Getting Started with Ultra
Create & Communicate
In-person or virtual training for your group or department.
Visit the Instructional Technology knowledge base, a self-service library for instructional technology guides.
SESSIONS
Ultra Office Hours
Hosted by CIT’s Blackboard team, Ultra Office Hours offer brief updates and how-to’s, questions and answers, and discussion. Bring your questions or just come for a quick overview of new features and other Ultra good topics.
Ultra Office Hours are open to all who teach with Blackboard or support others in their teaching. They are held via Teams on the 2nd or 3rd Monday of the month.
Upcoming sessions
- Monday, May 19, 1-2 PM – Your UA Ultra Practice Course
- Monday, June 16, 1-2 PM – Best practices for copying course content
- Monday, July 21, 1-2 PM – Customizing your Ultra course
Blackboard Ultra Demo and Info Session
Join us for a 30-minute presentation followed by Q&A to see Ultra for yourself and find out what you need to do to prepare.
Upcoming sessions
- Tuesday, May 13, 4-5 PM via Teams
- Thursday, May 29, 10:30-11:30 AM via Teams
- Friday, June 27, 2-3 PM in Gorgas Library Camellia Room (Room 2020) (no registration required)
- Tuesday, July 22, 2-3 PM in Gorgas Library Camellia Room (Room 2020) (no registration required)
Session resources
- Learn to “Ultrafy” Your Original Courses and Teach with Ultra – Workshops, webinars, self-paced online courses and more, from CIT and Blackboard/Anthology.
- Ultra Course View – Step-by-step guides, with pictures, from Blackboard/Anthology.
Recorded sessions
- Ultra Demo and Information – Recorded CIT session.
Blackboard Ultra Basics
The new Blackboard is here! Join this session to learn the basics: navigation, key features, and how to build course content from scratch and by copying from Original courses.
Upcoming sessions
- Friday, May 9, 12-1 PM via Teams
- Thursday, May 15, 11 AM – 12 PM PM in A232 Gordon Palmer Hall (no registration required)
- Tuesday, May 20, 9:30-10:30 AM via Teams
Session resources
- Getting Started with Blackboard Ultra – Prepare, navigate, create, interact, assess, and more with these resources from the CIT Knowledge Base.
- A Quick Start for Blackboard – Course building basics for those new to Blackboard Ultra, from Blackboard/Anthology.
Blackboard: Transitioning Original Courses to Ultra Courses
In Ultra, you can copy content from other courses you teach so you don’t have to start with a blank slate. Join this session to learn how to copy an entire course or individual course items from Original to Ultra courses. We’ll also look at Ultra Course Preview, which instructors can use to see changes before converting their courses permanently, and CIT resources for course conversion.
Upcoming sessions
Sessions coming soon.
Session resources
Blackboard Ultra AI Design Assistant
Learn how to easily create learning modules, test questions and question banks, grading rubrics, images, and more – Blackboard’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Design Assistant helps instructors create and design courses using generative AI.
Upcoming sessions
Sessions coming soon.
Session resources
Blackboard Ultra: Creating Dynamic Content
Build your Ultra course! Learn how to create new content, copy content from other courses, and add content from external sources, such as academic publishers.
Upcoming sessions
Sessions coming soon.
Session resources
Blackboard Ultra: Communicating with Students
Learn how to use Announcements, Messages, Discussions, and email to communicate with students. We’ll also explore Class Conversations, an Ultra feature than allows students to discuss course content with you and their classmates.
Upcoming sessions
Sessions coming soon.
Session resources
Blackboard Ultra: Collaborative and Personalized Learning
Learn how to use Groups, Release Conditions, Progress Tracking, and other features to engage students in active learning though customized learning paths and group activities.
Upcoming sessions
Sessions coming soon.
Session resources
Blackboard Ultra: Assessing Student Learning
Learn how to create and evaluate Assignments, Tests, and other assessments. We’ll also talk about grades and feedback, rubrics, and accommodations.
Upcoming sessions
Sessions coming soon.
Session resources
Blackboard Ultra: Grading and Managing the Gradebook
Explore grading workflows, set up and adjust the Gradebook, and navigate the Gradebook’s student view.
Upcoming sessions
Sessions coming soon.
Session resources
Blackboard Ultra: Analytics for Instructors
Learn about Ultra features you can use to keep track of how your students are performing and how they are interacting with your course, such as the Student Activity Log, Course Activity Report, Student Activity Details for Assessments, Student Activity Details for Courses, Observer Role, and Analytics.
Upcoming sessions
Sessions coming soon.