4/28/23 - Initial Email to Faculty

Email to Faculty  - April 28. 2023

Dear Faculty,

 You have probably heard that Blackboard is moving to a new interface called Ultra. The new and modern interface is more accessible, provides an easier workflow for students, and promotes engagement. Many schools are moving to Utra. Read about how other schools are managing the transition. 

The transition plan will accommodate those who enjoy the challenge of new technology and those who prefer to wait before adopting new applications, as your timeframe for moving to the new interface is flexible.  

A company called K16 Solutions is migrating courses for us. Early this summer, you will see a new site in the Ultra interface for each unique course you taught this spring." Online Learning has combed the schedule to determine which courses need an Ultra interface version. For example,  

•       If you teach three sections of the same course in the classroom, we selected one section.

•       If you teach three sections of the same course, but taught online, blended, and one in the classroom, we will provide you with a copy of all three sections.

•       If you taught one course in an 8-week and 16-week format, you would receive a copy of both Blackboard sites.

Some additional things you need to know:  

•       Even with the conversion, faculty will need to review converted courses to make sure that you are happy with the way your students will work through your content, and that all content is in place. A migration log will help guide you through potential issues.

•       There will be no changes made to your existing courses. The sites created by K16 are an addition to the sites you currently have in Blackboard.

•       The fall Blackboard sites will give you the option to use the Ultra interface or stick with Original. Training will begin this summer with both online and face-to-face options. Training schedules will be announced before the summer semester. We recommend that you wait until the training for Ultra is available and you complete it, but we recognize some of you have had some training or used Ultra at another institution. If you want to teach in Ultra this summer, send a note to bbsupport@tulsacc.edu letting us know which course(s) need the Ultra interface. Please include the CRNs of these courses.

•       If you use eCore content. Your eCore Faculty Lead will be working on your sites this fall and have a goal of transitioning to Ultra by Spring of 2024. You will not need to worry about the structure, but you might consider the training to learn the instructor workflow.

 Thanks for taking the time to read this. We hope you will enjoy this new interface.

Jennifer Campbell, Ph.D.
GKFF Endowed Chair for Online Learning
Professor of Health Sciences
Tulsa Community College
918-595-7018

About Instructor Choice view

New Blackboard courses for Fall 2023 will automatically be added in Instructor Choice view. That means you will be able to choose whether to continue using Blackboard Original for your course or change it to Ultra to preview it. Don't worry--if you don't like Ultra, you can change it back! You can learn about Instructor Choice view in our Knowledge Base article "Using Instructor Choice view to preview Ultra."

Ultra Cheat Sheet

Online Learning has added an Ultra Cheat Sheet to our Knowledge Base. You'll find links to information directly from Blackboard, as well as links to our own Ultra articles as we add them.