The U.S. Distance Learning Association (USDLA)'s National Distance Learning Week focuses on how artificial intelligence (AI) impacts education and training. 

Instructional Technology invites faculty to test drive the suite of new Blackboard AI Course Design Assistant tools, which are now available for instructors who would like early access to preview the tool. Informed by Anthology's Trustworthy AI Approach and seamlessly embedded into Ultra's workflows, the AI Course Design Assistant tools are opt-in and the instructor is always in control of the content generated. Faculty can choose when, where, and how to leverage the tools in their Ultra courses. Anthology has not created any AI tools for students. 

Faculty interested in early access to the tool may submit an RT ticket to request access. 

Developed to assist faculty in streamlining course preparation, the AI Course Design Assistant tools include the features detailed below. 

Course-Builder Assistant

Create sample learning modules, titles, and descriptions. The generated modules include the module title, description, and images. Content within the module is not generated by the design tool.

Image 1: Option to auto-generate modules in an empty course.

Image 2: Auto-generated modules with an option to select and add to the course.

Image Suggestion and Creation 

The assistant can draw from the Unsplash stock image library and suggest thumbnails for illustration in learning modules or identify an image for the course banner. Functionality also includes AI-generated image creation based on course name and keywords. As of early November, the AI Design Assistant also includes the option to generate images and access Unsplash stock images in Ultra Documents, Discussions, Tests, Assignments, Journal prompts, and Course Messages.

Image 3: Select "Generate images" or "Stock images from Unsplash" to add images to Ultra Documents, Discussions, Assessments, Journal prompts, and Course Messages.

Content-Based Test Generation 

Using the content included in an Ultra Document, Assignment Description, or additional information provided directly in the AI tool panel, the Design Assistant can generate a diverse set of questions for a test or question bank. 

Image 4: Select "auto-generate question" in a test or assignment to see AI-tool generated questions. Test questions can be generated from a test or assignment or at the bottom of an Ultra document.

Rubric Creation 

Drawing on content in an assessment or discussion prompt, the AI tool can analyze and streamline the rubric creation process according to specific learning objectives and assessment criteria.

Image 5: Generated rubric, with options to customize rubric type, complexity, and number of rows and columns.

To discover more about the impact of AI on distance education and training, the U.S. Distance Learning Association (USDLA) is hosting virtual webinars during the sixteenth annual National Distance Learning Week (Nov 6-10, 2023). All sessions are free to attend, but require registration via USDLA.

Connect with Instructional Technology

• Check our extensive FAQ collection 
• What's new in Ultra? | Known Issues 
• Open a ticket via RT
• Follow the Instructional Technology & DoIT myUMBC groups
• Request a consult with instructional technology staff
• PIVOT | Academic Continuity | Keep On Teaching | Student Technology Resources

UMBC is committed to providing a consistent learning experience for everyone. The last day we will support Blackboard Original is December 31, 2024. Please check out our training and support: https://umbc.edu/go/ultra.

The sixteenth annual National Distance Learning Week offers many virtual sessions focused on how artificial intelligence (AI) impacts education and training. The U.S. Distance Learning Association (USDLA) will host a week-long series of webinars designed to generate greater awareness of distance learning, discuss current issues and emerging trends, and highlight best practices. 

This year's events take place November 6-10, 2023. All sessions are free to attend, but require registration via USDLA. Highlighted topics include:

Day 1 - Monday, November 6, 2023 (1-2 PM EST)

Finding the Yin-Yang in Faculty Development Balancing AI-Centered with Student-Centered Learning

With the rise of Generative AI systems and platforms, universities can no longer get too comfortable. Integrating Generative AI into a university culture requires a certain level of risk-taking and commitment from a campus. Explore strategies to build up faculty development competencies and instructional design capabilities amidst this rapidly changing technology environment of Generative AI.

Day 2 - Tuesday, November 7, 2023 (3-4 PM EST)

Uncovering the Potential, Realities, and Future of Generative AI through Research

While much has been said and written about Generative AI in education, systematic investigations about its use are slow to emerge. The Canadian Digital Learning Research Association recently surveyed 438 administrators and faculty across 126 Canadian institutions to gauge their perspectives on generative AI. This webinar will present findings and provide a space for an expansive discussion.

Day 3 - Wednesday, November 8, 2023 (1-2 PM EST)

A real-world implementation of AI in education

Explore the real-world implementation of AI in education. Learn about AI fundamentals, using AI as an instructional tool for personalized learning, reimagining assessment with AI, ethical considerations for student use of AI, and administrative uses of AI for streamlining tasks and decision-making processes.

Day 4 - Thursday, November 9, 2023 (1-2 PM EST)

Data Justice, Data Rights and AI Ethics

Data Justice is an emergent area of digital rights and activism that has its roots in protecting the use of citizens and consumers' data in Europe which includes how AI is impacting worker and student rights. Technology is not neutral. We do need to question what rights learners and workers have in the age of big data, surveillance capitalism, algorithmic bias, and ubiquitous AI.

Day 5 - Friday, November 10, 2023 (1-2 PM EST)

GenAI Holds Great Promise for Distance Learning, But There Are Concerns

Generative AI has emerged rapidly into public awareness in the past year and much has been written about the cataclysmic threats and vast possibilities of this new technology. Working in distance learning, we know that our students have many needs (editors and statistics tutors are just two examples) that could be met by GenAI. But we also have fears that our students may use this technology to avoid the hard work of critical thinking rather than using it to allow more time for such deeper learning. Discover which assignment types that are easier or harder for GenAI to complete, review the challenges of using AI detectors, and discuss some of the ethical concerns of using GenAI with protected student information.

Connect with Instructional Technology

As always, if you have any questions about teaching, learning, and technology, please consider the following options:

• Check our extensive FAQ collection & Supported Technologies
• What's new in Ultra? | Blackboard | Known Issues 
• Open a ticket via RT
• Follow the Instructional Technology & DoIT myUMBC groups
• Request a consult with instructional technology staff
• PIVOT | Academic Continuity | Keep On Teaching | Student Technology Resources 

UMBC is committed to providing a consistent learning experience for everyone. The last day we will support Blackboard Original is December 31, 2024. Keep up with Ultra: umbc.edu/go/ultra