Designed for mobility, Ultra supports a condensed hierarchy for content nesting on the main course content page. Student preference and support were the primary purpose for Blackboard to reduce the number of folders that can be nested from unlimited in Original to two in Ultra. Many faculty adopted the streamlined approach to redesign and organize their courses for efficient access. 

Two levels of folders, however, could be somewhat limiting for certain types of courses and organizations. Beginning in mid-March, Ultra will support an additional level of nested folders to faculty as they develop and teach their Ultra courses. The top level applies to either learning modules or folders, and within this top level, two additional levels are then supported. This change aims to provide faculty with greater flexibility in organizing course materials, especially for complex topics that require a more hierarchical content structure.

Image 2: Example of nested folders featuring additional level, starting only with folders.

The new folder settings will be available in Ultra courses after spring break.

Preparing For Course Migration to Ultra

While it is possible to convert courses from Original to Ultra, DoIT's Instructional Technology team recommends starting fresh. This approach allows for copying content from Original or rebuilding courses from the ground up to ensure an optimal experience for both faculty and students. Starting fresh in Ultra enables you to take full advantage of the platform's new features and design capabilities.

• A wide range of Ultra training is posted through the Instructional Technology myUMBC events page.
• For departments or disciplines that want to adopt Ultra by default, Blackboard course shells can be designated as Ultra when courses are created. 
• Instructional Technology will also work with departments to customize Ultra workshops and provide dedicated support sessions according to faculty schedules or specific use cases for teaching with Ultra.

• 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

For 2024, M.O.S.T. is seeking proposals for two grant programs. Learn more below. 
 

Faculty OER Grant Program
The Maryland Open Source Textbook (M.O.S.T.) initiative is seeking proposals for its Faculty OER Grant Program, which supports faculty efforts to increase access, affordability, and achievement for students at Marylands postsecondary institutions through the incorporation of open educational resources (OER) into teaching practice.

Available grants in 2024:

• Adopt/Adapt OER ($1,000 grant + Participation in the Lumen Circles Community of Practice)
• Create/Revise and Publish OER ($2,000 grant + Participation in the Rebus Textbook Success Program)
• OLI STEM Courseware Grant - Use & Evaluate Track ($1,500 grant + Participation in the NSF-Funded Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative (OLI) STEM Courseware Project) NOTE: Available for 2-year colleges only
• OLI STEM Courseware Grant - Use & Improve Track ($5,000 grant + Participation in the NSF-Funded Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative (OLI) STEM Courseware Project) NOTE: Available for 2-year colleges only

Institutional OER Grant Program
The Maryland Open Source Textbook (M.O.S.T.) initiative is seeking proposals for the Institutional OER Grant Program, which supports strategic institutional efforts to increase access, affordability, and achievement for students at Marylands postsecondary institutions through more systemic incorporation of open educational resources (OER) into teaching practice.

For 2024, selected institutions will be awarded $20,000 grants to support significant advances in OER adoption, scaling, and sustainability in support of student success. In addition, grantees will receive strategic planning and implementation support for their projects from M.O.S.T. in the form of consultations and regular monthly check-ins.

****Note: All institutional grants and faculty grants awarded to UMBC must be routed to the Office of Sponsored Programs prior to submission. Contact your unit's business manager or proposal development staff to discuss your application.

CAHSS faculty can request assistance from CARAT (Creative Achievement and Research Administration Team): https://carat.umbc.edu/request-assistance/ 

Deadline Extended! 
All proposals must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, March 8, 2024
 

Informational Webinar
An informational webinar about the 2023 M.O.S.T. OER Grant Opportunity was held on Monday, January 22, 2024.  Watch the Recording
 

Please feel free to share this information with interested faculty and staff. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at most@usmd.edu 

Thank you for your support in increasing access, affordability, and achievement for all Maryland higher education students through open educational resources (OER).
 

For 2024, M.O.S.T. is seeking proposals for two grant programs. Learn more below. 
 

Faculty OER Grant Program
The Maryland Open Source Textbook (M.O.S.T.) initiative is seeking proposals for its Faculty OER Grant Program, which supports faculty efforts to increase access, affordability, and achievement for students at Marylands postsecondary institutions through the incorporation of open educational resources (OER) into teaching practice.

