Supercharge Your Fall Startup with eLearning!
Don't forget to…
As you start thinking about your Fall 2026 courses, plan to take advantage of the following common requests:
- Merge Course Request. Use this request to combine two or more sites into one parent site.
- Follow these instructions for copying content from one Ultra course to another Ultra course
- Course Restore Request. Use this to restore a course from the Blackboard archives that is no longer available online. Faculty have access to their Blackboard courses for two years and one semester. We retain our archive for three years beyond that.
- Use this request to schedule a consultation with your eLearning Technologies liaison for assistance with Blackboard.
As of July 6, 2026, faculty listed as the instructor of record in Banner will see their Fall 2026 courses.If you don't see your courses on Blackboard, please contact your department coordinator to assign you as the instructor of record in Banner. Student enrollments will begin in Banner three weeks before the course start date (August 10, 2026, for most course sites).
eLearning Monthly Newsletter
Every month, the staff of eLearning Technologies puts together an email newsletter featuring announcements about what's new in campus instructional technology, along with timely hints and tips for your digital teaching journey. You'll also want to stay tuned each month to find out what new features have been added to Blackboard.
Be sure to also check out the Blackboard Release Schedule and the Release Notes for a complete list of the monthly and upcoming features and improvements.
If you're not receiving our monthly newsletter, please take a moment to sign-up.
Consult with your eLearning Liaisons
We welcome faculty to contact their dedicated eLearning Liaisons whenever you have questions regarding Bb Ultra features. Feel free to set up a consultation for additional guidance or troubleshooting assistance. Our top priority is timely support, and your feedback is essential.
Make the Most of Blackboard Ultra
Blackboard AI Design Assistant
The Bb Design Assistant is designed to support course development and instructional planning.
- Review our AI Blackboard Knowledge Base articles and contact your eLearning liaison to learn more and get started!
- To promote transparency with students, we recommend including a brief statement if generative AI tools such as Blackboard's AI Design Assistant were used in curriculum development. We've included sample language on our AI Design Assistant Blackboard Webpage, which you can incorporate into your course materials.
- Remember, using the AI features is entirely optional and at each instructor's discretion.
- We recommend reviewing the GVSU AI Policy and visiting the GVSU AI website for guidance on the responsible and ethical use of AI in teaching and learning.
- Visit our Blackboard AI Design Assistant website for FAQs, resources, and assistance.
Remember the following
- Every faculty member has their own "Ultra Practice Test Course" where they can explore new Ultra features.
- Faculty can request "template sites" to help with early curriculum development or special projects.
- All faculty have been enrolled in a Blackboard site named "Blackboard Learn Ultra Self-Paced Training." Use this site to familiarize yourself with Ultra Course View at your own pace.
- You can find many additional resources on our Instructor Resources for Blackboard Ultra page in the Service Portal Knowledge Base or the Student Resources for Blackboard Ultra page.
- Review our New Semester Checklist to make sure you Bb course is ready for the new semester.
- Blackboard releases new features and functionality on the first Friday of each month. See the Release Schedule and the Release Notes for monthly and upcoming features and improvements.
- Blackboard wants to hear from you and they've created a website where the community can share their thoughts on Blackboard's future. We encourage all faculty to sign up for the Idea Exchange so they can add their own suggestions and vote on ideas offered by others.
Are you new to Ultra?
Our tutorial, "Getting Started with Blackboard Ultra," provides essential resources and tips for learning the basics of Ultra.
Need some help visualizing how to organize your Bb course?
Watch this exemplary video tour and contact your eLearning Liaison for a consultation.
The '5 STEPS for Course Design'
Want to take it a step further? This self-paced course guides you through 5 steps to build your course and save time! Each step will cover pedagogy, strategies, and examples for designing and building your aligned course in the most time-efficient way possible. Enroll today!
Learn More about Immersive Technology Simulations
In this month's spotlight video, listen to Courtney Topić and Hunter Bridwell discuss a project created by the Student Technology and Innovation Guild (STING). Using 360-degree imagery and extended reality expertise, STING created an interactive courtroom walkthrough tailored to the needs of Topić's Legal Studies course.
Courtney Topić
Assistant Professor of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies
Hunter Bridwell
Emerging Technologies Coordinator, Information Technology
Join our Faculty Learning Community!
Whether you've been teaching online or hybrid courses for several years or are just getting ready to start your first semester teaching hybrid or online, all levels of expertise are welcome to join our Online & Hybrid Faculty Learning Community.
Join us each month to:
- Support new and experienced online/hybrid faculty through dialogue and samples
- Explore best practices associated with online/hybrid teaching and learning
- Identify emerging technological needs to support online teaching and learning
- Share collective expertise across disciplines
Panopto Video Retention Policy
Beginning on January 1, 2025, Panopto videos that have not been viewed within 13 months will automatically be transferred to the Panopto Archive. This process will continue on the 1st of each month. This means that beginning on February 1, 2026, videos that have been in the Panopto Archive for 13 months and unwatched for 36 consecutive months will be automatically deleted from our system. This process will also take place on the 1st of each month.
About eLearning
We support faculty, contribute to teaching excellence, and enhance student success through:
- Digital Pedagogy
Understanding why and how to use technology in the learning process - Blackboard
GVSU's official Learning Management System - The Bridge
Interactive Digital Media Development
Supporting faculty pursuing innovation in teaching and learning.
WE'RE HERE TO HELP!
Email Us: [email protected]
Call: (616) 331-2101
Hours: 8:30 am - 4pm, Monday through Friday
24x7 After Hours Support is Available
Credits: Bird Tangram Puzzle by irene hoffman from NounProject.com ; Light Bulb by Numero Uno from NounProject.com ; newsletter by Ethan from NounProject.com ; Parachute by Kmg Design from NounProject.com