When to Use?
This article is a resource for faculty attending the Strong Start Teaching Institute, and provides instructors with a consolidated list of resources for getting started with Blackboard Ultra.
Procedure
Our eLearning Technologies team includes Instructional Designers, Instructional Technology Project Specialists, Digital Media Developers, System Analysts, and Graduate Assistants dedicated to eLearning at GVSU. You can find your assigned eLearning Technologies liaison on our eLearning Technologies Support by Colleges website or by using the eLearning Liaison Search Tool.
While you're welcome to reach out via email or phone, you can also use our Service Portal to submit a request for a consultation appointment—which will be automatically sent to your assigned eLearning Technologies team member.
The eLearning team will be available to help with Blackboard Learn Ultra, as well as other eLearning Technologies tools. Our training comes in various formats to meet everyone's scheduling needs, so be sure to bookmark our eLearning Training and Webinar page.
Here’s a snapshot of all of our upcoming professional development opportunities for the next few weeks, including the Sprout links for easy registration access:
Blackboard Ultra Special Topics:-
Communication Tools
Learn how to communicate with students in Blackboard Ultra using notifications, messages, discussions, conversations, and announcements.
Gradebook
Learn how to navigate and use the gradebook. You can access grades from Ultra Base Navigation or from the Gradebook tab in a course.
Using Data in Learn Ultra
Holding every student accountable and identifying individuals who are falling behind is made easier in the Blackboard Learn Ultra experience. This webinar will focus on the data and analytics that are available throughout your Ultra Course and include an overview of Blackboard’s Assessment and Accreditation solution, EAC Visual Data. During the session, we’ll guide instructors through the assignment analytics, student progress analytics, and course data that will allow you to measure and boost your students’ performance.
Ultra Google Workshop
Looking for a way to promote student collaboration on a project? Need a simple way for students to share documents or give presentations? Want to collect information from your students quickly? This workshop will provide faculty with several ideas for integrating Google applications within Blackboard.
Creating Instructor Presence with Video: Panopto Functionality and Overview (Pt. 1)
Creating Instructor Presence with Video: Panopto with Blackboard Ultra (Advanced functions…Pt. 2)
Accessibility and Ally: Creating Course Materials That Work for All
Accessibility helps everyone have an improved learning experience. Learn how to create accessible content for Word and Powerpoint, as well as interpret Ally's feedback, understand the accessibility of content, and become familiar with how to set accommodations in Bb Ultra.
Embracing AI as an Accessibility Tool
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. Dismissing AI as a tool that violates academic integrity renders it a nuisance when, in fact, it makes learning possible for students with disabilities. This webinar will explore how AI is effective as an accessibility tool.
Blackboard Ultra Online/Hybrid Orientation
All students and faculty have been enrolled in the Blackboard Learn Ultra Online/Hybrid Orientation, which provides a basic overview of the functionality of Ultra. The course can be found in Blackboard under the “Professional Development” term. The orientation takes roughly twenty-five minutes, and students can receive a certificate of completion once finished. We encourage faculty to make an online assignment and ask students to submit their certificate.
Blackboard Learn Ultra Self-Paced Training
All faculty have been enrolled in the Blackboard Ultra Self-Paced Training, which highlights differences between Blackboard Classic and Blackboard Ultra. Faculty are free to move through the course content at their own pace; no tests or assignments required to complete. The course can be found in Blackboard under the “Professional Development” term.
Blackboard Ultra Practice Test Course
All faculty have access to their own Blackboard Ultra Practice Test course, where they can explore Ultra and its capabilities without worry about students seeing anything. The course can be found in Blackboard under the “Sandbox” term.