Blackboard’s November update, released for November 6, brings improvements to rubrics, group management, and feedback in Ultra courses. Some features have separate rollout timelines.
Print rubrics or save them as PDFs
Building on the new cubic features release in October, faculty will be able to print both blank and scored rubrics or save them as PDFs through the browser’s print dialog. This supports offline grading, sharing feedback, and preparing documentation for instructional review.
For a blank rubric, open Course Rubrics, select the rubric’s ellipsis menu, and choose Print. Scored rubrics can be printed while grading after at least one performance level has been selected.
Submit a saved attempt on a student’s behalf
Tentatively arriving in mid-November, this feature will let faculty submit saved assignment or test attempts. From the student’s overview in the gradebook, choose Submit draft attempt and provide a reason. The submission record includes the instructor’s name, reason, and date.
Find students and groups more easily
Expanded group search will locate students who already belong to a group, search group names, and filter results.
Refine overall feedback with AVA
AI Writing Tools will offer rewrites of overall feedback in flexible grading. Faculty review the suggestion for accuracy and bias, then replace their text, discard the suggestion, or try again.
Looking ahead: Content Editor improvements
The new editor remains inactive at our institution, with release targeted for January 2027. November’s beta updates add keyboard accessibility improvements, image alternative text before insertion, Content Collection access, and expanded LaTeX support.
For assistance with these updates or more information about using them in your courses, please contact CETL.