.

Fixes to existing features:

Improved navigation from Gradebook column headers: The Grades (grid) view has been updated to improve consistency across item types in regards to drop down menu options and icons.

October 2025

New features:

Tag questions with metadata in tests and question banks: Instructors can now tag questions with metadata when creating or editing questions in tests, forms, and banks. Metadata is not visible to students during test-taking or review.

Updated features:

Improved Course Messages user interface: Messages now appear in chat-style bubbles with your messages right-justified and the recipient's messages left-justified.

Require questions before making forms visible to students: Instructors must now add at least one question to a form before it can become visible to students.

Fixes to existing features:

Improved student experience with Fill in the Blank question type: Fill in the blank questions now display the blanks inline with the surrounding text, whether the question is presented as a sentence, paragraph, or table. Images show before and after student display.

Consistent Save and Cancel options in Settings page: To improve consistency in Blackboard Ultra settings, the Save and Cancel actions have become more standardized for several assessment settings.

September 2025

New features:

DC Email List Generator: Instructors now have the ability to bulk download student email addresses via the Content Market. VPN required when working off campus.

screenshot of the DC email list generator in the Content Market

Adding table of contents (Delayed from August, now available): Learning Modules will have a collapsible table of contents.

Enhance Documents with block styling options: There are now block styling options in Documents allowing instructions to add more visual appear to their content. The options include: Question, Tip, Key points, and Next steps.

The content block toolbar with the block styling option highlighted in blue, showing an expanded menu. The question option is represented by a question mark. The tip option is represented by a light bulb. Key points is represented by a pin. Next steps is represented by two arrows. The highlight option is represented by a star. The reset styling option at the bottom shows two arrows circling each other.

Updated features:

Add and manage question titles in tests, forms, and banks: Instructors can now add, view, and delete question titles to questions in tests, forms, and banks. This helps to search for existing questions.

option to add question title below question number

Use pop-out rubric when grading group submissions: Pop-up rubrics are now available for grading group assessments, including tests and assignments.
Display per question feedback to students on group test submissions: Instructors can now leave per question feedback on group test submissions.
Use See More functionality in Add Question Pool: In the Add Question Pool panel, there is now a "See More" functionality for Sources, Question Types, and Tags when there are more than 10 items.

Export question banks in QTI v2.1 format: Instructors can now export question banks in the QTIv2.1 format.

Fixes to existing features:

Display time limits and extra time consistently across roles: When instructors add extra time to time limits, it is now clearly displayed for students. For example: “Time limit: 20 minutes + 10 minutes extra time”.

screenshot of the the time limit plus extra time display on a test

Simplify announcement creation with cleaner interface: The New Announcement page no longer has the Recipients dropdown (which only had one option to send the announcement to all course members).
Improved accessibility on the Submissions list page in the Gradebook: The Submissions page list in the Gradebook now uses a semantic HTML table instruction to improve screen reader support and keyboard navigation.
Require confirmation for updated email addresses: To enhance security and community, there is now a verification step when users update their email address in Blackboard.

notification within Blackboard to inform user that a confirmation email was sent

August 2025

New Features

Adding table of contents (delayed until September): Learning Modules will have a collapsible table of contents.

Updates to existing features

Video Studio: Use Video Studio in Announcements (no license required): Audio/video content in announcements are now supported through Video Studio. The audio/video button and recording panel has been redesigned.
Improve LTI tool management with flexible copy options: Instructors can now copy individual LTI tools to courses. Previously, these tools were only copied in a full course copy.
Enhance visual consistency for embedded LTI tools: All embedded LTIs now default to 100% width. Note that for embedded Kaltura videos, users must click the full screen button to see the full video (under investigation).

Fixes to existing features

Full-width assessment panel to Learning Modules: Learning Modules now open in a full panel.

table of contents on left with assessment featured in centre

Use upgraded Rustici SCORM Engine: Rustici SCORM Engine has been upgraded from version 20.1 to version 23 for SCORM-related improvements.
Increased accessibility in the student Overview page: The student Overview page now uses semantic HTML table structure to improve accessibility. This improves screen reader support and keyboard navigation.
Increased accessibility in the student Gradebook: The student Gradebook now uses semantic HTML table structure to improve accessibility. This improves screen reader support and keyboard navigation.
Ensure consistency with course-level group conversion: All activity-level groups are now automatically converted to course-level groups when courses are converted from Original to Ultra and when course materials are copied into a new course.

July 2025

New features

Apply the No Category option to Gradebook Items: Instructors can assign a "No Category" option to gradebook items. Items in this category will appear in a new "Additional Items" folder in the Overall Grade and must be unlinked if instructors want these items to be stand alone.

Instructors can select No Category in the Grade Category dropdown in the gradebook

Add captions to image blocks in Documents: Instructors can now add captions above or below images in Document image blocks. Note that this does not apply to images in Content blocks.

A tabby cat, with a caption above saying 'Tabby is one of the most common fur patterns in cats.'

Updates to existing features

Review student engagement with announcements: Instructors can now verify which students have read course announcements by clicking on the view count in the Announcements tab. Note that this does not apply to announcements read via email notification only.

The Viewers page, showing two students with the read status and one unread.

Access Progress Tracking tool via Course Settings: Turning on/off Progress Tracking can now be done via Course Settings on the top right of Blackboard courses and organizations.

The Course Setting page section for Progress Tracking, which contains the option to switch on or off the Progress Tracking tool for a course.

Enhanced pop-out rubric: Several enhancements have been made to the pop-up rubric in the Gradebook. For example, closing the pop-up without savings changes now prompts a warning.

Attempting to close out of pop-out rubric without saving changes prompts a warning

Render mathematical formulas with MathJax: Formula rendering has been enhanced in the Content Editor through the implementation of MathJax. This improves the visual accuracy and consistency of LaTeX-based formulas.
Navigate with previous and next functionality in Group Submissions: Instructors are now able to navigate with Previous/Next controls when grading group submissions.
Support QTI question import in banks: Instructors can now import question banks from publisher content in QTI packages. Supported question types include T/F, multiple choice, multiple answer, fill-in-the-blank, and essay.

Fixes to existing features

Control how descriptions convert from Original to Ultra: When converting learning modules or folders from Original to Ultra, descriptions more than 750 characters get converted to Blackboard Documents. Previously, descriptions longer than 750 characters would get cut off.