July 2026 Updates
These are the latest Blackboard updates SaaS release 4000.19, which will be live on our system from 3rd July 2026.
Instructional Design
Add descriptions to Discussions and Journals
Discussions and Journals now include a dedicated Description field.
When creating or editing a Discussion or Journal, instructors can add an optional description to give students brief context before they engage with the activity. The Description field is separate from the prompt. The prompt longer appears on the Course Content page. Instructors can use the description to set expectations and reserve the prompt for the engagement question or task itself.
Assignments and Tests
Run a Rubric Evaluation Report for graded activities
Instructors can now run a Rubric Evaluation Report directly from the gradebook for any graded activity that has a rubric associated with it. This report aggregates rubric data across all student submissions, giving instructors a clear picture of how students are performing against each rubric criterion.
Communication and Collaboration
Control AI Conversation duration with time limits
Instructors can now manage the duration of AI Conversations by setting a time limit. They can choose between two time-limit options, depending on whether they want to time the whole assessment or only the conversation itself.
Within the conversation constraints, the limits are now split into a message limit and a time limit. The message limit — capping how many times a student can reply — is already available; the time limit is the new addition. Instructors can set either limit, both, or neither for the conversation.
Blackboard Core
Find your favourite courses faster with Course Switcher
Users can now view their favourite courses directly within the Course Switcher.
