The August 2025 Blackboard Ultra release (3900.123) focuses on visual enhancements, accessibility upgrades, and smarter tools for communication and course management. In case you missed our latest podcast episode, here’s a breakdown of the key features we explored—and how they can directly support your teaching.
Block Styling in Documents
Course content just got a major visual upgrade.
When editing a Document, you’ll now see a styling dropdown with five new block options:
- Question (question mark icon)
- Tip (lightbulb icon)
- Key Points (pin icon)
- Next Steps (arrow icon)
- Highlight (star icon)
Each comes with its own icon and color scheme, making it easier to draw attention to critical content. Whether you’re emphasizing main ideas, prompting reflection, or guiding students to next steps, these styles add structure and clarity to course materials.
Video Studio in Announcements
Engagement meets accessibility.
The old Capture tool has been replaced with Video Studio, built directly into Announcements—no extra license required. Now you can record or upload video/audio messages complete with automatic captions and transcripts. This feature makes instructor presence more personal while ensuring accessibility from day one.
Learning Module Navigation Improvements
Students can finally see the big picture.
Learning Modules now feature a collapsible table of contents panel that shows all items at a glance. Students can track where they are, where they’ve been, and what’s ahead—while still respecting forced sequencing if enabled. Assessments also open in full-panel view, creating a focused, distraction-free environment.
Accessibility Enhancements in Gradebook
The student gradebook and overview page have been rebuilt with semantic HTML tables.
For students using screen readers, this means logical navigation, clearer structure, and improved keyboard accessibility. It’s a behind-the-scenes update that makes a big difference in ensuring every learner can engage fully with their progress.
Smarter Course Management Tools
Several technical updates make courses more consistent and flexible:
SafeAssign DirectSubmit controls: Administrators can manage faculty access, with added options like deleting submissions and improved mobile usability.
Copying LTI tools: Instructors can now copy individual LTI tools without doing a full course copy (though functionality may vary by provider).
Group conversions: Activity-level groups now automatically become course-level groups during course conversion or copy, preserving associations.
Consistent LTI display: Embedded LTI tools now default to 100% width for a cleaner, more responsive look.
SafeAssign DirectSubmit controls: Administrators can manage faculty access, with added options like deleting submissions and improved mobile usability.
In Summary:
This release is all about engagement and accessibility. From visually rich Documents to streamlined navigation, and from video announcements to improved screen reader support, these updates are designed to create a more engaging and inclusive teaching and learning experience.
Have questions? Want to see these features in action? Reach out to us at TILT@fhsu.edu — we’re here to help you make the most of Blackboard Ultra.
Until next month,
Keep innovating. Keep teaching. Keep connecting.
— The TILT Team
Note: information from this blog post and podcast has come from Anthology’s August release, available here.
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