AI Initiatives

The Division of Information Technology’s AI site will help the UMBC community with information on using artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative AI (GenAI), to support UMBC’s Administrative, Instructional, and Research efforts. This site has been created to help employees advance their use of GenAI. We recommend that our UMBC community begin by visiting GenAI Tools, this page will highlight what free resources are available to use and what options exist to use GenAI while safeguarding UMBC institutional data safely.

For staff providing support, we encourage people to look at Administrative AI, as a starting point. Our goal is to save folks time and improve the quality of their work, thus increasing productivity. We highlight some tools that DoIT is providing for support.

Additionally, we have launched an AI-supported search bar called myUMBC Answers.  We are seeking partners to work with DoIT to expand myUMBC Answers. The key to your office leveraging myUMBC Answers is providing validated and accurate content, such as FAQs or a handbook produced annually.

For faculty, we encourage you to also explore instructional AI and research AI. An excellent resource in the College of Engineering is the UMBC Center for AI.  You can follow news about the UMBC Center for AI on social media through its sites on LinkedIn, Bluesky, X, and Facebook. Members of the UMBC community can subscribe to the UMBC AI Group to receive email about AI-related news and events. If you have news to share with the UMBC AI community or suggestions or comments on the site, please send them to umbc-ai@cs.umbc.edu.

 

AI News

Showing items tagged blackboard. Show All

Now available: Self-paced Ultra for Instructors course

Resources, training & tips for your Ultra journey

Note: This self-paced course has been retired due to changes in available resources from Blackboard. We encourage faculty interested in Ultra training to access the following resources: Attend...

Posted: February 22, 2023, 12:02 PM

UMBC to Complete Bb Ultra Migration by Start of SP2025

FA2024 to be last term DoIT supports Bb Original

In support of a common learning experience for students and faculty, and in consultation with the Faculty Senate Computer Policy Committee (CPC) last semester, UMBC will complete the Blackboard...

Posted: February 17, 2023, 12:20 PM

Six month roadmap previewed for Ultra courses

Focus on assessment, grading, content, learner analytics

Over the last year, Ultra received more than 150 enhancements and new features to strengthen and improve the new course for faculty and students. At the first quarter roadmap for 2023, the Ultra...

Posted: February 14, 2023, 2:44 PM

Free Webinar Series: Teaching with Blackboard Ultra

Monthly training for faculty, TAs, and staff in SP/SU2023

The Bb Instructor Webinar Series offers free 45-minute webinars designed for instructors who are getting started with teaching using Blackboard Ultra. Topics include getting started, creating...

Posted: February 3, 2023, 10:47 AM

Extra credit & exemptions come to Ultra assessments in Feb

New functionality enhances Ultra courses in time for SP2023

In early February, instructors will have the option to help students showcase their knowledge on assessments with the new extra credit setting. With this feature, instructors can assign one or...

Posted: January 30, 2023, 2:24 PM