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⚠️ Known Issue: VoiceThread Links Break After Course Copy in Blackboard
Updated: January 2026
Applies To: Blackboard Original (Learn), VoiceThread LTI 1.3 integration
Reported By: Multiple instructors at CCRI and other institutions (Voicethread has also published the know issue as well)
🧩 Overview
CCRI faculty using VoiceThread in Blackboard may encounter broken or missing VoiceThread links after performing a course copy — even if the course content looks intact.
This is a known limitation with the way VoiceThread’s LTI 1.3 integration works. VoiceThread itself performs a one-time internal copy process the first time any VT link is accessed in a new course shell. After that, no new VoiceThreads added in the original course will carry forward, and links may become orphaned or disconnected.
This issue affects all VoiceThread items inserted into Blackboard using the LTI deep‑link tool (“Build Content → VoiceThread”), including:
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VoiceThread assignments (Watch, Comment, Create)
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Non‑graded VoiceThread links
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Course View or group dashboards inserted via LTI
Any VT content inserted this way participates in VoiceThread’s one‑time copy behavior: the automatic copy logic runs only once — the first time the link is accessed in the new course — and additional VT content added to the source course afterward will not carry forward.
📌 What Exactly Happens?
“VoiceThread only performs its internal course copy process the first time a VT link is clicked in a new course shell. It grabs all the VT content that was in place at that time — and that’s it.”
— VoiceThread documentation
This means:
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If you add new VoiceThreads to your source course after it’s already been copied, those additions will not appear in the copied course.
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If you copy from a course that was already copied from another, the issue gets worse.
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Reused VT links may show up in your VT library without the correct course context.
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Students may not be able to submit, grades may not sync, or analytics may be missing.
🛠️ What Can You Do to Avoid This?
To avoid VoiceThread course copy problems:
✅ Recommended Workflow for Faculty:
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Copy your course as usual (do not use “select items” — do a full copy).
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Delete all VoiceThread links in the copied course.
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Rebuild VoiceThread links from scratch in the new course shell using:
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Use clear titles with semester codes (e.g., Module 3 Discussion – SP26) to keep your VoiceThread library organized.
👩🏫 Instructor Tip:
Don’t rely on copying VT assignments or links from past courses. Instead, use a sandbox “master” course to house reusable VT content that can be re-linked into each new term.
🔒 Can I Use Embed Codes Instead?
Yes — but with limitations:
🔄 What If CCRI Cancels Its VT License? If CCRI discontinues VoiceThread:
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Any LTI-based assignments or links will no longer function.
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You will not be able to grade or track student use inside Blackboard.
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Existing embed codes (non-LTI) may still play the VT, depending on permissions, but student interactions and analytics will not be available.
We recommend downloading critical VT content or exporting video versions of key recordings for future reuse, if relevant.
🤝 Support & Resources
📘 VoiceThread Documentation / Help
🔗 VoiceThread Course Copying (LTI 1.3) – explains how the automatic copy logic works, and that it runs only once per course copy:
https://voicethread.com/howto/course-copying/ voicethread.com
🔗 VoiceThread in Blackboard – steps for using VoiceThread inside Blackboard, including how LTI integration works:
https://voicethread.com/howto/blackboard/ voicethread.com
🔗 VT Instructor Help (general topics including Course Copying) – VoiceThread’s index of instructor support articles, which includes items on adding VT activities, assignments, reconciling, and course copying:
https://voicethread.com/howto-categories/instructors/