Curriculum and Instructional Support Center: Blackboard Updates

Add and manage question titles in tests, forms, and banks

In the keyword search in the Reuse question panel, instructors can now search for questions on the question text or the question title.

Titles appear when:

• Creating or editing questions in tests, forms and banks
• Viewing or selecting questions via the Reuse questions workflow in tests, forms and banks
• Adding questions to pools (Add Question Pool workflow)
• Viewing questions in a pool (View Questions workflow)

Titles do not appear when the instructor views or grades the test and form submissions. Students do not see the question titles when they take a test or review their submission.

Display time limits and extra time consistently across roles

Improved how time limits and extra time are communicated in Assessments. This change ensures that all users understand exactly how much time is available, including any accommodations or overrides.

Now, all users have the time limits and extra time presented in a consistent format:

Example:

“Time limit: 20 minutes + 10 minutes extra time”

This format appears:

• When instructors configure or review assessment settings.
• When students begin or review an assessment.
• In the preview mode for instructors. 

Use see-more functionality in Add Question Pool

In the Add Question Pool screen, the filter panel now includes See more functionality for Sources, Question Types, and Tags when the number of values in that filter section exceeds 10. Selecting See more expands the list, revealing the full list of values.

AVA - Use AI to generate attempt feedback summaries from rubrics

The new AI-powered Summarize option in Flexible Grading lets instructors generate high-quality overall feedback for student submissions evaluated using a rubric. This tool uses generative AI to analyze and suggest overall feedback on the submission based on the rubric criteria, the selected performance levels and their descriptions, and any criterion feedback provided.

Instructors

Instructors can access the Summarize option when providing overall feedback on assignments once the rubric has been completed. For assignments, the summary is based on the rubric criteria, the selected performance levels and their descriptions, and any criterion-level feedback provided. Any existing Overall Feedback in the RTE will also be included in the summary.

Instructors can accept, reject, or regenerate the summary. Accepting the summary then allows the instructor to directly edit and further refine the summary. Rejecting reverts the summary to the original. Regenerating the summary prompts a newly written summary.

AVA - Use AI to revise submission feedback

The new AI-powered Rewrite option in Flexible Grading helps instructors improve the clarity and tone of their feedback. This tool uses generative AI to reword instructor-authored comments—whether they are rough notes, bullet points, or complete sentences—into more polished and student-friendly language. The Rewrite option supports iterative editing and is designed to help instructors deliver clearer, more impactful feedback with less effort.

Instructors

When an instructor is providing overall feedback on submissions in Flexible Grading, the Rewrite option becomes available when the instructor adds at least 30 characters. After entering their own comments, instructors can select Rewrite to generate a suggested version of the feedback. A banner clearly indicates that the suggestion is AI-generated.

Instructors can accept, reject, or regenerate the suggestion. Accepting the suggestion allows instructors to continue editing the revised feedback directly in the rich text editor. Rejecting or canceling the suggestion restores the original input. Instructors can use the Rewrite option multiple times on the same feedback to refine their message further.