Staff news: This article will contain a summary of useful updates you may see in your Blackboard Ultra courses from Friday 3rd October 2025.
Tag questions with metadata in tests and question banks
You can tag questions with metadata when creating or editing questions in tests, forms, and banks. Metadata is not visible to students during test-taking or review. Metadata is not visible on printed tests.
These tags can be used to filter questions in question banks, when reusing or adding to pools.
Improved student experience with fill in the blank question type
Fill in the blank questions now display the blanks inline with the surrounding text, whether the question is presented as a sentence, paragraph, or table. Blackboard have also added hidden ARIA labels to blanks to improve screen reader accessibility.
The instructor view has not changed. When creating or editing a “fill in the blanks” question, instructors will see the blanks underneath the question text. You Instructors use Student Preview to review how student may see their tests.
Assist page will be removed
The assist page will be removed at the end of September. Students who rely on this page for accessing links to support services should be directed to review the Blackboard Institution page and also support listed in their teaching, programme and faculty hub courses.
Here is a list of the previous assist links below for reference:
- Student Hub: The Student Hub is your first point of contact for questions and concerns. They can direct you to the appropriate team or service to get support.
- The Library: Get support for your academic skills and research on the library website. Access online resources, subject guides, and librarian support.
- Academic Responsibility and Conduct: See this Toolkit to find out more about academic responsibility and conduct, good practice and your responsibility.
- Academic Skills Service: We run an in-person, drop-in service to advise students on all aspects of Academic Skills.
- Assistive Technology (AT) Software: We offer a range of specialist equipment and software to assist you in your studies. Find out what is available and how to access these resources.
- Course Representatives: Academic Reps are students who have put themselves forward to be the voice of students and deliver their feedback to the university.
- Elearn Guides: Our eLearn guides support users on a variety of applications including Blackboard, Turnitin, Panopto and more.
- English Language Support: The University offers a range of options for English language support, including courses that can run alongside your degree.
- Exams and assessment: An overview of some important information to help you prepare for assessment.
- IT Service Portal – IT support and services: Seamless access to IT services and support in one place. Find request forms, IT guides and self-help resources, or request support from our experts.
- Jisc Discovery Tool: Track and build your digital skills capabilities with the Jisc Discovery tool.
- LinkedIn Learning: An online library of high-quality instructional videos about business, creative and technology skills and tools.
- Report and Support: Acts of harassment, discrimination or hate are never ok. You can report something anonymously or report something and get support from an advisor.
- Special Considerations and Deadline Extensions: If you are unable to attend an exam or assessment due to any illness or other exceptional circumstances outside your control.
- Student Hub: Your first point of contact for questions and concerns. The hub can direct you to the appropriate team or service to get support.
- SUSU Help and Support: The Students’ Union strives to ensure that every student receives the help they need when they face a problem.
- The Student Disability and Inclusion Team: Specialist support for students with disability and specific learning differences (SpLDs) such as Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and ADHD.
- Ally File Transformer: Personalise your learning experience by converting files into alternative formats that fit your needs, devices and learning preferences.