May 2025 – 3900.116 Release

• Qualitative rubrics with no-points options
• Gradebook accessibility enhancements
• Enhancements to discussions
• “View submission one time” test results setting
• Text-based columns in Gradebook
• Update on Anonymous Discussions: New privilege to reveal author
• Known Issues

Qualitative rubrics with no-points options

Instructors can now create and use no-points rubrics for qualitative evaluation. This rubric type allows instructors to assess student work based on criteria and feedback, rather than numerical values.

Instructors can select No Points as a rubric type when creating or generating a rubric. This option is available alongside existing percentage and points-based rubrics. Instructors can also edit rubrics to switch between different rubric types, including percentage, points range, and no points.

Image 1: No Points option is available in the Rubric Type dropdown.

Gradebook accessibility enhancements

The Gradable Items tab in the Gradebook now features a redesigned interface to improve accessibility and navigation for keyboard-only and screen reader users. This enhancement supports an accessible experience for instructors grading student work, as it is hoped that it will contribute to reducing the time and effort required to manage student grades.

With this update, the Gradable Items tab uses a table-based layout to enhance usability:

• Screen reader users can now hear both header and row announcements, allowing for smoother navigation through student submissions.
• Keyboard users can now move efficiently across rows or down columns using arrow keys.

Enhancements to Discussions

There are several enhancements coming to discussions, in an effort to improve the user experience and make discussions more engaging and efficient.

• Updated wording: Formerly, discussion contributions were “responses” and “replies.” Now they will be “posts” and “replies.”
• Improved input field text: Previously, the text within the input field was “Type a response.” The text within the input field is now “Post a response to the discussion.”
• Avatar update: The user’s avatar that was previously beside the input field has been removed, as this increases the area for adding content to the discussion.

Image 1. The button to post a reply was labelled Respond and the user’s avatar was included beside the input field. The text inside the input field instructed the user to type a response.

Image 2. The Respond button is now labelled Post. There’s no avatar included beside the input field and the text within the field instructs users to post a response.

• Streamlined response entry: The text field for entering a response is now directly below the discussion topic for a more intuitive experience.
• Instructor indicator: When an instructor posts in a discussion thread, an indicator beside their name now identifies them as an instructor.

Image 3. The instructor indicator appears beside the instructor’s name.

• Aligned draft indicator: The Draft indicator is now aligned with the user’s name, enhancing clarity.
• Enhanced search field: The search field for participant names now includes a magnifying glass icon for better visibility.

Image 4. The magnifying glass icon appears before users select the Participant name field.

• Simplified group discussions: The large banner beneath group discussion posts has been removed. Users can now directly select their group without distraction.

Image 5. The menu for selecting a group is directly after the discussion post.

“View submission one time” Test results setting

A new test result setting option has been added, View submission one time. When a student completes the test, they can review their answers and detailed feedback, such as which questions were answered correctly. The View submission one time option lets instructors provide students with immediate feedback, while maintaining test security.

For instructors to access this setting option, select Available after submission in the Assessment results section of the Assessment Settings, then select View submission one time from the Customise when the submission content is visible to students dropdown. This dropdown is available only if Allow students to view their submission is selected.

Text-based columns in Gradebook

Instructors can now create custom text-based columns in the Gradebook, giving them the ability to record information for an assessment, such as performance code, group membership, and tutoring information.

Text-based columns in the Gradable Items view are accessible through a properly marked-up table layout. Screen reader users can navigate and hear headers and rows accurately. Sorting and assistive technology features ensure an inclusive experience for all users.

Instructors can now create text-based columns in the Gradebook. These columns allow instructors to record up to 32 characters. The column is not restricted to text input.

Instructors can:

• Create text-based columns via the Addworkflow in both the grid view and Gradable Items page;
• Name the column, control student visibility, and add a description;
• Add and edit text information for a specific student using an inline eidt workflow.

Text-based columns exclude the following:

• Points values (automatically set to 0 points)
• Due dates
• Categories
• Gradebook calculations and related calculation UIs

Content in text-based columns auto-posts and supports sorting functionality within the Gradebook grid view. Instructors can also download and upload text-based columns using the Gradebook’s upload/download function.

Image 1: Instructors can select Add Text Item to create a text-based column.

Image 2: Instructors can enter column name, set visibility for students, and enter a description for the text-based column.

Students can access text-based columns and associated information in their Gradebook when the column is set to Visible to students.

Update on Anonymous Discussions: New privilege to reveal author

In the March release a feature was added to allow certain users to temporarily reveal the author of anonymous posts within discussions. This ability is tied to a system privilege which we are now making available to all SLS (School Learn Support) level users. SLS users tend to be local IT support or Learning Technologists who have been given additional training.

For users with this privilege, you can select the More options menu for a post, then select Reveal author. You will be prompted to provide a reason for the anonymous reveal. The authors identity will then be temporarily revealed to you, no other users will see this change.

Due to the sensitive nature of this action, the administrator’s user details are recorded in the system log with the reason. The information in the system log includes: 

• Date of reveal

• Time of reveal

• Username of user requesting

• Course Name of revealed post/posts

• Discussion Name of revealed post/posts

• Reason given 

If the user refreshes the page, the user is once again anonymous.

Image 1. From the administrator’s view, the user’s name is included with text that reads “Revealed.”

 

Known Issues

• Feedback Recordings Made on Mobile Devices Do Not Play- Article #77772

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