The move to Blackboard Ultra is less than 90 days away and the eLearning Technologies team has added an additional member to help support our faculty and staff with this transition. In this issue, we would like to introduce you to Landon Napeliski, highlight sample Ultra course tours from early adopters, and remind you of the various training opportunities and team members available to help you.
In this edition of the newsletter:
| |
|
Welcome Landon,
Instructional Technology Project Specialist!
For the last two years, Landon has worked as a graduate assistant in our eLearning Technologies department as well as in other capacities in IT services. Landon Nalepinski graduated with a Master of Arts in Social Innovation from GVSU in December 2022, and we are excited to have Landon join our eLearning Technologies team to help support faculty and staff with Bb Ultra. Landon’s role is integral to our Blackboard Ultra migration efforts as he/they will be working closely with our team members providing faculty consultations, collaborating on Blackboard Ultra training, and developing resources to support Blackboard Ultra. Landon is located on the Allendale campus in KHS 4459.
| |
Four Key Reminders about Blackboard Ultra - All Spring/Summer 2023 courses will be created in Blackboard Ultra. If you are listed as the instructor of record in Banner, your Spring/Summer courses will be available starting March 13, 2023.
- Fall courses will also be created in Blackboard Ultra. If you are listed as the instructor of record in Banner, your Fall courses will be available starting July 10, 2023.
- Faculty can use the service portal to request Ultra templates for early course development. Feel free to request as many Ultra courses as you need; content can be copied from your template course into your real courses.
- Faculty will continue to have access to their previous Blackboard Classic courses to copy content and use as a guide. Faculty will always have one academic year + one semester available in Blackboard, and can request that older courses be restored. Course archives are kept for three years offline. We recommend course content be built in template sites which will remain in Blackboard.
| |
Ultra Course Tours and Show-and-Tell
Back by popular demand, we are hosting Bb Ultra Show-and-Tell webinars for faculty who are interested in seeing how our early adopters have organized their Blackboard Ultra courses.
| |
Upcoming Blackboard Ultra Training
Our eLearning Technologies Blackboard Ultra training comes in various formats to meet everyone's scheduling needs. Essentials are 60-minute overviews of the most commonly used tools and functionality in Blackboard Ultra. Lunch-and-Learns are quick 20-minute sessions offered around the noon hour with the remaining time available for Q&A’s. For those with larger blocks of free time, course Build-a-thons provide a deeper 2–3 hour dive into getting your course converted and ready for Blackboard Ultra.
Here’s a snapshot of all our upcoming professional development for the next two weeks, including the links for easy registration access.
| |
Save the Date: May 5 FREE Michigan Blackboard User's Group Conference
Grand Valley State University is pleased to be hosting the Spring 2023 conference for the Michigan Blackboard Users Group (miBUG). This year’s conference will focus on Blackboard Ultra, lessons learned, and best practices. Conference registration is FREE.
| |
When: Friday May 5, 2023 from 8am – 3pm
Where: DeVos Center, Loosemore Auditorium, Exhibit hall and adjoining classrooms
| |
Blackboard Ultra early adopters: please consider sharing your talents and insights with the group and presenting at this year's conference! The deadline for proposals is March 17, 2023.
Find more information, the registration link, and a link to submit a proposal on our miBUG website.
| |
Sincerely,
Kim Kenward
Director of eLearning Technologies
GVSU Information Technology
| |
|
| podcast by Jamison Wieser from Noun Project / Question by Adrien Coquet from Noun Project / feedback by Vectorstall from Noun Project / moving by Adrien Coquet from Noun Project / door open by shashank singh from Noun Project / wellness by Adrien Coquet from Noun Project / reminder by conchan from Noun Project / explain by Iconographer from Noun Project
| |
|
|
