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Grand Valley State University

Welcome Back, and Happy New Year!

The eLearning Technologies team wants to set you up for a successful start as we enter the new semester. In this newsletter edition, discover essential insights into launching a successful Blackboard Learn Ultra experience, review the process of requesting students to serve as teaching assistants, and receive timely reminders about upcoming professional development opportunities.
In this email newsletter:

Frequent Start-up Requests

To assist you in getting your semester started on the right foot, the eLearning team has compiled a list of some of the most frequent requests you can submit via our Service Portal (services.gvsu.edu).
Course Restore Request
  • Use this to restore a course from Blackboard archives that is no longer available online in Blackboard
Merge Course Request
  • Use this request to combine two or more sites into one parent site
Request a consultation appointment
  • Use this request to schedule an appointment with eLearning Technologies team member
Note: Blackboard Administrators can no longer copy content for instructors. Faculty must copy their own course content. See the resources linked below. Faculty who need course copying guidance are encouraged to contact their eLearning Liaisons for assistance.
Self Service: Copying Content Between Ultra Courses
  • This article will teach you how to copy all content materials between two Blackboard Ultra courses.
Self Service: Copying Content From Blackboard Classic to Ultra
  • This article will walk you through how to copy individual content items from Blackboard Classic to Blackboard Ultra.

4 Tips for Starting the Semester Strong
Tip 1: Review the New Semester Checklist
Explore our checklist to familiarize yourself with essential new semester functions on Blackboard. If you're new to GVSU and using Blackboard Ultra, you will find a comprehensive list of resources in this article.
Bonus tip: Don't forget to use the batch edit function to quickly delete items, update due dates, and make content visible or hidden from students.
Tip 2: Optimize Your Course Layout with the Default Design and Visual Elements
Create a user-friendly course structure by organizing content into sections using learning modules based on weeks or topics. Review this article to understand better the difference between a folder and a learning module.
Bonus tip: Add a course banner image and learning module thumbnail images for a visually engaging experience. Check out this article for tips on inserting images in learning modules and this article for adding a course banner image.
Tip 3: Personalize Learning by Reviewing Student Photos in the Banner Photo Roster
Get to know your students better by reviewing their ID photos through the "Class List" tool found in our GVSU Faculty/Staff Additional Banner Applications (VPN connection required for off-campus access).
Bonus tip: Faculty can also become familiar with student faces by encouraging students to update their Blackboard profiles. Profile images appear in the Blackboard course roster, journals, and the discussions tool. Instructors should also update their Blackboard profile.
Tip 4: Ensure Accessibility – Make Your Course Available
Don't overlook the importance of making your Blackboard course available to students. In Fall 2023, 87% of instructors made their courses available, providing students with immediate access to crucial course information, assignments, and grades. Ensure a seamless start to the semester by also using due dates to help keep students on track with their learning.
Bonus tip: If you would like to create an email link in your Blackboard course to bypass messages, the following instructions provide a workaround so students can email you from within your Blackboard course.

3 Steps for Adding Student Teaching Assistants to Courses

Faculty who need students added to their Blackboard courses with elevated privileges (such as teaching assistants) must follow three steps to ensure appropriate Blackboard access.
  • Step 1. The faculty member must complete the Student FERPA Training Request from the Registrar's Office. Please do not submit a request through the IT Service Portal. This request must originate from the Registrar's Office using the above-linked form.
  • Step 2. Once approved, the Registrar's office will inform the student that they have been added to a Blackboard organization that will allow them to watch a training video. After answering all FERPA Quiz questions correctly, a Confidentiality Agreement will become available to be signed and submitted. Please note that even if your student was a TA the previous semester, the instructor must fill out the Student FERPA Training Request from the Registrar's office again, and the student must repeat the FERPA training and sign the confidentiality form again.
  • Step 3. Once the training has been completed and the confidentiality agreement has been signed, the Registrar's office will notify the Blackboard administrators to add your student to the requested courses.
Should faculty have any questions about the process and whether their student has finished the training and signed the confidentiality agreement, they are encouraged to contact the Office of the Registrar at regdept@gvsu.edu or call (616) 331-3327.

