Blackboard Ultra Instructor Training Sessions

Level Up Your Blackboard Ultra Course: A Three-Part Workshop Series

Take your Blackboard Ultra course to the next level with this three-part workshop series. Each session is designed to equip instructors with practical tools and strategies to enhance course design, improve engagement, and streamline workflows. Whether you’re looking to integrate AI-powered tools, maximize built-in Ultra features, or incorporate external resources, these workshops will provide actionable insights to help you create more interactive and visually engaging courses. Join us to explore innovative ways to elevate your teaching and create meaningful learning experiences for your students!

Each session is 45 minutes and held on MS Teams. You can find the workshop session offerings at the bottom of this webpage. 

All content is also available in the Blackboard Ultra Training for Faculty Organization. Self-enroll at this link:  https://uofl.me/Ultra_Faculty.

Level Up: Enhancing Your Ultra Course with Blackboard AI Tools
Join us for an engaging and informative workshop designed to introduce you to the various AI tools available within Blackboard Ultra. This session will provide a high-level overview of how these tools can streamline course creation, enhance student engagement, and simplify administrative tasks.

Participants will learn about:

• AI Design Assistant: Automate the creation of learning modules, rubrics, assignments, and test questions.
• Discussion and Journal Prompts: Generate engaging prompts to foster class interaction.
• Image Integration: Easily find and insert royalty-free images to enrich course content.

By the end of this workshop, instructors will have a clear understanding of where to begin exploring these AI tools in their own courses, empowering them to create more dynamic and effective learning experiences.

Level Up: Enhancing Your Ultra Course with Built-In Features 
You've learned the basics of Ultra. Are you ready to take your course to the next level? This workshop focuses on maximizing the potential of Blackboard Ultra’s built-in features to create polished, interactive, and engaging learning experiences. 

Participants will learn about:

• Professional Layouts: Resize and repositioning text and images
• Embedding Videos and Documents: Include multiple formats in one document
• Creating interactivity: Use HTML generators to create flash cards, accordions and more
• Checking for Understanding: Use self-assessments to provide immediate feedback

Whether you want to refine the look of your courses or incorporate advanced tools for interactivity, this session will provide you with practical tips and inspiration to level up your teaching game.

Level Up: Enhancing Your Ultra Course with External Tools
Join us for an engaging and informative workshop designed to introduce you to a variety of external tools that can take your Blackboard Ultra courses to the next level. This session will provide an overview of free and fee-based resources to help you create visually dynamic, interactive, and student-centered learning experiences.

Participants will learn about:

• Custom Banners and Icons: Elevate your course design with visually appealing and cohesive branding reflective of your discipline. 
• GIFs and Multimedia: Add dynamic, eye-catching elements to captivate your students.
• Interactive Elements: Incorporate additional tools to boost engagement.
• Streamlined Course Design: Practical strategies to integrate these enhancements with minimal effort and maximum impact.

By the end of this workshop, instructors will walk away with actionable tips, tricks, and resources to transform their courses into engaging and visually appealing digital spaces. Whether you’re looking to boost visual appeal, add interactivity, or streamline your course design, this workshop is designed to inspire and equip you with actionable ideas. You will walk away with tips, tricks and resources to transform your courses into engaging and visually appealing digital spaces.