July 11 Instructional Technology News
- July 11th, 2023
- in -Instructional Technology News
Hello from your Center for Instructional Technology! Below, you’ll find announcements and events to assist you with teaching and learning needs.
Collaborate End of Use
On August 1, 2023, Class Collaborate will be deactivated and no longer available to use at UA. This change does not affect the Blackboard Learn system, only the virtual web conferencing tool, Collaborate. Instructors and program managers should download any needed recordings from Collaborate by August 1, 2023. CIT suggests instructors use Zoom or Teams for synchronous class meetings and Panopto for lecture capture.
Embed video of possible: Using MS Teams and Zoom conferencing for online sessions in your courses
Changes to Third-Party Integrations in Blackboard Learn
We continue to make the changes necessary to connect third-party tools to Blackboard Learn. We are working closely with each vendor to document any changes in the workflow or appearance of these tools.
Stay up to date as we make these changes by subscribing to the CIT Announcements page.
Upcoming Learning Opportunities
Teaching with Blackboard Sessions
These CIT-led workshops and webinars aim to help you get started with and get the most out of Blackboard Learn, UA’s learning management system. Upcoming sessions include:
- Teaching with Blackboard: Blackboard Learn Basics, Thursday, July 13, 11:00 am-12:00 pm, Online via Microsoft Teams
- Teaching with Blackboard: Blackboard Learn Basics, Wednesday, July 26, 2:00-3:00 pm, A232 Gordon Palmer Hall
Register for CIT-led Teaching with Blackboard workshops and webinars.
Zoom Basics
Monday, July 25, 10:00-11:00 am
Learn the basic features for conducting a zoom meeting including an overview of Zoom’s web portal and desktop client, how to schedule a meeting and invite others, and a review of the in-meeting host and participant controls.
Flip Basics
Tuesday, July 25, 11:00 am-12:00 pm
Explore the features inside Flip and learn how to level up the ways your scholars communicate and share their learning.
Zoom Advanced
Tuesday, July 26, 10:00-11:00 am
This CIT instructor led session will explore Zoom features including recurring meetings, breakout rooms, polls, and reports.
Adobe Professional Faculty Training
Thank You for responding to the Interest Survey! Based on your feedback, we plan to offer ALL the sessions listed in the survey. Here’s what’s on the calendar so far:
- Academic Faculty Taster Session – August 14, 11:00 am -12:00 pm (in person + virtual)
- Storytelling with Video – August 18, 10:00 – 11:00 am (virtual only)
- Student Research Journals Workshop – August 31, 10:00 – 11:30 am (virtual only)
- Create Visuals in Express and Illustrator – Sept. 8, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm (in person +virtual)
Simple Syllabus Information Session
Multiple dates in August
In-Person Session (Gordon Palmer, A232) and Virtual
In this one-hour session of UA’s new syllabus platform, Simple Syllabus, we’ll cover:
- How to access Simple Syllabus
- How to navigate and edit the syllabus
- UA statements included on the syllabus
- Required items to be completed by the instructor
- How to add items to the syllabus
- How to save and submit the syllabus
- How to access the syllabus from Blackboard Learn.
Register for an upcoming session
Fall 2023 Faculty Prep Days
SAVE THE DATE! Time to get your Fall courses polished and ready to go. CIT is hosting two days of workshops and one-on-one technical and pedagogical assistance to get you ready for the Fall semester.
Workshop offerings along with dates, times and registration information will be posted later this month.
- Wednesday, August 16, 9:00 am – 4:45 pm
- Thursday, August 17, 9:00 am – 4:45 pm
Check out more instructional technology workshops at https://cit.ua.edu/workshops/
Instructional Tech Resources and Reminders
The CIT Knowledge Base is your clearinghouse for tutorials, known issues, and best practices.
Ultra Course View Pilot Continues
Instructors interested in teaching with Ultra Course View in an upcoming academic term should submit a request via the CIT portal: Blackboard Learn Ultra LIVE Course Pilot Request.
Cleaning Out Older Blackboard Courses
Academic courses in Blackboard Learn are subject to removal two (2) years following the end of the semester in which they are taught per UA’s LMS Course Retention Policy. For example, courses taught in Spring 2023 will be removed after May 2025. Fall 2021 and prior courses are being removed in May 2023. Non-academic courses, referred to as non-integrated courses, are subject to removal following two (2) years of inactivity.
Instructors should save any needed course content or student grades. Students should save any necessary coursework as well. 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.
As always, we are available Monday-Friday, 8:00-4:45 to help you. We look forward to working with you soon.
Email – cit@ua.edu
Phone – 205-348-3532
Website and Knowledge Base – http://cit.ua.edu