{"id":9163,"date":"2026-07-03T11:41:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T11:41:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/?p=9163"},"modified":"2026-07-03T11:41:03","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T11:41:03","slug":"blackboard-upgrade-july-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/2026\/07\/03\/blackboard-upgrade-july-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Blackboard Upgrade \u2013 July 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new features in this month\u2019s Blackboard\u2019s upgrade will be available from Friday 3rd July. This month\u2019s upgrade includes the following new\/improved features to Ultra courses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#2627-nile-courses\">26\/27 NILE courses now available<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#ai-conversations\">Specify time limits for AI conversations<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#descriptions\">Add descriptions to discussions and journals<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#course-switcher\">Find your favourite courses faster with course switcher<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"2627-nile-courses\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">26\/27 NILE courses now available<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NILE courses for the 26\/27 academic year are now available. Full guidance about how to set up your NILE courses for teaching is also available, along with written and video guidance about how to safely copy across your 25\/26 NILE courses to your 26\/27 NILE courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/staff\/nile-guides\/setting-up-your-NILE-course\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learning Technology Team Guide &#8211; Getting your NILE course set up and ready for teaching<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/askus.northampton.ac.uk\/Learntech\/faq\/261960\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learning Technology Team FAQ &#8211; How do I copy content between NILE Ultra courses?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#top\"><sup>Back to top \u2191<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"ai-conversations\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Specify time limits for AI conversations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">July&#8217;s upgrade builds on April&#8217;s upgrade in which conversation constraints were introduced to AI conversations. <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/2026\/04\/02\/blackboard-upgrade-april-2026\/#ai-conversation\">April&#8217;s upgrade introduced the option for staff to specify a maximum number of replies a student can make to an AI conversation<\/a>. July&#8217;s upgrade allows staff to specify a time limit for AI conversations, which can be used together with, or independently of, reply limits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Staff are not required to specify either the maximum number or replies a student can make or the maximum time a conversation may last, but can optionally use one or both of these to constrain the conversation. Where both are used, whichever constraint is reached first will end the conversation. When the conversation ends due to a constraint being reached the AI persona will wrap up the conversation, thanking the student for their participation, summarising the conversation, and directing the student to complete the reflection question. Where a limit to the number of replies is set, a student can still use the &#8216;Save and close&#8217; and function and is not required to complete the conversation in a single sitting. However, while a student can save and close a conversation while the timer is running, this will not pause the timer, which will continue to run regardless. If the timer runs out while the conversation has been saved and closed the AI persona will not wrap up the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The options to specify time and\/or reply limits are available via the &#8216;Conversation constrains&#8217; menu when setting up the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"734\" height=\"663\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/AI-conversation-staff.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9170\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/AI-conversation-staff.png 734w, https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/AI-conversation-staff-300x271.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 734px) 100vw, 734px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>\u2022 AI conversation setup screen with conversation constraints panel open<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When students begin an AI conversation which has had constraints applied, this will be displayed when launching the conversation. If a timer has been set, an additional screen will show following the &#8216;Start conversation&#8217; screen at which students will be prompted to &#8216;Start timer&#8217; (or to cancel if they are not ready to begin). Once the timer has started it will not stop. If the student chooses to save and close the conversation, the timer will still run in the background. Once the conversation has started the remaining time and the remaining number of replies is shown at the bottom of the conversation. Note that the timer applies only to the AI conversation, not to the reflection question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"694\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/ai-conversations-student-694x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9171\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/ai-conversations-student-694x1024.png 694w, https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/ai-conversations-student-203x300.png 203w, https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/ai-conversations-student.png 724w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 694px) 100vw, 694px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>\u2022 Student view of a conversation with constraints applied<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More information about setting up and using AI conversations is available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/help.anthology.com\/blackboard\/instructor\/en\/course-and-content-management\/add-content\/ai-conversation.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Blackboard Help &#8211; AI Conversations<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#top\"><sup>Back to top \u2191<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"descriptions\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Add descriptions to discussions and journals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Staff can now add descriptions to discussions and journals. These descriptions are optional and are separate from the discussion\/journal topic. Currently, the topic for the discussion or journal is shown on the course content page immediately below the discussion or journal title. Following July&#8217;s upgrade the topic will no longer be shown on the course content page, and will only be visible to students once they have entered the discussion or journal. The space below the discussion\/journal title on the course content page will be reserved for the description, and where a description is not used this field will remain blank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An example of how this might be used is as follows. The discussion topic would be used as normal, as the initial stimulus post to which students would post their replies. The description, which students will see on the course content page before entering the discussion, could then be used to add useful information about when to post their replies or to make their journal entries: for example, to remind students to complete their discussion post (or journal entry) before coming to class on such and such a date, as shown in the screenshot below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"685\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/Bb-discussion-1024x685.