As a fully redesigned system, Ultra benefits from an intentional focus on accessibility and mobile responsiveness. In addition to extensive checks to meet accessibility standards, Ultra includes support for Ally, an integrated tool that checks course content for accessibility and generates alternative formats for users.

With the November update, both the accessibility meters for faculty and the alternative formats for all users will be as visible as they are in Original courses. Accessibility scores for instructors will be available with attachments in document and tests with, appearing next to the files they are scoring. This makes it easier for instructors to see how their content scores and fix any issues. Students will be able to easily download alternative formats of files and images by selecting the alternative file icon and choosing the desired format.

Note: Accessibility scores and alternative format icons are only available with attached files. They will not be available with files and images added through the Ultra content editor. Instructors may also reference the Course Accessibility Report.

Faculty and students may also note a complete redesign of all icons throughout the Ultra system. Most notably, the updated icons are darker and will appear more prominently, particularly in Ultra courses. Additional updates in November include moving the Batch Edit tool into the overflow menu with other bulk course management tools to better align with how it's used and updating the assessment creation buttons to use Save and Cancel rather than Done. The blank Learning Module will also be removed from the Ultra course page to avoid confusion.

Finally, with the November update, Ultra Documents now have a description field that will appear on the Course Content page, which allows instructors to give high-level details about what the Ultra documents contain, reducing unnecessary clicks for students.

The next Blackboard Learn update will be posted to our test site around November 12th and pushed to production around December 5th. Faculty who are interested in test driving new features before they are released to production should open an RT ticket to request early access. 

As always, if you have any questions, please consider the following options:

• Check our extensive FAQ collection 
• What’s new in Ultra? | Known Issues 
• Open a ticket via RT
• Follow the Instructional Technology & DoIT myUMBC groups
• Sign up for a webinar & other training 
• Request a consult with instructional technology staff
• Review your course content with Ally

Nearly 2,500 faculty and staff members’ accounts are now being protected by Duo, and the numbers continue to rise. Whether you’ve been using Duo for years, or you’re a new user, it’s nice to be reminded of a few best practices for using Duo. These tips, and a number of other topics, can be found on our Duo FAQs.

Reduce how much you’re prompted by Duo - Use Remember me for 30 days

Do you like the security you get by using Duo, but don’t want to use the second-factor step every time you log in? Simple. Just check the “Remember me for 30 days” checkbox on the Duo authentication screen.

NOTE: Only use this option on computers you control and trust. For example, your office computer or home computer. Do not use this option on public computers.

Don’t type or call - Use Push notifications

By far, the easiest way to use Duo is with a push notification to your smartphone. More than likely you have your smartphone with you. Simply press “send push” on the Duo authentication screen and acknowledge the push notification on your device.

Protect yourself from being locked out - Register multiple devices

In the event you don't have your standard authentication device with you, like your smartphone, be sure to register additional devices such as your desk or home phone.

Have more questions about using Duo? Browse our Duo FAQs, submit an RT ticket at my.umbc.edu/help, or contact the Technology Support Center (TSC) at (410) 455-3838.

Last April, DoIT announced that faculty and staff with elevated Peoplesoft access would be required to use Duo two-factor authentication. We've since worked to enroll nearly 2,500 faculty and staff members into Duo. In the last week alone, Duo protected over 20,000 individual logins to campus resources like myUMBC and Peoplesoft.

Continuing our efforts to keep the campus safe online, DoIT will be requiring all remaining faculty to enroll in Duo by November 19th.

Duo 2-factor authentication (2FA) greatly increases the security of your account by adding an extra layer of protection to the login procedure. With Duo 2FA, your account will require you to have a second-factor device physically unique to you, such as a smartphone, your office phone, or even a tablet in your possession to log in. When you log in, your second-factor device will prompt you to approve your online login. Without approval from your second-factor device, any fraudulent attempts to log into your account are denied, thus preventing anyone who shouldn't have access to your account from getting to your data.

To learn more about using Duo two-factor authentication, visit our Duo FAQ collection at https://my.umbc.edu/go/duo

If you have questions or concerns submit an RT ticket at my.umbc.edu/help or contact the Technology Support Center at (410) 455-3838.

One in four students take some of their courses online, and two-thirds do so at a public institution in the same state where they live (Allen, Seaman, Pouline, & Straut, 2016; Allen & Seaman, 2017). In early November, UMBC celebrates National Distance Learning Week (NDLW) with a series of lunchtime conversations. Topics include:

Hybrid or Online? Learn about the Alternate Delivery Program

• Monday, November 4 - Register Online 

Attend this information session to learn more about the Alternate Delivery Program. Ask specific questions related to the ADP Course Designer Track Call to Participate for Spring/Summer 2020. Previous ADP alumni will be on hand to share their experiences!

Universal Design for Learning, Accessible Content & Bb Ally

• Tuesday, November 5 - Register Online

The principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) promote the approach that everyone -- with and without disabilities -- can benefit from accessible course materials. Learn about the key foundational concepts of UDL and what tools are available at UMBC to make your course materials more accessible to students.

Does Your Bb Course Spark Joy? Go Ultra!

• Wednesday, November 6 - Register Online 

Marie Kondo's tidying up method applies to more than just our homes -- we can apply it to our course designs as well. Join our faculty, instructional technology staff, and instructional designers to learn about sparking joy in your Blackboard courses with Ultra.

Lights, Camera, Action! Lecture Capture with Panopto

• Thursday, November 7 - Register Online 

Panopto is a lecture capture and video delivery system that lets faculty easily create online videos for their classes. Learn how to start using Panopto to record lectures and tutorials, embed active learning, create student video assignments, and support a flipped classroom.

Open Educational Resources Support Student Access, Equity

• Friday, November 8 - Register Online 

A recent faculty survey of OER usage at UMBC revealed that many want to know how to find, evaluate, and use openly licensed course materials to increase student access and reduce textbook costs. We wrap up National Distance Learning Week with a focus on Open Educational Resources: Learn about OER use cases, resources, professional development, and talk with faculty who have adopted OERs. Stay after the lunchtime panel to see a demo of the Maryland Open Source Textbook (MOST) Initiative to discover how faculty can find easy-to-adopt, high-quality OER. 

Please RSVP: A light lunch will be provided for in-person sessions.

Can't make these National Distance Learning Week sessions? Try these virtual events!

The History of National Distance Learning Week and the U.S. Distance Learning Association

• Monday, November 4, 2019 from 11 AM - 12 PM EST
• Register Online

Microlearning in the World of Distance Learning

• Monday, November 4, 2019 from 3 - 4 PM EST
• Register Online 

The DoIT Technology Support Center is looking to hire additional consultants to work during the Fall semester and beyond. Please see our job description below and visit our job posting on UMBCWorks to apply. (Search for TSC Student Consultant.) The application will be open until October 25th.

We're specifically looking for students available to work during the following hours:

•  Monday 10AM-4PM
• Tuesday 8AM-2:30PM
• Wednesday 8-10AM; 12-4PM
• Thursday 10AM-8PM
• Friday 9:30AM-2PM

TSC Student Consultant Job Description

Technology Support Center (TSC) student consultants are the first points of technical contact for the UMBC community and those who do well often go on to work in other areas of the Division of Information Technology (DoIT). Minimally, consultants are expected to provide initial triage and support for a wide range of information technologies including accounts, hardware, instructional technologies, networking, software, telecommunications, and basic web development.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Provide technical assistance to users by phone, online and in person;
• Answer TSC phones in a professional and courteous manner;
• Create, update and resolve tickets in the Request Tracker (RT) ticketing system;
• Create, update, suggest and recommend relevant FAQ articles to users (www.umbc.edu/faq);
• Provide direct assistance to users on technical issues they cannot easily resolve on their own;
• Complete in-person or online training about quality support as defined in umbc.edu/go/ticketrubric;
• Respond to all work-related communications in a timely manner;
• Escalate urgent problems to the Full-Time staff, as appropriate.

Required Skills and Experience

• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate by phone or in person.
• Demonstrated writing ability.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve successful outcomes in handling difficult situations and customers.
• Demonstrated analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Ability & willingness to learn coupled with a clear understanding of one’s technical abilities, so as to triage and escalate an issue that leads to an effective solution for the user.