Latest posts from the Learning and Teaching Enhancement Unit blog

    What’s New in Blackboard December 2024

    This December Blackboard has made it easier to see new posts in Discussions and late submissions in Blackboard Assignments (not Turnitin). Additionally, we highlight the release of AI Conversations in Blackboard and the Online Mini Conference on 18 December.   Discussion Enhancement: New Post Indicator  Related Blackboard Topic: Discussions   Blackboard have added a “New” indicator that displays […]

    NEW: AI Conversations in Blackboard

    The latest AI Design Assistant feature has been enabled in Blackboard. AI Conversations provides a chat bot for students to interact with as part of a learning activity. There are two AI Conversation options: Once set up, students can engage in these activities to further their knowledge and understanding of the topic. Students type a […]

    Blackboard Original Practice Organisations to be removed

    Blackboard Original Practice Organisations will be removed on Thursday 9 January 2025. These Practice Organisations are in Original, the old version of Blackboard. All staff have an Ultra practice organisations with the naming convention First Name, Last Name Ymarfer Ultra / Ultra Practice Course (Ultra_username) which can be accessed from the Organisation tab on the […]

    Weekly Resource Roundup – 17/11/2024

    As leader of our PGCTHE programme, I keep an eye out for resources to help staff teach effectively. These include webinars, podcasts, online toolkits, publications and more. Topics include active learning, online/blended teaching, accessibility/inclusion, and effective learning design based on cognitive science. Below I’ve listed items that came to my attention in the past week. In the […]

    Online Mini Conference: Exemplary Blackboard Presence

    The Learning and Teaching Enhancement Unit is pleased to announce its final event of the year. On Wednesday 18 December (10:00-14:30), we will be hosting an online Mini Conference looking at Exemplary Blackboard Presence. We’re delighted to be joined by two external presenters. Also joining us to share their winning courses are School of Education’s […]

    Ally AI Alt Text Assistant

    If you are stuck for ideas for the alternative text on your images, the Ally AI Alt Text Assistant can give you suggestions. You should always check the suggestion provided by the AI Assistant as it may not always provide an accurate description of the image. You can edit any the AI generated suggestions. Have […]

    Blackboard Scheduled Maintenance 14.12.2024

    Blackboard will be unavailable between 10:00 and 16:00 on Saturday 14 December 2024 for scheduled maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

    What’s New in Blackboard November 2024 

    The November Blackboard Update includes improvements to printing Tests, Documents and Batch Editing.  Print Tests with questions from Question Pools  Related Blackboard Help topic: Question Pools  Instructors can now print tests that include questions from Question Pools. An answer key will also be printed with the corresponding test. This ensures that Instructors always have an answer key […]

    Exemplary Course Award 2024-25

    We are delighted to announce that the Exemplary Course Award for 2024-25 is now open. The ECA is judged across 4 categories: Applicants are asked to introduce 3 standout practices for their Course to help frame their application before self-assessing their course – this can be a 1,000 word narrative or an 8-minute Panopto recording. […]

    Information Services User Survey 2024 

    The IS User Survey gives you an opportunity to tell us what you think about our services and how we can improve them. It is also a chance to win one of two £50 vouchers for 10 minutes of your time!  ​Have your say today: https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/aber/is24