WT2025 Instructional Technology Update

The UMBC Instructional Technology Update is provided by the Division of Information Technology for students, faculty and staff. If you have questions or need help, please consult the Blackboard Help FAQs or directly at www.umbc.edu/blackboard/help.  You can also contact the Technology Support Center at 410.455.3838 or submit an RT (Request Tracker) ticket via the myUMBC Help Menu or directly at my.umbc.edu/help.

HEADLINES

What’s New

• Blackboard offline for required system maintenance on 12/25 (12 AM - 6 AM)
• WT/SP2025 Bb courses created on Nov 22
• Publisher Integration Updates to VitalSource, Cengage, Pearson, Macmillan on Dec 19
• Ultra's Progress Tracking Tools Help Instructors Identify, Connect, and Support Learners
• New Course Management Features in Poll Everywhere Starting Jan 6
• Introducing Qwickly Attendance Plus Pilot with Upgraded Features for SP2025
• National IT Survey Highlights Teaching and Learning Trends in Online Learning
• Vasbinder Creates OER Course from 2023 M.O.S.T. Faculty Grant
• Exploring the Faculty Journey from QM Course Certification to becoming a Master Reviewer

Training & Professional Development (recording archive | view upcoming events)

• Applying the Quality Matters Rubric Asynchronous Online Workshop (01.06 - 01.24) 
• Getting Started with Microsoft Teams (01.06) 
• Blackboard Ultra's AI Course Design Assistant Tool (01.08)
• Ultra Content Release and Visibility Settings (01.09)
• CourseArc Essentials (01.10)
• Getting Started with Google Meet (01.13)
• Copy Content into Blackboard Ultra (01.14)
• What's New in Ultra Courses for Teaching & Learning SP2025 (01.17)
• Create Assessments in Blackboard Ultra (01.21)
• Semester-Start Gradebook Management for Ultra Courses (01.21)
• Poll Everywhere New Course Management Features Training (01.22)
• Improve Course Accessibility with Ally's Remediation Tools (01.24)

In Case You Missed It: Recordings & Tips

• Creating Accessible Content Series 
• Digital Accessibility Guidelines Checklist
• Creating Accessible Documents (44:51)
• Creating Accessible Presentations (31:24) 
• Creating Accessible Instructional Videos (45:19)
• Learning Analytics Community of Practice Talks
• Using AI to Create, Align and Assess Multiple Choice Questions (10/3/24)
• Lessons Learned Nudging Students with myUMBC Personal Posts (11/14/24)
• Course Prep Checklists
• Tips to Wrap Up Your Blackboard Course for the Semester 
• Effective Practices for Delivering Blackboard Tests
• Tips to Get Your Blackboard Course Ready for Next Semester

Other DoIT & UMBC News

• Important Notice: Google Quotas Established
• DoIT Receives NSF Grant for Campus Cyber Infrastructure
• 4 Faculty, 2 Staff Named 2024-25 Learning Analytics Fellows
• Technology Tested and Updated in Classrooms
• DoIT Project Report, FY2024 Q3 & Q4
• Campus Phone Upgrades

• More Information about WT2025 Instructional Technology Update