The academic year is well underway and we're now tiptoeing into Autumn. In this newsletter we want to begin highlighting a few of our early Blackboard Ultra adopters, review Messaging in Blackboard, encourage users to install the new Blackboard Mobile app, as well as introduce a variety of opportunities to learn the differences between Blackboard Classic and Blackboard Ultra and participate in our upcoming Online and Hybrid Faculty Learning Community meetings.
In this edition of the newsletter:
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Meet the Ultra ChampionsThis fall, we have over 150 faculty who are already teaching in Blackboard Ultra Course View. We're in process of collecting video testimonials and have updated the LMS Migration website to include videos highlighting these instructors. In this month’s newsletter, we're featuring Christina Quick from Nursing and Susan Edwards from Finance. You can find additional faculty on our Blackboard Ultra Champions website.
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Blackboard Messaging Updates
On October 4, we sent a university-wide email announcement explaining that Blackboard Messages has been enabled. Please note that not all courses or organizations have this capability turned on due to large enrollments and FERPA considerations. When everyone moves to Ultra Course View in Spring/Summer of 2023, Messages will be an important communication tool. You are encouraged to learn more about Blackboard Messaging for both Classic and Ultra courses in this Blackboard Notification Settings article.
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Template Sites: an Inclusive Change
In order to be more inclusive with our Blackboard naming conventions, we have changed the term we use to refer to Blackboard sites that can be used for longer than a single semester. Instead of referring to these as “master courses” they are now called "template courses." Courses which include multiple instructors have ‘shared template’ in the course ID and course name.
Should you wish to request a template course to begin preparing for Ultra Course View, you can use this request form to request as many as needed. The form will also ask you to identify other faculty that might need shared access to your template.
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Blackboard Mobile: New and Improved!
On August 8, 2022 Blackboard released a new and improved mobile app. The new app combines what were formerly student and instructor applications into one version. We would like to give a friendly reminder to any instructors, assistants, or graders who previously installed the Blackboard Instructor App to remove the old app and update your mobile app. Please encourage your students to also update their Blackboard mobile app to take advantage of better functionality and responsiveness.
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5 Different Ways to Train for the Move to Ultra Course View
The final stage of the LMS migration is moving all courses in Blackboard to the new Ultra Course View. Starting with Spring/Summer 2023, all courses will use this new, much updated interface for courses. 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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Ultra Self-Paced Training (learn at your own pace)
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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Blackboard Lunch-and-Learns (weekly 20-25 minute series)
Join us virtually every week during the 12 noon lunch hour for a series focused n 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. You can find recordings on our eLearning webinars page.
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Five Steps for Course Design using Blackboard Ultra (1 hour once a month)
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.
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Step 2: Assessments
Assessment ideas for student engagement and components available in Ultra will be discussed.
10/25/22 12:00pm – 1:00pm
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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Blackboard Ultra Course Build-a-thon Sessions (2+ hours)
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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Individual and Departmental Consultation Requests
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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: choosing topics for the rest of the semester
Join the Zoom session
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Digital Media Workshops
We have a variety of professional development webinars scheduled this fall semester. Be sure to check out our eLearning webinars page to review the various options, to get registered in sprout, and receive your zoom meeting link. Don’t forget, we would even be happy to provide customized training for your department, so don’t hesitate to reach out and ask about personalized training opportunities.
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Creating Engaging and Interactive Digital Media
October 12, 2022 1pm – 2pm
There are a variety of tools that can be used to create media content, many of which are free and web-based. During this demonstration workshop, we'll explore a potpourri of such tools, including software for tablet and smartphone video, green screens, and Elmo document cameras.
Creating Instructor Presence: Getting Started with Panopto
October 20, 2022 11am – 12pm
In this webinar, you we will get the opportunity to practice recording video content using Panopto. You will also learn how to use the basic editing abilities available in Panopto including the ability to caption your content ensuring it is accessible to all learners.
Creating Instructor Presence: Advanced Panopto Functionality
October 20, 2022 1pm - 2pm
In this webinar we will deep dive into the more advanced functions available in Panopto. You will learn how to generate and edit captions, add quizzes to your videos, view in-depth stats from your videos, and set up assignment folders for your student’s video submissions.
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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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