The Ultra Course Redesign Challenge offers faculty an opportunity to share their redesigned courses using the new Ultra interface for a chance to win a Kindle Fire. 

The challenge is open to any UMBC instructor who is currently using or planning to use Ultra in a Blackboard course in the FA2019 semester during the phased roll-out of Ultra. Courses will be evaluated using the Blackboard Exemplary Course Program (ECP) rubric, which is aligned to the Quality Matters rubric. 

Challenge Guidelines

• Courses submitted to the challenge must be redesigned using the Ultra Course View. 

• Courses must be submitted by 11:59 PM on Monday, September 30, 2019.

Submitting a Course

1. Review the Exemplary Course Program Rubric to familiarize yourself with the criteria.

2. If you do not already have an Ultra course shell to develop your submission, request a blank Ultra course shell and redesign your course. 

• Course shells with existing student data (grades, submissions, discussions, etc.) may not be submitted for the Redesign Challenge.

3. Complete your reflection for each criterion in the rubric.

• Please create a folder called “For the Challenge Team” in your course for licensed tools and platforms that may be unavailable to the reviewers. This folder may also contain screenshots and recordings of great discussion boards, multimedia interactions, test questions, your course design strategy, etc.

4. Submit your course and reflection by the submission deadline.

• Courses will be reviewed by the Instructional Technology team and at least two Ultra Faculty Ambassadors.

The winner will be announced during National Distance Learning Week (November 4-8, 2019). 

About the Blackboard Exemplary Course Program (ECP) Rubric

The ECP rubric defines key characteristics of quality courses within the framework of Course Design, Interaction and Collaboration, Assessment, and Learner Support. It was developed by faculty and leaders in instructional design, based on years of their collective practice and expertise. Thousands of instructors, teachers, instructional designers, and faculty trainers have used the Exemplary Course Program to evaluate and improve their courses with recognized best practices. Those courses meeting exceptionally high standards are recognized at Blackboard’s annual conference.

All participants in the Ultra Course Redesign Challenge will be encouraged to submit their courses to the Blackboard Exemplary Course Program.