The training programme for the new Blackboard Learn Ultra VLE continues apace, with the majority of academic teams now having received their initial training.
The TEL Unit has offered a selection of mop up sessions for those staff members who were unable to attend their main team session. All of the original mop up sessions are now fully booked so, due to popular demand, two additional sessions will be offered in July. These will take place on:
The TEL team invites staff to our Blackboard Learn Ultra Office Hours, held every two weeks via MS Teams. This is a dedicated time for you to get answers to your Ultra-related queries and receive further support in structuring and developing your new modules.
Who Should Attend?
Staff members who have completed the three-hour Blackboard Ultra training session.
Those currently building their Ultra modules.
Staff with specific questions or in need of additional support.
Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your Blackboard Ultra experience with expert guidance from the TEL team. See you there!
Disclaimer: Please note that this is not a training session. These office hours are for specific Ultra-related queries. If you have not yet attended the dedicated course team Ultra training session, please ensure you attend this first. If you cannot make your team session, you can book onto an ‘open’ session via the Staff Development Workshops page.
In recent weeks, members of the Technology Enhanced Learning Unit have been actively visiting departments to conduct briefing sessions on the new system and the transition to Blackboard Learn Ultra. Alongside these, the TEL Unit have also organised several online sessions open to all staff members. These sessions have focused on introducing the new system, highlighting its features and functionalities, and offering updates on the practicalities of transitioning to the new system.
With the new Blackboard Learn Ultra virtual learning environment now out of the pilot phase, it’s time to prepare for the upcoming rollout of live modules. This will ensure your Learn Ultra content and learning tools are set up successfully before the new semester begins in September.
Blackboard staff training sessions will be held for course teams from May through to the end of July. The training will cover best practices for designing your modules in the new system, as well as hands-on experience in building your new Learn Ultra sites. A course team training session will last for around 3 hours. We highly recommend having as many course team members attend as possible to facilitate consistent decision-making across the course.
Here’s what to do next:
Consult with your course team to identify a preferred week for training.
The TEL team will then be in contact to confirm all the details, including which resources attendees should bring along, so that they can get started on creating their Ultra modules.
Be sure to book your training sessions early to reserve your preferred dates!
January saw our Ultra pilot users embark on their new VLE journey. The users were spread across a range of courses with varying modes of delivery, and the TEL team have enjoyed the opportunity to discuss pedagogical considerations, as well as more routine, ‘how do I do that?’ questions. After creating their modules, we asked the pioneers for feedback which is summarised on the images below:
Next Steps
We are using this feedback to guide the broader implementation of the new ‘Blackboard Learn Ultra’ VLE for the wider organisation. Additionally, it will help to inform the training provided by TEL, the customisation of templates, and the system, where feasible.
We are now working with senior colleagues in schools, to offer dedicated workshops for schools and departments, which will begin at the end of April and will continue through into the summer. Check with your teams for further information.
The TEL Unit are pleased to confirm that the various Blackboard copy functions are now available again, for copying module content. As part of the transition to Ultra, copy functions recently were not accessible, and we are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused. Staff should now have the option once again to copy content between modules; which includes copying over items or folders.
Thank you for meeting with us!
Finally, a big Thank you to everyone who has met with us over the last few weeks. The TEL Unit have enjoyed meeting with staff at the VLE Roadshows, and when attending Departmental Briefing sessions.
We are excited about the next steps, including meeting with more departments and commencing training after Easter, which staff members will soon be able to sign up to. The TEL team are willing to share further information with any staff members who would like to know more about Blackboard Learn Ultra. Please do continue to contact us, at tel@worc.ac.uk, if you have any questions you would like to ask about our new VLE.
Last Thursday, the Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL) Unit hosted an exciting and informal drop-in event at St John’s reception. The event aimed to showcase the new Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Learn Ultra, and the area buzzed with excitement as staff gathered to see the new VLE in action!
The event spanned three hours, during which the TEL team welcomed numerous staff members who stopped by to say hello, engaged in casual conversations, and sought answers to their burning questions about the upcoming changes. It was great to witness the genuine interest and eagerness among the staff to learn more about the new VLE.
