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Blackboard Ultra Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Blackboard being upgraded to Ultra?
To continuously improve the learning experiences for our students, UTHSC has decided to upgrade to Blackboard Ultra. Blackboard Ultra has been available for several years, and offers several benefits to the current version, most noticeably to the user interface. The Ultra Course View is cleaner with a more modern design and easy-to-use workflows. It also has powerful new tools that are not available in the Original Course View, like Discussion Analytics. Blackboard has been encouraging its customers to upgrade in order to take advantage of the new features and better support.
What is Blackboard Ultra Base Navigation?

UBN is a modern, intuitive navigation menu that lives outside of courses. UBN includes links to new pages, such as the Activity Stream, Calendar, Messages, etc., that provide quick access to the most critical information consolidated for your courses. 

UBN will be enabled on July 1, 2021
No Blackboard courses will change on this date. 

Will training be available?
Yes. Training will occur in two phases. Starting in April 2021, TLC will offer show and tells of the new Ultra Base Navigation (UBN). Starting in July, TLC will offer regular workshops on how to use the new Ultra version of Blackboard, including Blackboard Ultra courses.
Can I get an early look at Blackboard Ultra?

Yes. There are two sneak preview opportunities available. The first starts during the spring 2021 term on the test server. One of your courses will be converted for you to examine. No students will be enrolled in the course. Send an email to the TLC by April 30 to participate. 

During the fall 2021 term, the Project Team will give you the ability to convert your active course(s) with enrolled students. Email the tlc@uthsc.edu if you would like to participate.

When can I start preparing my spring 2022 courses?
Spring 2022 courses will be available on November 4, 2021. TLC staff will be able to assist you with the transition.
Will there be any problems with how courses convert?

The Blackboard Ultra Upgrade Team is working diligently to identify any potential issues with the conversion and resolve them prior to November 4. That being said, there may be instances where a course does not convert successfully, particularly for more complex courses. If you use any add-ons that neither ITS nor TLC are aware of, please send an email to tlc@uthsc.edu. Also, if you are concerned about conversion because of the complexities of your Blackboard course, send an email to the TLC. 

If there are problems with conversion, the Blackboard Ultra Upgrade Team will work very diligently to do as much as possible to resolve the issues that arise.

How can I get more information about the upgrade?
Send an email to the TLC. One or more members of the Blackboard Ultra Upgrade Team, comprised of TLC and ITS staff, will respond to your inquiry.

 

Jan 29, 2024