eLearning Technologies

Individual Consultation Requests

Need individualized help with Blackboard, digital media, and instructional design considerations? eLearning staff are happy to meet with you. Each faculty member has two eLearning Liaisons assigned to their department. You are welcome to request a consultation with an eLearning Technologies team member. Please include your college, course title, number, and any course-specific and/or technical questions so we can direct your requests to the appropriate team member.

Throughout each semester, the eLearning team offers a variety of webinars covering a wide array of teaching topics related to technology.

• Most sessions are facilitated in a LIVE webinar format using Zoom.
• Registration for our webinars is conducted through Workday Learning.
• Departments can also request that webinar topics be customized and scheduled at their convenience. Send email requests to [email protected] with the requested topic, date/time, and format preferences (Zoom or in-person).

In addition to our live Zoom-based trainings, we're excited to offer several self-paced options this fall, allowing you to learn at your own pace and on your own schedule. 

Accessibility and Bb Ally Self-Paced Training
Accessibility enhances the learning experience for all users. Ally is a comprehensive accessibility tool that enables students to access course materials in multiple formats. It also assesses content accessibility and offers guidance and recommendations for improvement. Upon completion of this self-paced training, participants will be able to create accessible content using platforms such as Word and PowerPoint, and interpret Ally's feedback from the Accessibility Report.

Adobe Self-Paced Courses
With our GVSU license, you can take Adobe self-paced courses. Register with your GVSU email address. Most courses are 30 minutes long. You are also encouraged to review their Adobe Getting Started Resources.

Getting Started with Blackboard Ultra
This training lets you learn the essentials of Blackboard Ultra at your own pace. It walks you through its most common features and points you to resources that will help you get started using Bb Ultra.

MI ExplOER Learning Modules and Certificate (OER Basics)
Looking for a refresher on Open Educational Resources (OER) in higher education? MI OER Network offers a free, self-paced online course comprising eight engaging modules that introduce higher education professionals to OER basics. You can complete the modules in any order, although progressing sequentially is recommended. Take advantage of this opportunity to discover or revisit the OER landscape in a way that fits your schedule.

Foundations of Online and Hybrid Course Development
This self-paced workshop fulfills the University's certification requirement for all faculty teaching hybrid and online courses and provides practical skills to enhance your teaching and course design. The course typically takes 8–10 hours, depending on your prior technical experience and access to course content. A key part of the process includes a meeting with a member of eLearning Technologies to review the training, answer your questions, and connect you with a liaison for ongoing support throughout the semester.

Visit our Foundations website for details, including registration instructions.

The '5 STEPS for Course Design'
Designing a course can feel overwhelming, so this course guides you through 5 steps to build your course and save time! This process is aligned with Quality Matters and uses best practices in course design, Universal Design for Learning principles, and Backwards Design. Each step will cover pedagogy, strategies, and examples for designing and building your aligned course in the most time-efficient way possible. This series offers the option to earn a badge for those who wish to submit the required materials. 
Enroll today!

Padlet 101
Interested in getting started with Padlet? Padlet offers a self-paced professional development course that includes video tutorials on its features and how it can support teaching and learning. Instructors who complete the course can also earn a Padlet certificate.
Register by selecting the title and your GVSU email address.  
 

Accessibility Best Practices for Respondus Lockdown Browser (Self-Paced)
This practical self-paced course empowers instructors to design inclusive, equitable, and academically honest online testing environments. As online learning expands, so does the responsibility to create assessments that uphold fairness and integrity while meeting the diverse needs of all learners. Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor provide tools to help maintain exam security without compromising accessibility, offering features that support students who use assistive technologies, require accommodations, or need alternative testing approaches. This course takes roughly 1 hour. At the end, instructors will receive a certificate of completion and be marked as “complete” in Workday Learn.

Faculty are also encouraged to review our Respondus Best Practices resources and contact their eLearning Liaison for assistance. 
 

