Top Features Unveiled at Anthology Together 24

Last week, at Anthology Together 24 (AT24), we uncovered the most exciting solution highlights, showcased cutting-edge technologies, and explored industry trends and groundbreaking features that are set to shape the future. Let’s dive into the top picks and discover what Anthology is delivering to spark new possibilities and redefine the landscape of higher ed.

Blackboard® (LMS)
1	Video Studio* Quick and easy creation of accessible and engaging video content for courses without even leaving the LMS	Upload or record video to use in courses for a more engaging experience Create video and audio content quickly and easily; record screens and deliver the best multimedia experiences in courses Automatic captioning of videos and editing options for more accessible digital content
2	Content Designer Efficient tools to make richer, more engaging, and more accessible content	Expand the creator experience with tools like undo/redo, edit and save states, drag and drop, and advanced layout options that automatically adjust to work across all devices Import existing files such as PDFs, PowerPoint, and Word documents and convert them into a single native content block to streamline curation time busy instructors Quick and simple student knowledge check embedded directly into documents without requiring a more formal test or assessment
3	AI Conversations Tool Discuss, debate, evaluate – facilitated by AI	Create a topic-bound conversation and build a customized AI persona to guide the student through a conversation in which they can share their thoughts Evaluate learners’ critical thinking around a topic to ensure the appropriate level of understanding has been achieved Let students provide a reflection on the activity before submitting it to the instructor, who can review and provide feedback
4	Mastery Learning Easily design and deliver personalized learning paths to deepen student engagement	Define multiple release conditions so students can only progress through the course when they meet performance criteria set by the instructor Visualize any gaps in learning and adjust or review instructions if needed, while students can also understand how they’re doing on their learning outcomes Design and issue course-level badges to students based on achieving these mastery goals
5	AI Design Assistant: Reporting Dashboard Connected data and administrative insight	Dedicated reporting and dashboards within Anthology® Illuminate for institutions to get insights into the usage of the AI Design Assistant tools Access to out-of-the-box reports showing which AI Design Assistant tools are being used the most, how they’re being used across the institution, and who is using this technology as an early adopter
6	AI Alternative Text Assistant Leverage AI capabilities included in Anthology® Ally’s Instructor Feedback to generate automatic alternative texts for images	Generate automatic alternative text for images through the new “Auto-generate description” button that analyzes images and proposes descriptions for them (powered by Microsoft Azure AI Vision Studio) Allow instructors and course designers to have full control to change or approve suggested alternative texts for accuracy Reduce number of images marked as decorative, resulting in truly accessible content
Want to learn more about these features? Check out our blog: Blackboard announces innovation for all users: Reflections from a week of magic in Orlando

* Update 7/30: Video Studio has been delayed until the September Blackboard release to allow for additional testing prior to pushing into staging and production environments.

Anthology® Student (SIS)
7	AI Scheduling Assistant Smarter and easier scheduling made possible with the AI Scheduling Assistant, exclusively available in Anthology Student	Streamline course scheduling with a collection of capabilities to project, coordinate, and schedule course sections with ease Query scheduling and enrollment data using natural language to examine specific programs or areas of interest Subscribe for weekly alerts regarding areas of need in the current schedule
Want to learn more about this feature? Check out our blog: Exciting Student Innovations from AT24

Anthology® Reach (CRM)
8	LMS Trends Report and LMS Data Data-informed personalized experiences to reach students	Absenteeism indicators, course interactions, projected grades, and more insights are seamlessly available within the advisor’s student success workspace in our purpose-built CRM and lifecycle engagement solution Enhance advisors’ ability to effectively intervene and address issues before they escalate by combining the LMS Trends Report with campus surveys, student alerts, outreach emails, and other features in Reach
Want to learn more about this feature? Check out our blog: Anthology’s CRM Magic in Orlando

Institutional Intelligence (Illuminate)
9	Data Q&A in Anthology Illuminate Democratizing analytics for higher education	Analysts spend a significant amount of time slicing and dicing data to meet institutional reporting needs. With analytics being a critical area for both decision-makers and overloaded BI teams, streamlining some of the work for every user regardless of their data skills sounds like a treat By putting Amazon Q Generative BI capabilities on top of the first common data model for higher education with Blackboard (LMS) and Student (SIS) data, Illuminate puts insights in the hands of departmental users and institutional leaders while giving analysts time back to concentrate on other institutional priorities With Data Q&A, exploring institutional data to obtain a full report filled with actionable insights and detailed visualizations is as easy as asking a question in natural language
Want to learn more about this feature? Check out this blog: Anthology uses embedded analytics offered by Amazon QuickSight to democratize decision making for higher education

This is just a preview of all the breakthroughs launched at AT24 that demonstrate Anthology's commitment to providing the highest value to institutions; showcasing our increased pace of innovation; partnership; and focus on effective, efficient, and data-driven solutions for the higher ed community.


Save the Date!
We look forward to hosting you at Anthology Together 25 from June 16-18, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas, to witness firsthand how we are driving simple, intelligent innovation that’s meaningful and exciting for the higher education global community.

Connect with an Anthologist today to learn more about how Anthology’s solutions can help your institution empower educators and institutions with meaningful innovation that is inspires student success and institutional growth.



Rosario Bruzón
Product Marketing Manager
Anthology