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9189\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/Bb-discussion-1024x685.png 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/Bb-discussion-300x201.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/Bb-discussion-768x514.png 768w, https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/Bb-discussion.png 1219w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>\u2022 Staff view of the discussion setup screen with a description applied<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The description would then display to students in the NILE course on the course content page as so:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"865\" height=\"186\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/Bb-discussion-student-1-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9194\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/Bb-discussion-student-1-1.png 865w, https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/Bb-discussion-student-1-1-300x65.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/Bb-discussion-student-1-1-768x165.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 865px) 100vw, 865px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>\u2022 Student view of a discussion in the course content area, showing the description below the discussion title<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And the actual topic for discussion would only be seen upon entering the discussion, along with the description:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"811\" height=\"733\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/Bb-discussion-student-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/Bb-discussion-student-2.png 811w, https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/Bb-discussion-student-2-300x271.png 300w, https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/Bb-discussion-student-2-768x694.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 811px) 100vw, 811px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>\u2022 Student view of the discussion board<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More information about setting up and using Blackboard discussions is available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/help.anthology.com\/blackboard\/instructor\/en\/interact-with-students\/discussions.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Blackboard Help &#8211; Discussions<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More information about setting up and using Blackboard journals is available at: <a href=\"https:\/\/help.anthology.com\/blackboard\/instructor\/en\/interact-with-students\/journals.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Blackboard Help &#8211; Journals<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#top\"><sup>Back to top \u2191<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"course-switcher\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Find your favourite courses faster with course switcher<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Building on May&#8217;s upgrade, which introduced a <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/2026\/05\/07\/blackboard-upgrade-may-2026\/#course-switcher\">search option to the course switcher<\/a>, a favourites tab has now been included to the course switcher, allowing staff and students to quickly move between their favourite courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"580\" height=\"592\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/course-switcher.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9201\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/course-switcher.png 580w, https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/course-switcher-294x300.png 294w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>\u2022 Course switcher with favourites tab selected<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#top\"><sup>Back to top \u2191<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learning technology \/ NILE community group<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Staff who are interested in finding out more about learning technologies and NILE are invited to join the Learning Technology \/ NILE Community Group on the University\u2019s Engage platform. The purpose of the community is to share information and good practice concerning the use of learning technologies at UON. When joining the community, if you are prompted to login please use your usual UON staff username and password. By joining the Learning Technology \/ NILE Community you will receive calendar invitations to our regular live community events:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.cloud.microsoft\/main\/org\/northampton.ac.uk\/groups\/eyJfdHlwZSI6Ikdyb3VwIiwiaWQiOiIyMjU1MTMzNDA5MjgifQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Join the Learning Technology \/ NILE Community Group<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As ever, please get in touch with your learning technologist if you would like any more information about the new features available in this month\u2019s upgrade:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/libguides.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/staff\/nile-help\/who-is-my-learning-technologist\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Who is my learning technologist?<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The new features in this month\u2019s Blackboard\u2019s upgrade will be available from Friday 3rd July. This month\u2019s upgrade includes the following new\/improved features to Ultra courses:<\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"#2627-nile-courses\">26\/27 NILE courses now available<\/a> <a href=\"#ai-conversations\">Specify time limits for AI conversations<\/a> <a href=\"#descriptions\">Add descriptions to discussions and journals<\/a> <a href=\"#course-switcher\">Find your favourite courses faster with course [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[12,261,290],"tags":[39,40,305,304,253,212],"class_list":["post-9163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-learntech-news","category-nile-update","category-uon-ultra-project","tag-blackboard","tag-blackboard-learn","tag-blackboard-upgrade","tag-ultra-upgrade","tag-update","tag-updates"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Blackboard Upgrade \u2013 July 2026 - Learning Technology Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/2026\/07\/03\/blackboard-upgrade-july-2026\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Blackboard Upgrade \u2013 July 2026 - Learning Technology Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The new features in this month\u2019s Blackboard\u2019s upgrade will be available from Friday 3rd July. This month\u2019s upgrade includes the following new\/improved features to Ultra courses: 26\/27 NILE courses now available Specify time limits for AI conversations Add descriptions to discussions and journals Find your favourite courses faster with course [...]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/2026\/07\/03\/blackboard-upgrade-july-2026\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Learning Technology Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-03T11:41:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-03T11:41:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/07\/AI-conversation-staff.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"734\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"663\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Robert Farmer\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Robert Farmer\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/2026\/07\/03\/blackboard-upgrade-july-2026\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/blogs.northampton.ac.uk\/learntech\/2026\/07\/03\/blackboard-upgrade-july-2026\/\",\"name\":\"Blackboard Upgrade \u2013 July 2026 - 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