Adobe Self-Paced Courses
With our GVSU license, you can take Adobe self-paced courses. Register with your GVSU email address. Most courses are 30 minutes long.   Topics include: 

• Build Community with Adobe Express, 
• Digital Portfolios with Adobe Express, 
• Student Presentations with Adobe Express, 
• Infographics with Adobe Express, 
• Job-winning Portfolios and Resumes with Adobe Express, 
• Enhance College Student Engagement with Adobe Express 

GVSU eLearning Technologies Sponsored Resources and Training

Instructors are encouraged to review our Ultra Instructor resources in the Service Portal, contact their eLearning liaison for assistance, or review our tutorial, "Getting Started with Blackboard Ultra," which provides important resources and tips for learning the basics of Ultra.

Blackboard Ultra Essentials
8/18/26, 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
8/19/26, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
8/20/26, 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. 
8/24/26, 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. 
8/27/26, 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. 

Blackboard Ultra Gradebook: Hidden Gems & Updates
8/13/26, 2 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
8/18/26, 11 a.m.  - 11: 45 a.m.
8/20/26, 2 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
8/25/26, 11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
8/27/26, 2 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
9/1/26, 11 a.m. 11:45 a.m. 

Course Setup Simplified: A Fast Track from Syllabus to Blackboard
In 60 minutes, transform your syllabus into a structured, student-friendly course. This workshop guides you through essential setup steps in Blackboard so you can launch with clarity, organization, and confidence.
8/25/26, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
8/27/26, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. 

"Did you know Blackboard Could Do That?" Drop-in Series
Review the latest monthly enhancements to Blackboard demonstrated with time for guided how-to practice on how these enhancements can be applied in your courses.

This drop-in series is hosted monthly in DCIH260 (Health Campus). Reservations are not required. Faculty are encouraged to bring their laptops. See our monthly newsletters to review the latest updates.

Fall dates coming.

Blackboard Ultra Rubric Design Assistant
To simplify rubric creation, Blackboard has introduced a new Rubric Design Assistant that automatically generates rubrics directly in your Learn Ultra courses. 
9/10/26, 1 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.
10/5/26, 11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

Use Bb AI Tools to Design Higher Order Thinking into your Course
Discover how Blackboard’s new AI Design Assistant tools can help you create dynamic, engaging learning experiences using your own course content. In this hands-on session, you’ll explore how to leverage AI to refresh materials, promote higher-order thinking, and design effective assessments aligned with your learning objectives. We’ll demonstrate how the built-in tools can assist with generating test questions, assignments, module ideas, rubrics, discussion prompts, and even role-playing scenarios, tailored to your existing content.
9/24/26, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.


Using Bb Analytics to Measure and Boost Student Performance
This seminar will focus on the data and analytics now available throughout your Ultra Course and will include an overview of Blackboard's Assessment and Accreditation solution, EAC Visual Data. During the session, we'll guide instructors through the assignment analytics, student progress analytics, and course data that will allow you to measure and boost your students' performance.

9/28/26, 11 a.m. - 11:45 p.m.
10/16/26, 12 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Evaluating Student Performance Outcomes with Blackboard and EAC
Join us for an insightful seminar designed to empower faculty with the tools and strategies needed to effectively evaluate course-level student performance outcomes using Blackboard and EAC's assessment and accreditation solution. In this session, you will explore how to leverage the robust analytics and reporting features of EAC to track student progress, identify learning gaps, and provide targeted support.

10/1/26, 11 a.m. - 11:45 p.m.
11/2/26, 12 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
12/9/26, 12 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. 

Accessibility and Bb Ally Self-Paced Training
Accessibility enhances the learning experience for all users. Blackboard Ally is a comprehensive accessibility tool that enables students to access course materials in multiple formats. It also assesses content accessibility and offers guidance and recommendations for improvement. Upon completion of this self-paced training, participants will be able to create accessible content using platforms such as Word and PowerPoint, and interpret Ally's feedback from the Accessibility Report.

