The big move from Blackboard Learn Original to Blackboard Learn Ultra
Welcome to our first ‘Blackboard goes Ultra’ blog post! This series, by the Centre for Digital Learning Enhancement (CDLE), focuses on the roll out of Blackboard Learn Ultra, the new Ulster University virtual learning environment (VLE).
To help you prepare and keep updated with all that is changing, our regular fortnightly posts will provide tips and advice for migrating your modules, with staff and student perspectives from those who have used Ultra in the pilot phase. It will highlight some of the best features and opportunities for learning and teaching of this new VLE.
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Or you might be asking yourself what Ultra is and what it means to you as a student or lecturer at Ulster University.
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Blackboard Learn Ultra, the new look VLE, boasts a modern student interface that adjusts to fit whatever computer, tablet, or smartphone is being used.
With an upgraded layout it offers a faster, more responsive mobile experience, it is intuitive for students to use, with essential functionality for staff and students presented in a user-friendly way.
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All staff, will need to rebuild their modules by the end of summer 2024. |
Why Ultra? Why now?
As early as 2014, Helen Beetham, researcher, lecturer and coordinator of JISC Building Digital Capabilities project, recognised the importance of a consistent digital experience for students (Beetham & White, 2014). The JISC 2023 report, ‘Beyond Blended’, highlights how digital technologies are now thoroughly embedded into learning and teaching in Higher Education (Beetham & MacNeill, 2023).
The virtual learning environment is no longer an optional extra or an add-on to learning, teaching and assessment in higher education. It is now an integral part of a much wider combination of digital technologies that facilitate learners and educators wherever they are, at whatever time learning and teaching is taking place.
🗨️ Prof Professor Alex Owen, Dean of Learning Enhancement, Ulster University
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To align with our digital assessment strategy, all student assessments, marking and communication of grades and feedback is done via Blackboard Learn. In 20222023, the Ulster University Digital Experience Insights report revealed that 67% 77% of our students regularly access digital learning resources via a smartphone. It makes sense therefore, that we have a modern, mobile responsive virtual learning environment to support both staff and students in their ways of working.
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‘Our annual digital experience survey highlights the fact that nearly 70% 80% of our students are regularly accessing Blackboard on a mobile device and we know that the current experience is not as good as it should be. A key feature of the new Ultra experience is a responsive design that natively works on any device without the need to download dedicated mobile applications.
Ultra will provide a more intuitive, streamlined interface and workflows, enhancing the student experience and reducing some of the complex workflows that staff experience.’
🗨️ Oscar Kelly,
‘Our students
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All staff can now request their own Ultra development area (dev area) to familiarise themselves with the new interface.
📘 Follow the how-to guide two steps below to get set up your dev area:
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Login to Module Manager. Then, select Ultra > Setup
Enter a title for your Ultra area > Set it up! https://dl01.ulster.ac.uk/modulemanager/
You will see a new module available in your Blackboard modules list when you next Login to Blackboard
Develop your skills
There will be ongoing training and support for the move to Blackboard Ultra, with Anthology certified courses, as well as bespoke CDLE staff training and events. For all our 2024 digital learning support and events, check out the CDLE homepage at:
Learn more about the move to Ultra
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If you’d like to get thinking about the opportunities for learning and teaching that the new VLE has to offer, explore watch the links videos below:
Fiona’s Demo video for QAHE January 2024
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video/941621150?h=244bf45ffe width="740" height="420" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p><a href=https://vimeo.com/941621150>Blackboard Goes Ultra</a> from <a href=https://vimeo.com/ulsteruniversity>Ulster University</a> on <a href=https://vimeo.com>Vimeo</a>.</p> |
Author
Aideen Gibson is a Learning Technologist in the Centre for Digital Learning Enhancement at Ulster University.
🔗 Useful links
JISC Building Digital Capabilities
\uD83D\uDCCB Related articles
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🔗 Useful links
Digital Experience Insights Reports (Ulster University)
🔗 References
Beetham, H., & White, D., (2014) Students' expectations and experiences of the digital environment. Available from: https://repository.jisc.ac.uk/5573/ [accessed 16 January 2024]
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