Instructional technologies provide many opportunities to support assessment and track student performance in Blackboard.
The following articles provide details describing the best practices we regularly publish to support our pedagogical community of practice.
Showing items tagged ultra-update. Show All
Improve Your Digital Content: Join Us for Accessibility Workshops (August 17 & 21)
Enhance digital content accessibility for all users
As we gear up for the FA2026 semester, the Instructional Technology team is hosting Improve Your Digital Content Workshops on August 17th and August 21st. Whether you are completely new to Digital...
Posted: July 30, 2026, 12:15 PM
Blackboard Launches New Gradebook on August 7
Same grades, less clicking.
After a year-long redesign with faculty feedback sessions – including on-site at UMBC – Blackboard will launch a new gradebook starting August 7, 2026. The redesigned gradebook grid view will...
Posted: July 20, 2026, 10:00 AM
July Update Brings Rubric Evaluation Report to Ultra Courses
Discussion descriptions, AI conversation timers, course favs
This month's Ultra update provides a new report that gives instructors class-wide rubric data at a glance, and a dedicated field that separates discussion context from prompt. Paired with clearer...
Posted: July 2, 2026, 10:29 AM
Smarter Feedback and Flexible Rubric Improvements Arrive in the June Ultra Update
Turn every answer choice into a teachable moment
What if a wrong answer could teach just as much as a right one? This month’s Blackboard update brings tools that let instructors do exactly that: Guiding students not just to the correct response,...
Posted: May 28, 2026, 10:32 AM
Redesigned Groups, Cascading Release Conditions in the May Ultra Update
Smarter tools for course design and student support
Have you ever spent more time wrestling with Blackboard's Groups tool than actually designing the group work itself, especially in a large course? The May Ultra update delivers meaningful...
Posted: May 5, 2026, 9:03 AM
Set Multiple Due Dates for Discussions & Define Assignment Types in April Ultra Update
New tools for clarity, consistency, and control in your Ultr
Have you ever wanted students to see exactly what's expected of them in a discussion, without having to navigate back to the assignment details to check? Or needed to recognize that one group...
Posted: April 3, 2026, 8:20 AM
Simplified Course Navigation and Supercharged Test Setup with the January Ultra Release
Redesigned course layout and time-saving test tools
In January, UMBC faculty and students will experience a redesigned course navigation in Ultra that makes key areas easier to access and understand. The updated layout brings a full-width header...
Posted: January 6, 2026, 9:50 AM
Blackboard Revamps Course Navigation to Streamline Workflows
A cleaner, faster course experience arrives around Jan 8-9
Blackboard will roll out a refreshed interface in early January, introducing a cleaner, more intuitive design that aims to make everyday teaching tasks faster and more efficient. One change is...
Posted: December 10, 2025, 2:47 PM
Set Clear Expectations for Discussions in the December Ultra Update
New options for releasing content
What if your discussion assignments could set clear expectations up front? Could your students benefit if your course could respond to their questions before you checked your inbox? The December...
Posted: December 2, 2025, 2:57 PM
Fix Point Values on Tests, Automate Encouragement, and Customize Achievements in November Ultra Update
Speed up grading and celebrate student success
Imagine if you could adjust test points in seconds without regrading everything manually? What if your course could automatically cheer students on when they succeed -- or nudge them when they...
Posted: November 6, 2025, 11:28 AM
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