Meet the Ultra ChampionsIn each newsletter, we will be featuring a few faculty who are already teaching in Blackboard Ultra Course View. We're continuing to collect video testimonials and have updated the LMS Migration website to include videos highlighting these instructors. In this month’s newsletter, we are featuring Fabio Espitia from Modern Languages and Rosemary Cleveland from Education. You can find additional faculty on our Blackboard Ultra Champions website.
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Two Blackboard Ultra Myths
Myth #1: The Transition to Ultra is Done
We still have a few folks who are under the impression that we are all done with our Blackboard migration. In May 2022, we completed our data migration to a cloud-hosted environment and also turned on Ultra Base Navigation. We are now entering the most important phase which is getting faculty trained on how to use Ultra courses.
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Key Things to Keep in Mind with Myth #1
Winter 2023 is our last semester using Blackboard Classic. Faculty will continue to have access to their Blackboard Classic courses to copy content and use as a guide, but all courses after Spring 2023 will be created in Ultra Course View. Rest assured that faculty will always have 1 academic year + one semester in Blackboard to use as a reference, as well as access to three years of archives for restoration purposes.
Although eLearning will not be converting courses for faculty, we are encouraging faculty to request Ultra template sites for early course development and consider participating in Ultra training. Remember, Ultra training comes in a variety of formats and time commitments. Don’t forget your have an Ultra Practice Test Course found under your sandbox term to begin using for training or course development.
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Myth #2: You Can’t Copy Classic Bb into Ultra
YES, you absolutely can copy content, but we have some suggestions to help make the transition easier. First, consider consulting with your eLearning liaisons because they can review your course structure and provide guidance on the various ways to copy or export/import course content.
Key Things to Keep in Mind with Myth #2
In Classic Blackboard, you could create an unlimited number of nested folders. Ultra only allows two levels of nested folders, so three content levels in total. You may need to rethink your structure a bit depending on how deeply nested your folders are. If you need to restructure your course, the best route is to do this in your classic Blackboard site or a template site before you begin copying content. We offer a variety of trainings specific to organizing and creating Ultra content. You can also watch this video on how to export/import and course copy between Classic and Ultra.
Even if you are not scheduled to teach during the Spring/Summer, we would love to help you begin developing your courses in Ultra. First. Request an Ultra Template course through our service portal. Template sites never go away and they are considered permanent course shells that can also be shared with other instructors. Faculty can also request as many Ultra template sites as needed.
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Ultra Training Comes in a Variety of Options
eLearning Technologies is providing a variety of training opportunities with varying time commitments for faculty to learn the new Ultra Course View.
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Option 1: Ultra Self-Paced Training (learn at your own pace)
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Every instructor has been enrolled in a "Blackboard Learn Ultra Self-Paced Training" site. You can find the course under the Professional Development category when logged into Blackboard.
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The main goal of this training is to show faculty already experienced with Blackboard's Learn Classic how things have changed in the new version of Blackboard. There are no tests or required assignments to be completed and faculty are free to move through this site's content at their own pace. There are five modules and throughout the training, we will ask you to take a moment and try out some of Ultra's features on your own using your Ultra Practice Test Course, which can be found in your sandbox category.
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Option 2: Blackboard Lunch-and-Learns (weekly 20-25 minute series)
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Join us virtually every week during the 12 noon lunch hour for a series focused on getting started with Blackboard Ultra. Topics include Creating and Organizing Content in Ultra; Assessments; Tests; Grading; Communications; and using Discussions. Blackboard Lunch-and-Learn Weekly Webinars will be offered in 50-minute segments with 20-25 minutes allotted for demonstrations and the remaining time available for questions. All sessions will begin at noon. We also have recordings of the series for those that can’t join us virtually.
Tests November 7, 2022 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
Grading November 17, 2022 12:00 PM - 12:50 PM
This workshop series will be repeated again during the Winter 2023 and Spring/Summer semesters You can also review our previous Lunch-And-Learn recordings:
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Option 3: Five Steps for Course Design using Blackboard Ultra (1 hour once a month)
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This is a five-part series scheduled once a month between 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm on the last Tuesday of the month. Note: Step 4 and Step 5 are coming Winter 2023 semester. Register for each part separately.
Note: Even if you have missed earlier steps, you are welcome to join us. All five steps will be repeated again during the Winter 2023 and Spring/Summer semesters.
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Step 3: Activities
Learning activity ideas for student engagement, rubrics, and components available in Ultra will be discussed.
11/29/22 12:00pm – 1:00pm
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Option 4: Blackboard Ultra Course Build-a-thon Sessions (2+ hours)
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This virtual series is a deeper dive training with dedicated time for guided hands-on practice and course building. This series will be repeated again winter semester and can also be requested as a departmental training option.
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Option 5: Individual and Departmental Consultation Requests
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Option 6: FTLC Winter 2023 Working Groups - Centering Teaching Best Practices During the Ultra Transition
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Beginning Winter 2023, all instructors are invited to join a semester-long Working Group, modeled after the Pew FTLC faculty-to-faculty mentoring program. Working groups will be facilitated by an early Ultra adopter faculty member who is also familiar with the ACUE Effective Teaching Practices Framework.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn together, explore best practices from Ultra early adopters, take a fresh look at their course designs, and build Template courses with effective teaching practices in mind. Working Groups will meet either in-person and virtually. More information to be advertised via FTLC and eLearning later this semester.
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Participate in the Online and Hybrid Faculty Learning Community
Whether you’ve been teaching online or hybrid courses for several years, or just getting ready to start your first semester teaching hybrid or online, faculty of all levels of expertise are welcome to join our “Online & Hybrid Faculty Learning Community.”
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Join us each month to:
- Support new and experienced online/hybrid faculty through dialogue and samples
- Explore best practices associated with online/hybrid teaching and learning
- Identify emerging technological needs to support online teaching and learning
- Share collective expertise across disciplines
If you are not currently a FLC member, and you would like to receive email, you can send email requests to Matt Roberts (robmatth@gvsu.edu) to enroll you in our Blackboard organization.
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Next Meeting
Date: Thursday October 27, 2022 from 1:30pm to 2:30pm
Topic: Podcasting in higher education
Join the Zoom session
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Your eLearning liaisons: ready to help!
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Sincerely,
Kim Kenward
Director of eLearning Technologies
GVSU Information Technology
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