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This guide pertains to Ultra Course View.
If your course is in Original Course View, see the Original Course View tutorial collection.
See also the Bb Ultra Knowledge Base Article Collection for tutorials and how-to guides for using Ultra.
Recording of the Ultra Kick-Off Event September 15, 2023
Ultra Training Overview
Faculty are strongly encouraged to complete the (5) Training Topics provided:
Trainings were conducted from Fall 2023 through July 2024.
Ultra Bootcamp Training
In August 2024, CIS offered Ultra Bootcamp training session. This 90-minute session is jam-packed with an overview of Ultra, its features, and capabilities. A recording to this session is provided below:
Blackboard Fundamentals
Blackboard Fundamentals is a self-paced workshop that provides a robust training on the Blackboard interface. It will give instructors key insights and abilities to create, manage, and maintain your course content and graded activities. All faculty at CMU are automatically enrolled in this workshop found on the Workshops & Orientation tab on the Bb homepage.
See Also:
Drop-In Sessions (Virtual & In-Person)
CIS staff are available both virtually on Wednesdays and in person throughout the week to meet with faculty, answer questions, and provide support with learning Ultra and migrating course content. Wednesday Virtual Sessions are from 9 am to 3 pm and are held in the Ultra Webex Meeting room.
In-person, support is held at CIS Monday through Friday, during normal business hours thorughout August. CIS is equipped with computer stations and dual monitors for faculty to be able to view their course in Original Course View and Ultra Course View simultaneously.
Ultra can also be learned through the collection of video tutorials provided below. These allow you to review various topics on Ultra and re-visit this information when needed. You can watch the video series in its entirety or the video track within the series that is specifically needed. NOTE: The Ultra training videos were created in the Summer of 2023 and may not reflect the current set up of an Ultra course. Anthology, Inc releases new features or updates to existing features every 30 days in our Blackboard environment so the training videos may be slightly out of date.
ULTRA OVERVIEW
THE DETAILS & ACTION MENU
BUILDING COURSE CONTENT | SOUND PRINCIPLES OF COURSE DESIGN
| Sound Principles of Course Design |
As you re-image your course in Ultra, use these Course Design Principles to guide you in creating a course centered on the student learning experience. |
| Creating and Managing Course Content Video Series |
An overview and explanation of creating, organizing, and managing content within an Ultra course. |
| Video 1: Introduction to Course Content |
How Content is added; Types of Content; Levels of Content; Explanation on Modules & Folders |
| Video 2: Adding & Creating Content |
Demonstration of adding the various types of content; Explanation of Forced Sequence; Tracking Student Progress; Explanation of Ultra Documents, Cloud Documents, and Collaborative Cloud documents; Creation of Links; Explanation of Release Conditions |
| Video 3: Copying Content |
Copying Content Methods; Selecting Content to Copy |
| Video 4: Organizing & Managing Content |
Rearranging content via the drag and drop feature; Using Batch Edit; Content Search Feature |
CLASS COMMUNICATIONS
GRADED ACTIVITIES
THE ULTRA GRADEBOOK
| The Ultra Gradebook Video Series |
The Ultra Gradebook is one of the most powerful tools that comes with the Blackboard upgrade. The Gradebook provides multiple views, various filtering capabilities, a flexible grading experience, and access to data on student engagement and performance not previously available. |
| Video 1: Introduction to the Ultra Gradebook |
Begin your exploration of the Ultra Gradebook and learn the difference between Grid View and List View, how to organize the Gradebook, and master the basics of the Gradebook. |
| Video 2: Gradebook Default Settings Explained |
Explanation of the default settings of the Ultra Gradebook. Understanding these default settings will help you accurately interpret a student's academic standing in the course. |
| Video 3: Explore the List View of the Ultra Gradebook |
Exploration of the List View of the Ultra Gradebook including a review of the Gradable Items and Students tab. |
| Video 4: Explore the Grid View of the Ultra Gradebook |
Exploration of the Grid View of the Ultra Gradebook including manually adding a Graded Column, accessing the Student Overview Page, and adding a calculation. |
| Video 5: The Student Overview Page |
Accessing the Student Overview Page to review an individual student's performance and activity level in the course. |
| Video 6: Managing the Gradebook |
Learn pertinent functions and configuration of the Gradebook such as insight on Grading Schemas, setting Student Performance Thresholds, Grading Categories, and the Overall Grade Column, creating a Gradebook Notation, and Submission Receipts. |
| Video 7: Grading & Grading Tasks |
In this video we will demonstrate the ways submitted work can be identified and accessed for grading and how grading is completed in Ultra including grading by student, grading by question, grading group work, and grading discussions. |
| Video 8: Grading Actions |
Learn how to complete common Gradebook activities such as posting grades, clearing an attempt, overriding a grade, or re-grading questions. |
| Video 9: Additional Grading Options |
Learn about grading options of Parallel (2 or more graders) and Annonymous Grading (grading submissions without seeing the student name). |
COURSE MIGRATION PROCESS
| Course Migration Video Series |
Migrating course content from Original to Ultra is not as simple as completing a course copy, requiring pedagogical decisions to be made on the organization and presentation of content while also ensuring proper formatting and configuration. This video series explains the course migration process, provides a demonstration of how to prep and move content and complete a post-migration review to finalize your new Ultra course. |
| Video 1: Migration Overview |
An introduction and overview of the steps involved in migrating a course from Original Course View to Ultra. |
| Video 2: Migration Prep |
Learn how to prep and organize your course in anticipation of migration to Ultra. |
| Video 3: Content Migration |
See how migration is completed and content is pulled from the Original Course into the Ultra shell. |
| Video 4: Post Migration Review | New Feature Consideration |
Complete a Post-Migration Review of the Ultra course to ensure proper presentation of content, user-friendly navigation, and configuration of settings. Consider use of new features now available in your Ultra course. |