What’s New

Ultra Adoption by Faculty Eclipses Original for SP2024

Instructional Technology ready for Ultra migration support

In the final nine months of UMBC's Ultra migration, the overall faculty adoption rate continues to grow. For the spring 2024 term, Original course usage decreased by 33% between fall 23 and spring...

Posted: March 12, 2024, 2:43 PM

Select Course Materials and Tech Tools For Upcoming Terms

Leverage CMI, OER, and available technologies for Fall 2024

Instructors have many options available when they select course materials each term. As you select materials for the upcoming term, will you participate in the Course Materials Initiative (CMI),...

Posted: March 11, 2024, 8:36 AM

Ultra Courses to Support Additional Level of Nested Folders

Availability to begin after spring break

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...

Posted: March 7, 2024, 9:19 AM

First Course Earns QM Certification with 7th Ed. Rubric

Eileen O'Brien Among 19 Faculty to Satisfy Peer Review

The first faculty member from UMBC has earned Quality Matters (QM) certification for an online course utilizing the new 7th Edition Higher Education Rubric as part of theQuality Matters Impact...

Posted: March 4, 2024, 9:13 AM

Deadline Extended! M.O.S.T. 2024 OER Grant Program

Proposals now due on Friday, March 8th

The Maryland Open Source Textbook (M.O.S.T.) Initiative is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals for the 2024 OER Grant Program. For 2024, M.O.S.T. is seeking proposals for two grant...

Posted: February 29, 2024, 11:11 AM

Gradebook statistics coming to Ultra courses in March

Additional features include AI enhancements, new settings

In continuous effort to improve the digital learning environment for both faculty and students, the March update to Ultra features several improvements designed to streamline course management,...

Posted: February 27, 2024, 3:02 PM

Call for Proposals for USM 2024 OER Grant Program

Proposals due Friday, March 1st

The Maryland Open Source Textbook (M.O.S.T.) Initiative is pleased to announce a Request for Proposals for the 2024 OER Grant Program. For 2024, M.O.S.T. is seeking proposals for two grant...

Posted: February 27, 2024, 11:32 AM

Summer 2024 Open Education Publishing Institute

Application due Friday, March 1st

Summer 2024 Open Education Publishing Institute The Graduate Center of the City University of New York is pleased to announce a call for participants for the Summer 2024 Open Education Publishing...

Posted: February 27, 2024, 11:07 AM

Open Education Live: Free Virtual Symposium on OER

Event sponsored by University of Central Florida

Open Ed Live is a free online event on February 27-29, 2024, aimed at bringing Higher Ed faculty, librarians, and instructional designers together to explore the boundless opportunities of open...

Posted: February 15, 2024, 12:27 PM

Blackboard to Present Exclusive Ultra Roadmap on Feb 21

Discover Ultra’s future: Join in person or virtually

Instructional Technology is pleased to partner with Blackboard on February 21 for the Ultra Lunch & Learn Roadmap. During this exclusive event, faculty can explore upcoming features in...

Posted: February 8, 2024, 2:56 PM