Accessibility and Ally: Creating Course Materials That Work for All
Accessibility helps everyone have an improved learning experience. Ally is a powerful accessibility tool that allows students to view course content in a variety of formats. Ally also gauges content accessibility and provides guidance and tips to improve it. At the end of this webinar, the learner will be able to create accessible content using Word, PowerPoint, etc., interpret Ally's feedback from the Accessibility Report, and learn how to use accessibility features in Blackboard Ultra.

8/10/26, 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 
8/28/26, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. 
9/25/26, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. 
 
Making PDF's Accessible
Join us for a 30-minute webinar on how to create accessible PDFs using Adobe Acrobat Pro. This training will cover the essential tools and techniques needed to ensure your PDF documents are readable and navigable for all users, including those who rely on screen readers. Participants will learn how to check for accessibility issues, add tags, set reading order, and fix common barriers. Whether you're new to accessibility or looking to refine your skills, this quick session will give you practical steps to make your content more inclusive. Perfect for faculty, staff, and content creators.

8/11/26, 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
8/20/26, 2 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
8/26/26, 11 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 

PDF Tune-Up in 15 Minutes Using Ally
In just 15 minutes, learn how to transform scanned PDFs into accessible course materials using Anthology Ally. This session will cover three essential fixes—adding tags for screen readers, inserting a proper document title, and setting the correct language to ensure your PDFs are more usable and inclusive for all learners. Walk away with simple, practical steps you can apply immediately to improve accessibility in your course.

All sessions are 15 minutes.
8/14/26, 9 a.m. 
8/17/26, 11 a.m.
8/21/26, 2 p.m.
8/25/26, 3 p.m.
9/11/26, 9 a.m.
9/15/26, 3 p.m.
9/17/26, 11 a.m.

Faculty Accessibility Toolkit: AI for Content Remediation for Manageable Transition

A Faculty Accessibility Toolkit was developed to support you in making your existing course materials accessible in ways that are both practical and efficient, while not requiring you to completely rewrite your content. As we work towards meeting the updated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the toolkit focuses on helping you improve how your materials are structured and presented so they can be fully understood and navigated by all learners, including those using assistive technologies. This hands-on workshop introduces ready-to-use prompts you can apply to remediate materials, review reports of standards met and what specifically to do for any not yet met. 

Note:  This workshop is in person at the Health campus in DCIH-260.  Please bring your laptop for the hands-on work.
9/29/26 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
10/9/26 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
11/5/26 12 p.m. -  1:30 p.m.

Accessibility Best Practices for Respondus Lockdown Browser (Self-Paced)

This practical self-paced course empowers instructors to design inclusive, equitable, and academically honest online testing environments. As online learning expands, so does the responsibility to create assessments that uphold fairness and integrity while meeting the diverse needs of all learners. Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor provide tools to help maintain exam security without compromising accessibility, offering features that support students who use assistive technologies, require accommodations, or need alternative testing approaches.

This course takes roughly 1 hour. At the end, instructors will receive a certificate of completion and be marked as “complete” in Workday Learn.

Using Blackboard's AI Conversations
Explore the new AI Conversations tool in Blackboard and discover practical ways to integrate AI-powered dialogue into your courses. In this hands-on workshop, faculty will:

Learn how Bb AI Conversations can support student learning

Explore strategies to design activities that leverage Bb AI Conversations effectively.

Fall dates coming. 

Accessibility Best Practices for Respondus Lockdown Browser (Self-Paced)

This practical self-paced course empowers instructors to design inclusive, equitable, and academically honest online testing environments. As online learning expands, so does the responsibility to create assessments that uphold fairness and integrity while meeting the diverse needs of all learners. Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor provide tools to help maintain exam security without compromising accessibility, offering features that support students who use assistive technologies, require accommodations, or need alternative testing approaches.

This course takes roughly 1 hour. At the end, instructors will receive a certificate of completion and be marked as “complete” in Workday Learn.

Faculty are also encouraged to review our Respondus Best Practices resources and contact their eLearning Liaison for assistance.