Available grants in 2024:

• Adopt/Adapt OER ($1,000 grant + Participation in the Lumen Circles Community of Practice)
• Create/Revise and Publish OER ($2,000 grant + Participation in the Rebus Textbook Success Program)
• OLI STEM Courseware Grant - Use & Evaluate Track ($1,500 grant + Participation in the NSF-Funded Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative (OLI) STEM Courseware Project) NOTE: Available for 2-year colleges only
• OLI STEM Courseware Grant - Use & Improve Track ($5,000 grant + Participation in the NSF-Funded Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative (OLI) STEM Courseware Project) NOTE: Available for 2-year colleges only

Institutional OER Grant Program
The Maryland Open Source Textbook (M.O.S.T.) initiative is seeking proposals for the Institutional OER Grant Program, which supports strategic institutional efforts to increase access, affordability, and achievement for students at Marylands postsecondary institutions through more systemic incorporation of open educational resources (OER) into teaching practice.

For 2024, selected institutions will be awarded $20,000 grants to support significant advances in OER adoption, scaling, and sustainability in support of student success. In addition, grantees will receive strategic planning and implementation support for their projects from M.O.S.T. in the form of consultations and regular monthly check-ins.
 

All proposals must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, March 1, 2024
 

Informational Webinar
An informational webinar about the 2023 M.O.S.T. OER Grant Opportunity was held on Monday, January 22, 2024.  Watch the Recording
 

Please feel free to share this information with interested faculty and staff. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at most@usmd.edu 

Thank you for your support in increasing access, affordability, and achievement for all Maryland higher education students through open educational resources (OER).
 

• A brief CV (no more than 2 pages);
• A statement (~500 words) that offers:
• A description of the OER to be created during the Institute
• A description of how the OER will be used in a Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 course
• Concrete ways that students will contribute to, or co-produce, the OER project
• How your project represents marginalized knowledges, voices, or perspectives
• Your commitment to the principles of open pedagogy
• A plan to use the OER to model open pedagogy at the participants institution

For 2024, M.O.S.T. is seeking proposals for two grant programs. Learn more below. Note that all institutional and faculty grants awarded to UMBC must be routed to the Office of Sponsored Programs prior to submission. Contact your unit's business manager or proposal development staff to discuss your application.

CAHSS faculty can request assistance from CARAT (Creative Achievement and Research Administration Team). 

Faculty OER Grant Program
The Maryland Open Source Textbook (M.O.S.T.) initiative is seeking proposals for its Faculty OER Grant Program, which supports faculty efforts to increase access, affordability, and achievement for students at Maryland’s postsecondary institutions through the incorporation of open educational resources (OER) into teaching practice.

Available grants in 2024:

• Adopt/Adapt OER ($1,000 grant + Participation in the Lumen Circles Community of Practice)
• Create/Revise and Publish OER ($2,000 grant + Participation in the Rebus Textbook Success Program)
• OLI STEM Courseware Grant - Use & Evaluate Track ($1,500 grant + Participation in the NSF-Funded Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative (OLI) STEM Courseware Project) NOTE: Available for 2-year colleges only
• OLI STEM Courseware Grant - Use & Improve Track ($5,000 grant + Participation in the NSF-Funded Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative (OLI) STEM Courseware Project) NOTE: Available for 2-year colleges only

Institutional OER Grant Program
The Maryland Open Source Textbook (M.O.S.T.) initiative is seeking proposals for the Institutional OER Grant Program, which supports strategic institutional efforts to increase access, affordability, and achievement for students at Maryland’s postsecondary institutions through more systemic incorporation of open educational resources (OER) into teaching practice.

For 2024, selected institutions will be awarded $20,000 grants to support significant advances in OER adoption, scaling, and sustainability in support of student success. In addition, grantees will receive strategic planning and implementation support for their projects from M.O.S.T. in the form of consultations and regular monthly check-ins.
 

All proposals must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, March 1, 2024
 

Informational Webinar
Join us on Monday, January 22, 2024 from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET for an Informational Webinar to learn more about the grant requirements and expectations for successful grants. We will also answer any questions about the grants at that time. Register for the Informational Webinar
 

Please feel free to share this information with interested faculty and staff. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at most@usmd.edu 

Thank you for your support in increasing access, affordability, and achievement for all Maryland higher education students through open educational resources (OER).