Dec 13 Instructional Technology News

Hello from your colleagues in CIT! We’re wrapping up Fall 2022 with final grades due tonight by 11:59 PM. Below, you’ll find resources to help you close this term and prepare for the next.  

Resources for Final Grading:  

  • Grade Reporting at UA to import grades into myBama, locate last activity dates, and review Registrar information. Final grades are due Tuesday, Dec 13, by 11:59 PM. 

Explore Blackboard Ultra  

Curious about Blackboard Ultra Course View? Learn about UA’s Ultra pilot and request a practice course: Ultra Course Pilot Information. 

Supe Store Access Granted changes + new social annotation tools 

UA’s Access Granted program is changing its primary vendor from RedShelf to VitalSource. To facilitate this change, the Supe Store will help with necessary changes to the Access Granted course materials links in Blackboard Learn courses. In some cases, links to VitalSource in Blackboard Learn courses may now be labeled Access Granted. (learn more about the change).  

This change enables the creation of Hypothesis assignments in Blackboard using documents from VitalSource’s extensive collection of texts and ebooks. In CIT’s Knowledge Base article, Hypothesis & Access Granted e-books, you can learn to:   

  • Access VitalSource 
  • Find the VitalSource bookshelf URL of the text you will be assigning 
  • Create Hypothesis assignments in your Blackboard course 

Cleaning Out Older Blackboard Courses 

Retention Policy Reminder: 

Academic courses in Blackboard Learn are subject to removal two (2) years following the end of the semester in which they are taught in accordance with UA’s LMS Course Retention Policy. Courses taught prior to Fall 2020 are now eligible for removal. Instructors should save any needed course content or student grades. Students should save any necessary coursework as well. Non-academic courses, referred to as non-integrated courses, are subject to removal following two (2) years of inactivity. Steps to save content are linked below. 

More information on the policy and instructions for backing up Blackboard content are available in the LMS Course Retention Policy FAQ. 

Faculty Prep Days 

Need assistance setting up your course(s) for Spring semester? Need a cup of coffee to kick start 2023? We can help. Drop by the CIT for instructional technology guidance on Friday, Jan. 6 or Monday, Jan. 9. Our doors will be open, and refreshments will be served.  

Aside from the CIT staff, additional representatives from OIT Security, Research, and AVS (classroom support and more) will be on hand to answer your questions. Space will be available to help you focus and prepare your course for the semester. 

Friday, Jan 6, 9-11AM and 2-4PM 

Monday, Jan 9, 9-11AM and 2-4PM 

Gordon Palmer Hall, Room A232 

As always, we are available Monday-Friday, 8:00-4:45 to assist you.  

Email – cit@ua.edu 

Phone – 205-348-3532 

Website and Knowledge Base – http://cit.ua.edu