Ultra Update – April 2025

Posted on by jamie.gilder

This release has new or updated features in the following areas: 

  • Instructional design;
  • Communication and collaboration;
  • Gradebook;
  • Learner progression and personalised experience;
  • Upgrade to Ultra.

These improvements impact instructors, students, and administrators. Below you’ll find our top highlights, and more detail on the most relevant updates.

Top Highlights

Indicator if student has or has not reviewed feedback

In the Gradebook, instructors can now see whether or not students have reviewed assessment feedback. An indicator on the student Overview page displays whether a student has reviewed the feedback for a given assessment.

When a mark is posted, a label shows Not reviewed with the existing Completed label in the Status column. When the student reviews the feedback, the status updates to Reviewed with a review timestamp.

A screenshot of the student overview page showing the new 'Reviewed' and 'Not reviewed' indicators in the status column for an assignment and a test.
Image 1. Instructor Gradebook view has Reviewed and Not Reviewed labels in the Status column.

Replace Feedback column with actionable Results column in student Gradebook

To encourage students to review their submitted assessments in the Gradebook:

  • A new Results column replaces the Feedback column
  • A View button in the Results column replaces the Feedback column’s purple feedback icon

When a mark is posted and the new mark indicator (purple circle) is turned on, the View button displays for the assessment.

Screenshot of the previous view of the student Gradebook. Three assignments show a purple circle 'new mark' indicator and a purple speech bubble in the Feedback column.
Image 1.  The previous view of the student Gradebook included a Feedback column with a feedback icon and new grade indicator when feedback was available for review.
Screenshot of the new view of the student Gradebook. An assignment and a test display a new Results column with a View button for each.
Image 2. The new view of the student Gradebook includes an actionable Results column with the new grade indicator turning off after the student views the feedback.

Please see the Release notes for further information.

Other updates include:

Enhanced marking experience for group submissions

Content designer: print document

Full details on other updates in this release can be found on these Blackboard pages.

Further help and support

For more guidance on using Blackboard Ultra please explore this site Ultra Essential Guidance via the site menu on the right. 

Students can view an Ultra orientation and advice on using Ultra from their Help for Students sections (or equivalent) in your Blackboard course.