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All Courses Now in Blackboard Ultra
College of DuPage has completed transitioning to the Ultra version of Blackboard. All courses for the Spring 2026 term now appear in Ultra.
 
If you have not yet set up your courses for the Ultra Course View, please review the asynchronous training resources below. These can help you get started and understand the basics prior to the start of the term. If you prefer in-person training, we are offering  several kickoff sessions on Ultra. We will also be staffing support labs during kickoff for any questions or individual concerns you may have about your courses.
 
We kindly request that you take advantage of these learning opportunities and start setting up your courses BEFORE making an appointment with Learning Technologies. Due to the large volume of courses still needing setup in Ultra, we anticipate a high volume of support requests and wait times for support will be longer. The earlier you get started, the quicker we will be able to respond and assist you with any questions you may have. 
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Ultra Asynchronous Training
If you want to learn about Ultra but can't make it to one of our trainings you can register for one of our asynchronous online courses and learn at your own pace.
 
You can choose from a PDH option or one that offers the same information without the PDH component. 
Learn More and Register
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Blackboard Ultra Open Lab 
LT Open Labs are ready for all your Ultra questions. During the Spring 2026 Term, labs will be in SRC 3007 on:
 
  • Mondays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
  • Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 
 
For Ultra questions outside of lab hours, we prefer you make an appointment by emailing learningtech@cod.edu. 
 
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Getting Started with the Term
Use the following checklist and linked resources to ensure that content in your Blackboard course shell is ready for students by the first day of your course. Note that some links below require you to log in with your COD credentials.
For additional resources, visit the Learning Technologies Knowledge Base (requires COD login) and Blackboard Help. For questions about Blackboard, email learningtech@cod.edu or call (630) 942-2490.
Blackboard Start of Term Checklist
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Find LT at Kickoff!
We're excited to start the term with you at Kickoff. We'll be offering several sessions throughout the week. Here's where you'll find us: 
 
Wednesday, January 21 
 
Blackboard Ultra Open Lab
1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in SRC 3013
Open support lab for questions and setup assistance for Blackboard Ultra. 
 
Building Your Course in Blackboard Ultra
1 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. on Zoom
Spring is here and all College of DuPage courses are being offered in the Blackboard Ultra Course view. This session provides a guided walkthrough on how to build a course optimized for the Ultra experience. Learn how to build an outline, add content and assessments, and even copy items from Original courses.
 
Accessibility as Care: Making Your Blackboard Courses Accessible
2 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. on Zoom 
Ally is a new tool in Blackboard that helps you connect with care by making course materials more flexible and accessible for all students. In this session, you’ll learn how Ally generates alternative formats, surfaces accessibility scores, and offers step-by-step guidance, enabling you to prioritize accessibility fixes that make an immediate difference for your learners.
 
Blackboard Ultra Gradebook
3 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. on Zoom
Our Gradebook 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 term.
 
Thursday, January 22 
 
Blackboard Ultra Open Lab
1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in SRC 3013
Open support lab for questions and setup assistance for Blackboard Ultra. 
 
Make Your Documents Accessible with Panorama DocHub
 2 p.m. to 2:50 p.m. on Zoom
Panorama DocHub is your new workspace for digital accessibility. It provides staff with a central, cloud-based space to upload documents and presentations, view their accessibility scores, and identify barriers that require attention. In this interactive session, you’ll practice using DocHub’s guided feedback workflow to address common accessibility issues. Bring a frequently accessed document or presentation to work on and leave with a more accessible version you can share with care.
 
Full Kickoff Schedule
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Level Up Your Accessibility This Term
On Demand Ally Training
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. 
 
Blackboard Ally - Course Accessibility Report Training (Deliverables)
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.

*Full Time Faculty: To earn 1 hour of PDH (Score value of 60), participants create a brief Accessibility Plan for one of their courses. 
 
Blackboard Ally - Course Accessibility Report Training (No Deliverables)
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.
 
*Full Time Faculty: This training has no deliverables and is ineligible for PDH. 
Foundations of online
Register for Spring 2026 Foundations
Spring sessions for Foundations of Online Teaching are now open for registration! You can choose from Part 1 or Part 2. 
 
Foundations of Online Teaching Part 1
February 2, 2026 to March 8, 2026
This five-week, online course is designed to promote instructor development and enhance instructor engagement whether you are teaching NET, Hybrid, or VCM courses. Participants explore techniques and best practices for online course development and instruction.
This course is highly participatory in nature, combining practical hands-on learning with engaged discussion.You will be required to complete independent activities due each week, develop a course module, and participate in weekly discussions to successfully complete this course.
Register for Part One
Foundations of Online Teaching Part 2
April 6, 2026 to May 10, 2026
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.
This hybrid course is highly participatory in nature, combining practical hands-on learning with engaged discussion and meet twice on Zoom on Thursday at 6pm of weeks 2 and 4.
Register for Part Two
ION Courses with Images of Computer and Mouse
PD Opportunity: Spring ION Courses
Sign up now--the first session of ION courses begins January 20th. ION offers a huge variety of course options including: 
 
  • Advanced AI 
  • Instructional Design Principles 
  • Creating Accessible Videos
  • Cultural Responsiveness in the Classroom 
  • Using OER to Support Instruction 
 
Visit the ION site for the full list of courses and registration. 
 
ION Courses and Registration
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Make an Appointment with LT
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. 
Make an Appointment with LT
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New Posts on the LT Blog!
Christine Monnier is back to blogging for LT! Check out her latest posts (most recent at the bottom, newest are bolded): 
 
Joke of the Week
What do you call a snapshot from the North Pole? A polar-roid!
Contact Learning Technologies
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