Encourage Students to Review the Blackboard Orientation

All students and faculty are automatically enrolled in a dedicated Blackboard "orientation" site designed to assist students in preparing for and assessing their readiness for online learning.
This orientation provides valuable advice and essential skills for online learning success and also acquaints students with various features of Blackboard Ultra, which will be utilized in their courses. The orientation is expected to take approximately 20-25 minutes, and upon completion, a certificate will be generated that can be shared with faculty.

Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

The eLearning team offers a variety of webinars covering a wide array of teaching and technology topics. Sessions are facilitated in a live webinar format using Zoom to make them highly convenient. Review our Webinar page for a complete list of offerings and upcoming opportunities linked below for easy registration. Departments can also request webinar topics be customized and scheduled for convenience.
Engaging a Digital Generation
January 9, 2024 • 11:00am – 12:00pm
In this webinar, we will explore the changing demographics, define what it means for students to be engaged in an increasingly digital world, and share examples and strategies for instructors to apply in their classrooms to keep students engaged.
Ultra Base Navigation: An Overview
January 9, 2024 • 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Join us to learn about Ultra Base Navigation, its components, and how to adjust settings and notifications.
Introduction to Flip (Formerly Flipgrid) for Video-Based Discussions
January 10, 2024 • 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Flip is a free tool where instructors can pose "topics," and their students can post video responses. Workshop participants will see Flip from the student perspective, review sample Flips created by instructors to support online and in-seat courses, brainstorm additional ideas for using Flip, and then create their own Flip account.
Zoom 101
January 10, 2024 • 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Learn the basics of integrating Zoom within your Blackboard course for hosting synchronous meetings and virtual office hours.
Hypothesis: Collaborative Annotation Tool for Blackboard Learn Ultra
January 11, 2024 • 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Learn how collaborative annotation with Hypothesis can be used to make student reading visible, active, and social in your Blackboard Ultra course.
Accessibility and Ally: Creating Course Materials that Work for All
January 12, 2024 • 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Blackboard Ally is a powerful tool that allows students to view course content in various formats. In this webinar, participants will learn how to create accessible Word and PowerPoint content, interpret Ally's accessibility score, and use accessibility features in Blackboard Ultra, including how to set accommodations and exceptions.
Time Management Strategies for Online and Hybrid Instructors
January 16, 2024 • 2:00pm – 3:00pm
This webinar offers strategies for managing your time when teaching online and hybrid courses.
Blackboard Ultra: Gradebook
January 16, 2024 • 3:00pm – 4:00pm
Learn how to navigate and organize your gradebook. This webinar will also review gradebook settings, grading tips, and more.
Creating Instructor Presence with Panopto
January 17, 2024 • 10:00am – 11:00am
Learn more functions in Panopto, such as video creation, captions, quizzing, and student video assignments!
Using Panopto in Blackboard Ultra
January 17, 2024 • 12:00pm – 1:00pm
We will cover how to embed your Panopto videos, video quizzes, and set up video assignments into Blackboard Ultra!
Blackboard Ultra: Assessments
January 17, 2024 • 3:00pm – 4:00pm
This webinar will cover creating an assignment, creating a test, and using question banks.
Ultra Google Workshop
January 18, 2024 • 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Google Workspace gives instructors a collaborative and creative tool kit that can be easily integrated into any Blackboard course.
Blackboard Ultra: Communications
January 18, 2024 • 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Learn how to communicate with students in Blackboard Ultra using messages, discussions, announcements, and conversations.
Embracing AI as an Accessibility Tool
January 19, 2024 • 11:00am – 12:00pm
As colleges and universities figure out how to adapt to the usage of AI as a teaching and learning tool, it's important to remember that AI is a valuable tool for students with disabilities. This webinar will explore how AI is effective as an accessibility tool.

Schedule Time with Your eLearning Technologies Team Members

Feel free to connect with our eLearning Technologies team throughout the semester to schedule a consultation. Our team comprises instructional designers, instructional technology project specialists, digital media developers, system analysts, and dedicated graduate assistants focused on digital learning. Locate your assigned eLearning Technologies team members on our eLearning Technologies Support by Colleges website. Reach out through email or phone, or conveniently submit a consultation request via our Service Portal.
May your winter semester start well, and let us know how we can assist you!
Sincerely,
Kim Kenward, Director of eLearning Technologies
kenwardk@gvsu.edu
GVSU Information Technology
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