Creating feedback for students in Blackboard and Turnitin
There are a range of digital feedback options within Blackboard and Turnitin (integrated within Bb), as outlined below. These can be used in assessment, both summatively (for marking) and formatively (for practice), becoming part of the learning design so that students have the opportunity to act on the feedback to improve their work.
The coursework/assessment can be submitted digitally via Blackboard/Turnitin, or take place offline (offline assignment), for example an in-class presentation. Either way the feedback can be provided to student via Blackboard and Turnitin. Digital feedback within each module can provide secure and accessible feedback for students. Automated and reuseable aspects can be beneficial for staff.
It is important to provide clear guidance to students about how and when they can access their feedback in Blackboard, and to be aware that it is feedback.
It is recommended to test the workflow of how students’ access and receive digital feedback, using the Blackboard Student Preview functionality for each module.
Students can generally access feedback via the Blackboard Gradebook. Please ensure that feedback is visible to students within the recommended timeframe - that Gradebook tools are visible and feedback posted/released.
There are indicators within the system to show staff if students have viewed feedback - via Turnitin Assignment Inbox ‘Viewed’ column; and Bb Gradebook Students tab, which shows if individual student has reviewed feedback.
Note, there are regular system updates so tools and functionality can change over time. Please contact CDLE for the most up-to-date information on any aspect of digital feedback.
Types of feedback in Blackboard / Turnitin
Written feedback
Typed, or copied and pasted, text comments, available via Blackboard gradable items (Bb Assignment, Bb Tests, Bb Discussions, Bb Journal), Turnitin, and offline assessment (Blackboard and Turnitin). Features can include:
Individual and group options (Bb Groups)
Rubric criterion feedback (Blackboard Rubric)
Reusable comments (Turnitin QuickMarks, Bb Annotate Content Library)
Attach feedback (Bb gradable items)
Automated comments (correct/incorrect with Blackboard Tests, e.g. test your knowledge quiz)
Automated similarity feedback (Turnitin Similar Report, via Turnitin or Bb Assignment)
AI-assisted writing tools (based on general comments or Rubric feedback in Bb Assignment - review before sharing)
Reusable comments
Comments can be added direction to submitted work and added to a comment library for reuse. Turnitin QuickMarks can be dragged and dropped onto work, categorised via Sets and Managed via QuickMark Manager. A newer and less robust option for Blackboard is the Bb Annotate Content Library. Automated feedback can be reused, such as the correct/incorrect feedback for Bb Test questions.
Rubric feedback
Staff can highlight criteria descriptors for Blackboard gradable items (Bb Assignment, Bb Discussions, Bb Journal), Turnitin assignments, and offline assessments (Blackboard and Turnitin). Bespoke written rubric criterion feedback is available via the Blackboard Rubric. AI-assisted writing tools can summarise rubric feedback in Bb Assignment tool (recommended to review).
Annotated feedback
Digital annotation directly onto student submitted work, using either Bb Annotate (via Bb Assignment) or Turnitin. Annotated options include highlight text, strikethrough text, written text, pop-up comments, draw, shapes and image.
Media feedback
It is possible to record video, audio, and screen (Blackboard Audio/Video Feedback) via gradable items (Bb Assignment, Bb Tests, Bb Discussions, Bb Journal, offline) with auto-captioning. In Turnitin it is possible to record audio feedback (3 minutes maximum). Also possible to provide a web link to feedback (Blackboard and Turnitin).
Self and peer feedback
Students create feedback comments about their work and peer’s work, which helps them better understand the assessment criteria and improve their own work. Guidance can be provided via a rubric and/or model responses. Peer review is possible via the Bb Assignment tool. Self-reflection could be captured via Bb Journal, Discussion, or Assignment etc.
Webinar recording (March 2026)
Exploring feedback opportunities in Blackboard
Further support for staff