Partial points coming to test questions to Ultra in October

Bulk download of student submissions also available

Calculating the grade on an Ultra tests becomes more flexible in the October update when the partial points feature is introduced. When creating a question in an assessment, instructors can enter values with up to two numbers after the decimal in the Points field.

In the October update to Ultra, a quiz question can be worth 2.5 points or 0.5 points. If an assessment does not have individual questions, the overall point value can include up to two points after the decimal -- for example, an assignment can be worth 75.5 points.

Example of partial point question on Ultra test

When assignments require students to submit files, it's time-consuming for instructors to download each individual submission to grade it, especially in large courses. After the October update, instructors can download files from the Ultra gradebook or from the submissions list page with the Download all option. Instructors can then choose whether to download all or select specific submissions. Instructors receive an email and a course message when the ZIP file is ready to download to their computers.

Collaborate receives an updated this month as well, increasing the emoji options for non-verbal engagement and supporting video share through a Chrome browser tab. Additional Ultra updates this month include regrading question pools and the ability to remove attendance columns in the gradebook from a copied course.

The next Blackboard Learn update will be posted to our test site around October 15th and pushed to production around November 7th. Faculty who are interested in test driving new features before they are released to production should open an RT ticket to request early access.

As always, if you have any questions, please consider the following options: