Early adoption is growing at UMBC as more than 100 faculty opted to use the new Ultra Course View during the SP2019 semester. An additional 25 faculty tried Ultra using the sandbox shells created for exploring the new course interface.

DoIT believes faculty are important partners and will play an essential role during the Ultra migration. The new Blackboard course interface is significantly different from the Original course we’ve had for the last fifteen years, marking a notable change for UMBC faculty. All faculty will need time and support to prepare their courses for the proposed migration timeline.

Since recommendations and feedback from peer leaders can be helpful during change, 15 faculty have agreed to be Ultra Faculty Ambassadors:

On Friday, March 1, 2019, DoIT's Instructional Technology Team will hold its 4th annual TechFest.  TechFest traditionally brings the campus community together to share and demonstrate ways technology can both support and improve the efficiency of day-to-day activities including academics. This year, participants are in for a double treat as Instructional Technology partners with the Faculty Development Center to bring you day celebrating technology, teaching and learning!  

There will be raffles with prizes and giveaways like Amazon products for those who attend and participate.

Students, faculty, and staff are all welcome and encouraged to attend.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO ATTEND!

NEW THIS YEAR!

Come with a team and follow the clues to conquer the Escape Room in UC-310!  Teams should be comprised of 4-6 members. To sign up a team in advance (only the team leader needs to sign up), click here.

Come interact with teaching and learning tools in the Technology Test Kitchen (TTK) in UC-312!  The TTK will feature accessibility-enhancing tools including the Ally course accessibility checker, Blackboard Ultra, Panopto’s video platform, PollEverywhere, Open Education Resources (OER), Duo Two Factor Authentication, and password management, and much more!

Start your day by enjoying our light breakfast and the TechFest morning sessions. Immediately following the morning sessions TechFest, the Faculty Development Center (FDC) hold their Symposium sponsored by the Provost's office, which will include a poster session and luncheon with keynote address by renowned speaker Randy Bass. TechFest will conclude the day with a final session following the keynote address.

TechFest Schedule:

9:00 - 9:50: Breakfast and Registration (University Center Ballroom Lounge)

10:00 - 10:45: Session A

10:55 - 11:40: Session B

11:45 - 2:10: Provost’s Symposium (UC Ballroom)

2:15 - 3:00:  Session C

TechFest Sessions A-C will take place in the Engineering Building in rooms ENG-102, ENG-023, and ENG-025; click here to review the session abstracts.  Some of the session topics include implementing digital badging programs to recognize competencies and skills, using data analytics to demonstrate student success, leveraging campus technology for student success and taking class attendance in Blackboard using Qwickly.

The Escape Room will be open in UC-310 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.; the Technology Test Kitchen will be open in UC-312 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:40 a.m. and again from 2:15 - 3:00 p.m.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TO ATTEND!

Please Note: UMBC is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for all faculty, staff, students, and visitors.  If you would like to request accommodations (e.g., ASL interpreters, captioning, wheelchair access, etc.) for this event due to a disability, please notify us at least two weeks prior to the event. Requests received after that time cannot be guaranteed, but we will do our best to make arrangements for program access. Please contact the event host (email goes here) with your specific request and be sure to include the event title, date, and time.  

For questions and more information, please contact us at techfest19@umbc.edu.

The Division of Information Technology (DoIT) is pleased to announce that Dustin Roddy has been named manager of its New Media Studio (NMS). A 2014 graduate of the Media & Communications Studies (MCS) & American Studies programs, Roddy brings a rare combination of technical expertise as a video producer as well as excellent people and customer service skills.

In addition to daily responsibilities managing the Studio, Dustin played a key role in the successful partnership between DoIT, Athletics and Media Communication Studies to lead UMBC's live streaming of men's and women's basketball on ESPN3 that was featured in UMBC Magazine. He also worked with VPC Communications, owned by '86 Alum Eli Eisenberg, to oversee the Studio's upgrade to high definition (HD) broadcast quality production facilities, which supports numerous MCS student interns hired by Athletics to air 30+ ESPN3 broadcasts each year.

Dustin’s good working relationships were invaluable during and after UMBC's historic upset of #1 seed UVA in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Late that evening and all during the next two days, as the spotlight shone brightly on UMBC, Dustin helped educate the CBS "futures" producer who was only assigned the next day. She literally knew nothing about UMBC, so Dustin was feeding her information, web links and video archive footage with little more than a moment's notice. Eventually, Dustin’s in-game and behind-the-scenes footage was also on display in the CBS Sports retrospective, “Four Sides of the Story,” that aired this past fall.