The UMBC Instructional Technology Update is provided by the Division of Information Technology for students, faculty and staff. If you have questions or need help, please consult the Blackboard Help FAQs or directly at www.umbc.edu/blackboard/help.  You can also contact the Technology Support Center at 410.455.3838 or submit an RT (Request Tracker) ticket via the myUMBC Help Menu or directly at my.umbc.edu/help.

HEADLINES

What's New

• 62% of Fall 2023 Blackboard Courses Now Using Ultra

• Learn about Ultra updates

• Unlock collaborative learning with cloud tools in Blackboard 

• Test Drive New Blackboard Faculty AI Course Design Tools

• USM Call for Proposals: Incorporating Generative AI into Learning Experiences

• Quality Matters Releases 7th Edition Rubric

• 18 UMBC Courses Now Meet Quality Matters Certification

• Chem Prof, DoIT Staff Publish Chapter in Analytics Book

• Panopto Blackboard Integration Updates Improve Course Copy & Assessments (12.21)

Training & Professional Development(recording archive | view upcoming events)

• Embed & Collaborate in Bb with Office 365 & Google Files (01.09)

• AI Course Design Assistant 3-Hour Workshop for Ultra Courses (01.10)

• What's New in Ultra Courses for Teaching & Learning SP2024 (01.12)

• Use Poll Everywhere in Your Courses (01.16)

• Ultra Essentials: Grading & the Ultra Gradebook (01.17)

• Join one of four open sessions to learn about Ultra (01.22)

• Blackboard Ultra Assessments in 45 Minutes or Less (01.23)

• Access for All: A Course Accessibility Workshop (01.23)

• Panopto Essentials (01.24)

• The New VoiceThread (hosted by VoiceThread for UMBC faculty/staff) (01.24)

In Case You Missed It: Recordings & Tips

• Support student success with Ultra's progress tracking tools

• Accessible Course Design Supports Diverse Learning Styles

• AI and Accessible Images for Inclusive Courses

• Tips for choosing third-party tools for Blackboard 

• Course Prep Checklists

• Tips to Wrap Up Your Blackboard Course for the Semester 

• Effective Practices for Delivering Blackboard Tests

• Tips to Get Your Blackboard Course Ready for Next Semester

Other DoIT & UMBC News

• DoIT's Tom Penniston Presents Paper at Copenhagen Conference

• "Finish Line" Featured in UK Online Learning Journal

• 6 Faculty, 2 Staff Receive 2023-24 LA Mini Grants

• New Report Can Help Faculty Visualize Student Engagement

• New Media Studio Moves to ENGR 023

• DoIT General Access Unit System (gl.umbc.edu) to Require Duo MFA

• Transition for UMBC Documentation in Confluence (wiki.umbc.edu)

• WT/SP2024 Blackboard courses created on November 29, 2023