We kicked off the Spring Term with a suite of bookable Ultra training sessions. The programme is designed to prepare you for the move from Blackboard Learn Original to Blackboard Ultra and give practical support to set up your courses ready for 2024/25. Around 100 staff have already taken part this term, sharing their Ultra expectations, questions and insights. We are using this feedback to refine training, streamline sessions and focus on the core essentials needed to get started using Ultra, particularly in relation to re-using of Blackboard content from previous years and planning courses using the new Ultra course template.
Here’s a quick round up of staff feedback and key takeaways, showing what was most valued by colleagues, impact on confidence levels and whether it was a worthwhile investment of time.
1) What was most valued by colleagues?
Colleagues felt the most useful aspects of the Ultra training were opportunities to:
- Practice using Ultra or ask questions, in a supported, knowledgeable environment;
- Orientate and familiarise themselves with the Ultra course template;
- Discuss approaches to reusing Original content and new Ultra features, for example: exploring how assessment or communication practices could translate or be enhanced by Ultra.
Fig 1: Word cloud taken from staff evaluation survey; “Which aspect of this session did you find most useful, and why?”
2) What were the key take-aways?
Colleagues shared their key takeaway messages and insights, the quotes below indicate colleagues were using training sessions to think about the design of their courses, reflect on the tasks needed to get ready for September 2024/25 and consider how new features could be used by wider teaching teams:
“Plan my new course rather than just copy and paste from old course”
“Add less content and use new features to increase ease of use”
“Use the template to organize my course”
“Seems like a genuine improvement”
“Ultra provides a range of nice new tools, such as the alerts! I am very excited to propose this to the module conveners”.
3) Any concerns?
“I can see what needs to be done but I am worried about losing the knowledge I have if I don’t apply the information straightaway.”
All sessions on the Ultra staff development programme have a companion web page. These self-access resources contain recordings of Ultra demonstrations, links to Ultra course planning materials and ‘how-to’ instructional guides to help you. In addition, common Ultra FAQs are documented for staff to check back as needed.
4) Did colleagues feel more confident after training?
When joining Ultra training sessions, colleagues were asked to rate their user confidence levels from 1 (low) – 5 (high). On average, confidence levels increased significantly, as the average rating changed from 2.77 to 4.14.
“I now have a better idea of how to begin when I build my courses.”
5) Was Ultra training a worthwhile investment of colleagues’ time?
57 staff took part in the feedback survey, rating Ultra training as predominantly good or excellent use of time.
Fig 2: Staff evaluation survey question, showing the majority of attendees rated training as either good or excellent value for time; “How would you rate this session in terms of value for the time that you have invested in attending today?”
What’s next?
CQSD TEL are working with senior T&L colleagues in schools to offer dedicated workshops for schools and departments. Check with your teams for further information.
Look out for further bookable dates for the Summer Term on the Ultra staff development programme.
Useful resources
- The Blackboard Ultra Project page provides links to other useful Ultra pages.
- Getting up and running with your Ultra course page outlines the Project timeline and what you need to do when.
Jackie Fairbairn, Senior TEL Advisor, CQSD TEL