Using Learn Ultra Analytics to Measure and Boost Student Performance

Holding every student accountable and identifying individuals who are falling behind is made easier in the Blackboard Learn Ultra experience. This seminar will focus on the data and analytics now available throughout your Ultra Course and will include an overview of Blackboard's Assessment and Accreditation solution, EAC Visual Data. During the session, we'll guide instructors through the assignment analytics, student progress analytics, and course data that will allow you to measure and boost your students' performance.

You are also encouraged to review this resource about Analytics.

9/28/26, 12 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
10/16/26, 12 - 12:45 p.m. 

Evaluating Student Performance Outcomes with Blackboard and EAC

Join us for an insightful seminar designed to empower faculty with the tools and strategies needed to effectively evaluate course level student performance outcomes using Blackboard and EAC's assessment and accreditation solution. In this session, you will explore how to leverage the robust analytics and reporting features of EAC to track student progress, identify learning gaps, and provide targeted support.

10/1/26, 12 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
11/2/26, 12 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
12/9/26, 12 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.

You are also encouraged to review these EAC resources for information on getting started.

Declutter Your Digital Life
Are you feeling overwhelmed by a cluttered inbox and disorganized files? Join our webinar to learn practical strategies for mastering file and email management. This hands-on session will teach you how to streamline your digital life by organizing your files, naming and storing them effectively, managing your email with ease, and implementing systems to keep everything running smoothly.

8/12/26 1 p.m.  - 12 p.m.

Exploring AI in Higher Ed- Ethical and Effective Use of AI, a Faculty Discussion

As AI becomes more ubiquitous, faculty are challenged to adapt their teaching, maintain academic integrity, and set clear expectations for students. This faculty discussion will provide a brief technical introduction to AI tools, highlight emerging classroom implications, and invite participants to share their perspectives, questions, and concerns. Together, we'll explore ethical considerations and practical approaches to developing or refining course policies that reflect our individual teaching goals.

8/13/26, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Adobe Self-Paced Courses
With our GVSU license, you can take Adobe self-paced courses. Register with your GVSU email address. Most courses are 30 minutes long. 

Hypothesis:  Activating Annotation in Your LMS
*This is a Hypothesis-sponsored workshop. Use your GVSU email address when registering. 
Learn how annotation-powered reading helps students build close reading, persuasive writing, and discussion skills. A perfect introduction for anyone getting started with Hypothesis.
8/13/26, 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. 

Hypothesis:  Annotate your Syllabus with Your Students
*This is a Hypothesis-sponsored workshop. Use your GVSU email address when registering. 
Kick off the semester with a collaborative syllabus activity that introduces students to social annotation while setting expectations for participation and engagement.

8/20/26, 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Hypothesis: Collaborative Annotation Tool for Blackboard

Join us for an informative session on how you can use the Hypothesis collaborative annotation tool in your Learn Ultra courses to help students develop foundational academic skills such as deep reading, critical thinking, and active engagement with course materials. This seminar will highlight effective pedagogical approaches for social annotation and demonstrate how Hypothesis integrates with your course content.

8/28/26, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. 
9/22/26, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.


Design Higher Order Thinking into Your Course using the Bb AI Design Assistant

Discover how Blackboard's new AI tools can help you create dynamic, engaging learning experiences using your own course content. In this hands-on session, you'll explore how to leverage AI to refresh materials, promote higher-order thinking, and design effective assessments aligned with your learning objectives. We'll demonstrate how the built-in tools can assist with generating test questions, assignments, module ideas, rubrics, discussion prompts, and even role-playing scenarios, tailored to your existing content. Participants will hear from two instructors who participated in our AI Pilot and learn how they leveraged these tools to support their fall course planning.

9/24/26, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. 

Discover Gemini Notebook: Create Podcasts, Study Guides, and More
Discover Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM), a personalized digital workspace designed to streamline your research and lesson planning. Simply upload your course documents, web links, or multimedia files, and it will instantly brainstorm ideas, generate study guides, and build classroom-ready materials based entirely on your own sources. Join this informative session to see the latest features in action. We’ll share real-world examples of how faculty use the tool to personalize instruction, engage students, and reclaim hours of valuable prep time.

10/13/26, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. 



