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Register ASAP: Foundations of Online Teaching Part Two
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Learn even more about teaching online by taking part two of Foundations of Online Teaching--registration is open now until the course starts in October!
Foundations of Online Teaching: Part Two
From October 20 to November 23
Facilitated by Gabi Frahm and Christine Monnier
This five-week, hybrid course is designed to build on the skills that were developed in Foundations of Online Teaching Part 1 but can also be taken if you would like to enhance a course you have already developed.
Using the OSCQR Rubric, participants will develop their entire course structure and complete at least two units of work. This course will tackle more advanced topics regarding content development and assessment building.
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Chart Your Course for Ultra
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Ahoy, COD faculty! The deadline for transitioning to Ultra is on the horizon and starting with the Spring 2026 term all courses at COD will be in Ultra (as you see your Spring courses being assigned in Blackboard, you will notice that they are now ALL in Ultra). With that date looming, the time is now to figure out how you’re going to get to Ultra.
The path won’t be the same for every course. Those who only use Blackboard to store a syllabus are going to have a very different transition from those who teach their entire course in Blackboard. But not to worry! We’re here to help you chart your course for the Ultra transition including figuring out how much time it will take, what training you should pursue, and the amount of support you may need from us.
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Submit Your SP26 Blackboard Integration Requests
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It's that time again! If you have a Blackboard integration request, we need it by October 18th at 10 a.m. in order to have time to implement and test it before the Spring 2026 Term. If you're thinking, "Ok, great to know but what IS an integration?" or "How do I know if this applies to me?" you're certainly not alone. A Blackboard integration is any content or tool that is created outside of the Blackboard environment (usually by a third-party vendor) but that is accessed and used within Blackboard itself. For many, if not most of you, that will mean publisher content, like that from Pearson or Cengage. However, integrations can also be things that extend the functionality of Blackboard but that exist separately from it, like YuJa. Essentially, if a tool you use is not a part of the main structure of Blackboard Learn itself, it's probably an integration. Fairly straightforward, right? But adding to the confusion around integration requests, you also only need to submit a request if the tool is new to Blackboard here at COD. If you've already been using an integration, you do not need to submit an additional request to continue doing so. See the complete list of existing integrations. Still not sure if this applies to you? Send us an email (learningtech@cod.edu) and we can help you determine whether or not you need to submit a request or if an integration is potentially available for a tool you're currently using. Or if you know what you need, you can use the form below to send us your request!
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Sign Up Now! Ultra Training for Fall
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Fall 2025 Ultra Training Sessions
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While the transition deadline is fast approaching, you still have plenty of time to learn about Ultra and start moving your courses over. We can help! Here's our training schedule for this fall--and don't forget we also have asynchronous training you can do on your own and support labs where we can answer all of your Ultra questions!
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Building Your Course in Blackboard Ultra
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Whether you are building a brand-new course or are looking to redesign an existing course, this session will include a guided walkthrough on how to build a course optimized for the Ultra Course View. Stick around after the session to ask more questions or get hands on help from Learning Technologies.
- Tuesday, October 28 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Zoom
- Wednesday, November 26 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in SRC 3013
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Blackboard Ultra Gradebook
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This session will cover an overview of the Ultra Gradebook and how to set up your Gradebook to ensure that you and your students have a successful course.
- Friday, November 7 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. in SRC 3013
- Wednesday, December 10 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Zoom
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Converting Your Course to Blackboard Ultra
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Our Converting your Course session will include a guided walkthrough on how to transition your content from Original Course View to Ultra Course view and how to add new content from other sources. You can then take what you have learned and begin transitioning your content into the Ultra Course view. Stick around after the session to ask more questions or get hands on help from Learning Technologies.
- Wednesday, October 15 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in SRC 3013
- Monday, November 17 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Zoom
- Tuesday, December 16 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Zoom
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Ultra Asynchronous Training
Want to learn about Ultra but can't make it to one of our trainings? You can now register for one of our asynchronous online courses! You can choose from a PDH option or one that offers the same information without the PDH component.
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Blackboard Ultra Open Lab
LT Open Labs are ready for all your Ultra questions this fall. From August 27 through December 19 find us in SRC 3013 on:
- Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
- Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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What's New in Ultra for October 2025
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One of the hallmarks of the Blackboard Ultra Experience is the speed with which new features are developed and released. In fact, new features become available every month! Some of these features are large updates with entirely new functionality, others are very small enhancements that improve the teaching and learning experience.
For October, there are only a few smaller updates to Ultra:
- Consistent Save and Cancel options on Settings panels
- Tag Questions with Metadata in tests and question banks
- Improved Course Messages interface (messages appear as chat bubbles)
You can read more about these changes and everything that has been updated in Ultra for October in the full release notes. More improvements are coming in November!
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New: Make an Appointment with an Instructional Designer
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Need a little extra help with structuring your courses or have specific questions about course design in Ultra? We've got Instructional Designers for that! We now have a request form that allows you to book a 30-minute session (either virtual via Teams or in-person) with one of our Instructional Designers.
Before booking a 30-minute appointment with an instructional designer, we strongly encourage you to complete Blackboard Ultra training (available in both ). These sessions will give you the foundation you need so our meeting time can focus on your specific questions and course needs.
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Professional Development Opportunities from Anthology
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Back by popular demand, the Exemplary Course Program (ECP) recognizes instructors and course designers whose courses demonstrate best practices in four major areas: course design, interaction and collaboration, assessment, and learner support.
The 2025 version of the ECP rubric is available now! You can use it to guide discussions around course design at your institution, and to evaluate which of your courses is ready for submission to the program.
You can fill out a form to express your interest in learning about and participating in this program.
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Digital Teaching Symposium
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Get ready for an inspiring day of learning, collaboration, and innovation at the Anthology Digital Teaching Symposium 2025. Join us virtually on November 13, 2025 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., for this free, one-day event that brings together higher education faculty and teaching professionals from around the world to explore the latest insights and strategies shaping the future of digital teaching and learning.
Now in its ninth year, the Digital Teaching Symposium (DTS) is designed to connect educators, spark ideas, and showcase innovative practices in today’s ever-evolving teaching environment. Through peer-led sessions, you’ll discover how colleagues across the globe are harnessing technology to create engaging, inclusive, and personalized learning experiences that meet the expectations of today’s students.
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New Posts on the LT Blog!
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Christine Monnier is back to blogging for the Fall Term! Check out her latest posts (most recent at the bottom, newest are bolded):
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Contact Learning Technologies
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