This summer, you can learn how to fine tune your online courses with a little help from LT! Summer is winding down so we've got just one session left--register now!
Providing Feedback within Blackboard
July 23 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Zoom
In this session, learn the importance of providing timely feedback to students, and ways to provide feedback using tools in Blackboard. Use Flexible Grading to provide written, audio, or video feedback to student assessments. Use question-specific Automated Feedback in tests or exams for immediate feedback. You can even automate some feedback to congratulate students on work well done or provide encouragement when students don’t earn a specified score. Learn how to send automatic reminders to students who have not yet reviewed their feedback.
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July 2026 Updates to Blackboard
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There are several updates to Blackboard for July that you will notice as you access the LMS during the Summer Term.
- Discussions and AI Conversations: Discussions and Journals now include a dedicated Description field, and instructors can set assessment- or conversation- level time limits for AI Conversations.
- Improved Navigation: The Course Switcher now includes a Favorites tab alongside Recent and Search, giving users faster access to their most frequently used courses.
- Conversation Threads in Course Messages: When composing a message, users can now preview existing conversation threads with selected recipients, providing context and reducing fragmented communication.
- Rubric Evaluation Report: Instructors can now generate a Rubric Evaluation Report for the Ultra Gradebook to analyze rubric performance accross all student submissions.
- Learning Object Repository Flexibility: Instructors can now add supplemental content to LOR folders and learning modules while preserving synchronization for institution-managed content.
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Free Webinar: Using YuJa Lumina in Blackboard
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In this recurring series with Yennhu Nguyen on July 13th at 2:00 pm EST participants can learn the fundamentals of YuJa Lumina (the College's enterprise video platform) and how course creators and instructors can leverage it within their Blackboard environment. The session will focus on foundational tools that simplify the process of making online courses more inclusive and help you gain a greater understanding of Luminas's core features including the comprehensive video editor and creating an accessible video library.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the basics of YuJa Lumina and how it can be leveraged to elevate your content
- Learn how Lumina can help you make courses more accessible from inception
- Gain a broader understanding of core features such as YuJa's Video Editor and Compliance Reports
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Free Online Conference: OLC Elevate 2026
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OLC Elevate is a two-day, virtual conference that is free for OLC members to attend (COD is a member!). Co-hosted by Tarleton State University and Rockford University, this conference tackles the most pressing shifts in digital learning.
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Theme: Rethinking the Learning Enterprise: From Institutions to Ecosystems
Explore how learning moves beyond institutional bounds into flexible, AI-mediated ecosystems. This day focuses on the big picture: governance, infrastructure, and the
Thursday, August 6, 2026
Theme: Bridging Innovation: Transforming Education through Digital Learning and AI Integration
Turn innovative theory into instructional practice. This day serves as a deep dive into the human-centered design and pedagogical shifts required to integrate AI responsibly into the student experience.
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Register Now for Fall ION Courses
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ION Professional eLearning Programs offer online courses for faculty, staff, administrators, and leaders. Fall course registration is now live and courses start August 17th. You can choose from courses on topics related to:
- AI
- Accessibility
- OER
- Effective Teaching
- Online Learning
- HyFlex Course Design
- UDL
Find the full catalog of courses and details on price, curriculum and registration on the ION website. |
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Level Up Your Accessibility!
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There's no better time to learn how to improve the accessibility of your courses.
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On Demand: Blackboard Ally Course Accessibility Report Training
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Learn more about the Ally Accessibility Report! You can choose from two versions-- one offers PDH (perfect for faculty looking for PDH hours) and one doesn't. Information and registration information can be found below.
This training introduces faculty to practical methods for identifying, resolving, and prioritizing accessibility issues in their course materials using Blackboard Ally. It highlights common barriers for students, quick wins, and strategies for utilizing the Course Accessibility Report, empowering instructors to make steady, meaningful progress on accessibility without becoming overwhelmed. |
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Make an Appointment with LT
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Need a little extra help with structuring your courses? Have specific questions about Blackboard? Looking to make your courses more accessible? We have support for that! Visit our appointments site to book a 30-minute session (either virtual via Teams or in-person) with one of our team members.
Not sure who you need to meet with? You'll find an explanation of what each type of support covers so you can choose what's right for your needs. If you're still not sure, please email us at learningtech@cod.edu and we'll route you to the right person. |
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Christine Monnier is back to blogging for LT! Check out her latest posts (most recent at the bottom, newest are bolded):
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Contact Learning Technologies
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