The Roadshow was an opportunity for staff to connect with the TEL team, who were able to provide insights into the exciting features of the VLE. Attendees were encouraged to ask questions, enquire about training programmes, and delve into the specifics of how the new VLE will enhance their teaching and learning experiences.
The VLE Roadshow turned out to be a resounding success, with positive feedback from the staff who attended. Two more roadshows are planned for the coming weeks. This ensures that anyone who missed the chance to attend last week’s event, will have another opportunity to explore the new VLE.
Details of the next two VLE Roadshows:
Thursday 29th February 11am – 2pm, St John’s Campus, Reception.
Thursday 14th March 11am – 2pm, City Campus, Reception.
These are informal drop-in sessions, pop by at any point!
The VLE review is well underway, with the first pilot courses using Anthology Ultra with their students. So far, student feedback has been excellent, with all preferring the new system. We also had an overwhelming response to our online briefing sessions, which were oversubscribed.
We’re sure that many of you are champing at the bit to take a look at the new VLE, so we at the Technology Enhanced Learning Unit will be running a VLE roadshow in the main reception foyer on Thursday 22nd February, from 11am until 2pm to demonstrate how Ultra works and how to get the best from it. Feel free to come along and ask questions or simply watch our demonstrations.
We will of course be providing full training in the coming months.
The implementation of the new VLE Anthology Ultra is now well underway, and the TEL team have started working with a number of early adopters to prepare their Ultra modules, ready for teaching in semester 2. We also have a group of users who have expressed an interest in learning more about the new system early on in the project. The TEL Unit will be gathering feedback from all the early adopters, which will be used to inform the full rollout to all staff over the coming months.
We will be running briefing sessions for anyone wishing to find out more, on 2nd February 2024 1-2pm and 5th February 2024 12-1pm. Members of the TEL team have also arranged to attend a number of departmental and school meetings, to provide further updates and to provide an opportunity for questions and answers. If you would like to join either of the open briefing sessions, you can sign up from the Staff Development Booking system Staff Development Workshops – University of Worcester
The new Ultra environment is significantly different from our current version, with a more modern look and feel, new features and functionality. We strongly encourage all teaching staff to engage in training to make the most of the enhanced opportunities, and to set aside some time to prepare your modules for the next academic year – the training will enable you to assess how much time you should allow. Training sessions will be organised for all Schools, so please look out for workshops and other opportunities to get involved. If you have any away days or events organised where you would like a briefing for your team, please get in touch, and a member of TEL would be happy to attend to answer any questions you may have. Please contact Libby Symonds, e.symonds@worc.ac.uk, if you would like any further information, or to organise a session for your team.
The Technology Enhanced Learning Unit would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. We look forward to working with you this semester.
If you have recently joined as a member of Academic staff, as part of your induction, you can sign up for the forthcoming staff development workshops:
Induction Programme: Working with Library Services and TEL to enhance teaching and learning. – on the 18th January, between 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Introduction to Blackboard for new staff. – on the 26th January, between 10:15 – 11.45 a.m.
The TEL unit sits within the broader Library Services Department. You can find out more about the TEL unit by visiting our webpages, https://uwtel.co.uk/. Within these sessions, you will have the opportunity to be introduced to the learning technologies, which are used to enrich teaching and learning at the University of Worcester. Please visit the Staff development workshops, from the staff homepage, to view the full workshop details and to book your place.
With January underway, behind the scenes, Academic staff and Learning Technologists have already been busily working on the pilot project for our new VLE. We will soon be updating our VLE page with news and events. Remember, if you have any questions regarding the implementation of Anthology’s Blackboard Learn Ultra, you can visit our designated webpage, https://uwtel.co.uk/vle-review-new-virtual-learning-environment/
Please get in touch with us, here at the TEL team, for any training or support needs you may require this semester. We are available for tutorials, workshops, or departmental briefings to suit your needs. These can be arranged by contacting tel@worc.ac.uk in the first instance.
We eagerly await you making use of the services available from the TEL team this year.
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