Greetings from your Center for Instructional Technology! CIT provides training, support, and consultations for UA’s instructional technologies and technology accessibility. Visit cit.ua.edu to find step-by-step guides with pictures, discover upcoming workshops and webinars, or book an appointment. You can also reach us at cit@ua.edu or 205-348-3532 or visit us in A203 Gordon Palmer Hall.
This month’s CIT Instructor News features information and resources to support teaching and learning needs, with a focus on getting started and getting help with UA’s instructional technologies.
You’re Invited: Spring 2025 Faculty Prep Days
Get your Spring courses ready with CIT! We are excited to host Faculty Prep Days on Monday, January 6, and Tuesday, January 7, in Gordon Palmer Hall. This two-day event will feature a series of workshops and one-on-one help sessions designed to prepare you for the upcoming semester. Refreshments will be served.
Register for Spring 2025 Faculty Prep Days
Monday, January 6
8:30 – 9:45: Course Building Workspace and Consultations – A232 Gordon Palmer Hall (GP)
10:00 – 10:45: Not Your Student’s Parents’ Blackboard – A232 GP and virtual
11:00 – 11:45: Blackboard Ultra Deep Dive – A232 GP and virtual
12:00 – 1:00: Lunch on your own
1:00 – 1:45: Blackboard Original Basics – A232 GP
1:00 – 4:00: Course Building Workspace and Consultations – A236 GP
Tuesday, January 7
9:00 – 11:15: Course Building Workspace and Consultations – A232 GP
10:30 – 11:15: Exploring Ally for Blackboard – A232 GP
11:30 – 12:30: Lunch on your own
12:30 – 1:15: Not Your Student’s Parents’ Blackboard – A232 GP
1:30 – 2:15: Blackboard Ultra Deep Dive – A232 GP
3:30 – 4:15: Blackboard Original Basics – Virtual
2:30 – 4:30: Course Building Workspace and Consultations – A236 GP
Instructional Tools beyond Blackboard
CIT provides training and support for several instructional technologies such as Panopto, Turnitin, Simple Syllabus, and more (see Technologies for a full list). While we have not scheduled designated training sessions for these tools, we are more than happy to answer any questions or provide individual guidance upon request. Submit the registration form or contact us to let us know how we can help!
Welcome, Anthology!
Experts from Anthology (Blackboard’s parent company) will join Faculty Prep Days to assist both new and experienced Blackboard Ultra users. They will offer workshops and consultations to help you get started and explore the many features Ultra has to offer.

Anthology Senior Solutions Engineer Eddie Randall

Anthology Regional Sales Manager Jim Crichton
Anthology presenters will lead these sessions:
Not Your Student’s Parents’ Blackboard
This introductory session will provide a high-level overview of Blackboard Ultra and the use of Ally and Adopt to create inclusive and engaging content for both faculty and students.
Blackboard Ultra Deep Dive
This advanced session of Blackboard Ultra will include detailed review of the grade book, new features and functionality, as well as creating more engaging content within your course.
Anthology experts will also offer consultations during the Monday morning and Tuesday afternoon course building sessions.
The CIT Knowledge Base – Tutorials, Known Issues, and Best Practices
The CIT Knowledge Base (“KB”) features quick answers to frequently asked questions and step-by-step instructions for common tasks, such as:
- Getting Started with Blackboard Learn how to navigate your courses; create content; use discussions, course messages, announcements and other features for communication and engagement; create Blackboard and Turnitin assignments and tests; enable with accessibility features; continue your learning though workshops and webinars; and other start of semester essentials.
- Using the Blackboard Browser Checker to find out whether your browser supports the most recent release of Blackboard.
- How can I communicate with students? Options include the Blackboard Announcement, Course Messages, and Send Email tools and myBama roster email.
- How do I organize my list of courses? Find, favorite, hide, and more.
- How can I remind students to submit an assignment? Send email reminders from the Grade Center.
- How do I add extended-time or provide another test accommodation in Blackboard? Use exceptions to provide accommodations to students with disabilities and others who might benefit from additional testing time for technology, language, or other needs.
- Teaching with Ultra? Check out Blackboard Ultra for Instructors.
The knowledge base also includes articles you can share with your students, such as Getting Started for Blackboard with Students and Testing Tips for Students. You can also correct or suggest a KB article. We welcome your input!
CIT Technology and Tool Highlights
Blackboard
- New and Updated Integrations – Integrations connect third-party resources with Blackboard. CIT added or updated these publisher content integrations in December: ExPrep, Packback, Macmillan, Knewton. Find a complete list of current integrations: Current Blackboard Integrations & Technical Support
- All courses in Ultra by Spring 2026 – Blackboard Ultra Course View (“Ultra”) offers a simple, modern, intuitive, and consistent interface across devices and a more streamlined experience for instructors and students. All Blackboard courses must be designed and delivered in Ultra by Spring 2026, and instructors of non-OTIDE-supported courses can teach with Ultra now (OTIDE-supported courses are designated as OL or OLM).
People.ua.edu
- People.ua.edu site migration is nearly complete! CIT has been migrating sites from Weebly to CampusPress and is communicating directly with site owners as their migrated sites are ready for review. By the end of January, all site owners need to examine the migrated site contents to ensure all materials are present before the end of UA’s Weebly contract in early February. Direct questions to cit.ua.edu.
Simple Syllabus
- Known Issue – Simple Syllabus syllabi status error – Simple Syllabus Support is aware of and working on a bug that may cause status errors.
Turnitin
- Known Issue – Turnitin Assignments remove ETS rater 12-31-24 –Turnitin will remove the e-rater grammar service as of December 31, 2024.
Upcoming Learning Opportunities
Learn with us! CIT regularly hosts workshops and webinars on UA instructional technologies and technology accessibility. We are also pleased to offer individual consultations and group instruction by request.
🎉 1/6 & 1/7 CIT’s Faculty Prep Days – Get your Spring courses ready! Workshops and one-on-one help for Blackboard and other instructional technologies. Refreshments will be served. 🎉
1/2 Panopto Weekly Q&A (Office Hours) (partner event)
1/8 Panopto Basic Training Webinar (partner event)
1/9 Panopto Weekly Q&A (Office Hours) (partner event)
1/15 Panopto Basic Training Webinar (partner event)
1/16 Panopto Weekly Q&A (Office Hours) (partner event)
1/23 Blackboard User Group (partner event)
1/23 Panopto Weekly Q&A (Office Hours) (partner event)
1/30 Panopto Weekly Q&A (Office Hours) (partner event)
About This Message
All UA instructors of record are automatically subscribed to updates about Blackboard and other instructional technology. UA community members who would like to be added to the communications list for CIT news can contact us.