Minerva Monthly Update - July
- Tags
- News for Staff
The July update brings updates to the module switcher and the Minerva recording tool in feedback/announcements. There is also a new description field for Discussions and Journal, timer option for AI Conversation and Rubric Evaluation Report for Blackboard assessments.
Module Switcher - favourites
The Module Switcher has been enhanced to make it easier to access the modules you use most frequently. Users can now view modules they have marked as favourites directly within the Module Switcher, reducing the need to return to the Modules page.
This update builds on the recent addition of a search.
Read our guidance on how to mark modules as favourites.
Minerva recording tool
The maximum length for recording in Minerva announcements and as feedback for Blackboard assessments, e.g. Assignment and Test, has now been doubled to 10 minutes.
Read our guidance on the Minerva recording tool for more information. Note, this is a separate tool to Panopto, which facilitates more sophisticated video creation as well as lecture capture. Read our guides on Panopto to find out more.
AI Conversations - new timer option
Instructors can create an AI Conversation in Minerva to engage students in a role-play activity with an AI persona. For example, the activity could be to role-play the first day in a new job, a conversation with a historical figure or a healthcare simulation.
Before this update, it was only possible to set a timer on the entire activity (which includes a reflection question). Now it is possible to set up a timer for the specific conversation with the AI persona. The two timer options are mutually exclusive: staff can use one or the other, but not both at the same time. Setting a time limit in one location automatically blocks it in the other, so two timers can never run simultaneously.
If a student has an accommodation set in Minerva, the system automatically adjusts the timer for that student, ensuring fairness.
Read our guide on AI Conversations to find out more about this tool.
Blackboard assessments - Rubric Evaluation Report
Staff can now run a Rubric Evaluation Report directly from the Gradebook for any Blackboard assessment 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. The report helps staff identify areas where students are excelling or struggling.
To access the Rubric Evaluation Report, open the Gradebook and locate an item associated with a rubric. The report option is available in the contextual column menu in Grid view and the Gradable Items view (via the item's three dot menu).