What’s New

Copy Rubrics Between Ultra Courses Starting in September

New features also focus on assessment & grading enhancements

In early September, Ultra courses will receive updates in several key areas that benefit instructors and students. Maintaining the trend focusing on assessment and grading, these updates also...

Posted: August 31, 2022, 9:29 AM

Akindi Bubble Sheet Training

Learn how to implement the paper-based assessments

As we return to the physical classroom, many faculty are planning to employ paper-based assessments during their synchronous class sessions. Akindi is UMBC's tool whereby faculty download bubble...

Posted: August 25, 2022, 10:01 AM

Better Tests & Grading Lead New Bb Ultra Changes

Ultra to reach 95% feature parity with Original by SP2023

After extensive updates to assessments and grading, Ultra is expected to reach 95% feature parity by the end of spring 2023, allowing faculty to migrate their Original courses into the most...

Posted: August 23, 2022, 1:43 PM

Four More Faculty Earn Quality Matters Certification

Nine of 14 USM’s QM certified courses are from UMBC

After participating in rigorous peer reviews of their online and hybrid courses, four additional UMBC faculty have earned Quality Matters certification as part of the campus’ Quality Matters...

Posted: August 11, 2022, 8:31 AM

Free Webinar Series: Teaching with Ultra, Basics to Advanced

Free training opportunities for faculty, TAs, and staff

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

Posted: August 8, 2022, 11:32 AM

FA2022 Courses Created in Blackboard on July 28, 2022

Blackboard course shells for FA2022 were created on July 28, 2022. The Ultra Course Preview setting is again enabled in FA2022 courses, which allows faculty to convert a new Original course to...

Posted: July 29, 2022, 8:13 AM

Free Training for Respondus Lockdown Browser & Monitor

Join an upcoming webinar to see the latest features

Join an upcoming training webinar from Respondus to see the latest features and integrations for LockDown Browser and Monitor. Learn how these applications are used with a range of online testing...

Posted: July 27, 2022, 8:42 AM

August Release Brings Major Question Banks Update to Ultra

New mobile app, more assessment and grading improvements

It's another massive update for Ultra in August, bringing a significant improvement to question banks, a unified mobile app experience for faculty and students, and overall enhancements to...

Posted: July 26, 2022, 4:10 PM

PIVOT Receives Blackboard Award for Training

Initiative highlighted effective, campus-wide use of Ultra

Planning Instructional Variety for Online Teaching (PIVOT) has received a 2022 Catalyst Award from Blackboard/Anthology for Training and Professional Development. Designed and delivered by DoIT’s...

Posted: July 11, 2022, 8:31 PM

Points Calculation & Display Arrive to Ultra Gradebook

Prevent question backtracking, copy question banks & more

The July update to Ultra courses brings ten new features and improvements, focusing on assessment, grading, and content creation. As with previous updates this year, the continued focus aligns...

Posted: June 29, 2022, 12:44 PM