Join us for our 5th Annual Blackboard Day in the College of Arts & Sciences Building, by accessing Zoom in the CAIFS PD Course, or by using the Zoom Link!
9 am to 9:30 am
Welcome and Blackboard Learn Ultra Updates
Join the Blackboard Support Team to learn what is new in the Blackboard Learn Ultra Road Map for Spring-Fall 2025.
Look for new release conditions, AI Debates, Achievements, Competency-Based Learning, and much more!
9:45 am to 10:30 am
Blackboard Learn Ultra Instructional Materials
Let’s dive into Ultra and learn our way around the updated content design options. Use blocks to place media and text side-by-side. Or explore Knowledge Check features that can keep students engaged with course content. Facilitator: Jennifer Bland, Learning Experience Designer.
10:45 am to 11:30 am
Grading and Plagiarism Checking in Blackboard Learn Ultra
Looking for your Needs Grading list or how to drop the lowest quiz grade? In this session, we’ll get to know the Ultra Gradebook and where to find all the features you need. We’ll also explore a range of question analytics, plagiarism reports, and student support features for accommodations, extensions, and exemptions in the Ultra Gradebook. Facilitator: Celena Kusch, Executive Director, Academic Innovation & Faculty Support.
11:45 am to 12:30 pm
Using Activity Reports for Student Success
This presentation will look at the Blackboard Ultra features, like progress checking and activity reports, that allow faculty to easily monitor student engagement and performance in real-time. By regularly reviewing student course participation and performance and communicating with students about how they’re doing, instructors have a strong opportunity to foster student success and persistence. Facilitator: Lillian Reeves, Director of Transformative and Inclusive Pedagogy.
12:30 pm to 1:15 pm
Lunch
Take a break, and drop by CASB, Room 117, with your laptop for lunch, brainstorming and troubleshooting within your course.
Do you need a sandbox course for playing around in Blackboard Learn Ultra Course View? Email academicinnovation@uscupstate.edu.
1:15 pm to 2:00 pm
Course Design in a GenAI Learning Environment
Anthology, Blackboard’s parent company, has partnered with Microsoft Artificial Intelligence (AI) to develop easy-to-use tools enhanced by generative artificial intelligence and large language models. In this session, we will go over several key AI Design Assist tools and AI-based assignment options. Facilitator: Yamil Ernesto Ruiz, Director of Online Learning and Program Support
2:15 pm to 3:00 pm
Let’s Talk Teaching: Blackboard Course Design Q&A
Share your question, ideas, and course design dreams. How can the USC Upstate Syllabus Template help you streamline your course setup and conversion to a new term?