 Innovation in Your Course
Improve student engagement and promote innovative thinking in your courses. Students need to develop creative, innovative thinking for today's jobs, and instructors can build this into their courses for any subject content. Help students apply their learning with real-world scenarios and authentic assessments, and encourage innovative thinking while aligning to your learning outcomes. This webinar will share many examples, tech tools, and engaging options to try in your courses.

11/10/26, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. 

The '5 STEPS for Course Design' webinar series is now a self-paced option!

Align your content with your course outcomes to build a new course or refresh an existing one.

Designing a course can feel overwhelming, so this course guides you through 5 steps to build your course and save time! This process is aligned with Quality Matters and uses best practices in course design, Universal Design for Learning principles, and Backwards Design. Each step will cover pedagogy and strategies, as well as examples for designing and building your aligned course in the most time-efficient way possible. This series offers the option to earn a badge for those who wish to submit the required materials.

Enroll in this Blackboard 5 Steps Course

Learn more about creating and managing video and digital applications in these seminars.

Creating Instructor Presence with Panopto
Learn more about Panopto's features, such as video creation, captions, quizzing, and student video assignments! 

8/18/26, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.  
9/3/26, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
10/19/26, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.

Using Padlet to Engage Online Learners
Padlet lets you create a virtual bulletin board where you and your students can write notes and upload documents, photos, slideshows, record videos/audio files or add hyperlinks. During this webinar, participants will learn how to activate their Padlet account and use it for brainstorming, storyboarding, collecting resources (such as images, attachments, hyperlinks, and videos/audio recordings), gathering group work results, and much more!

8/11/26, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.  
9/10/26, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
11/4/26, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. 

For immediate assistance, please don't hesitate to contact your eLearning Liaison. You should also review this resource about integrating Padlet into Blackboard Ultra.

Introduction to Adobe Express
Join us for a beginner-friendly webinar on Adobe Express, Adobe's cloud-based design tool for creating stunning graphics, videos, PDFs, web pages, and more—no design experience needed. Formerly known as Adobe Spark and Creative Cloud Express, Adobe Express makes it easy to bring your ideas to life with intuitive templates and drag-and-drop tools. In this session, you'll learn how to navigate the platform, customize content for different uses, and quickly share or download your creations.

8/10/26, 10:00 a.m.  - 11:00 a.m.
9/4/26, 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
11/10/26, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 

Video Editing with Adobe Express
In this session, you'll learn how to import and organize clips, trim and edit footage, add text and music, apply filters and animations, and customize your video. By the end, you'll know how to confidently create and share standout videos—whether for work, school, or personal projects.

8/13/26, 10:00 a.m.  - 11:00 a.m. 
9/4/26, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 a.m.
11/12/26, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Using Video to Create Authentic Assessments and Support Academic Integrity
In this workshop, faculty will learn how video journals and video-based discussions can be used as authentic assessment strategies that make student thinking more visible. Beyond a technical explanation of how to create these assessments, we will discuss how video can support academic integrity, and consider ways to design low-pressure, accessible activities that encourage deeper engagement.

8/14/26 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 

Podcasting 101
This workshop will be held in-person in DCIH260. Step behind the mic with confidence in this engaging webinar all about podcasts. Whether you're launching your first show or looking to sharpen your skills, we'll cover the essentials of preparing to be on the microphone—from managing nerves and finding your voice to crafting engaging conversations and staying authentic. We'll also give you a first-hand look at the equipment we use at the Bridge to create faculty-driven podcasts and how you can best prepare for a recording session.

10/20/26, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Maximizing Productivity with Free Microsoft Copilot Features
Learn how to take advantage of Microsoft Copilot's most useful tools at no cost. This session covers core features, time-saving examples, and simple ways to start using AI to work smarter.

7/29/26 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm 

Microsoft Bookings Basics
Fall dates coming.

To get started with Microsoft Bookings, see this resource.

20 MS 365 Tips to Work Smarter, Not Harder 
This session highlights 20 powerful Microsoft 365 features that can help streamline your daily tasks, improve organization, and enhance collaboration. Learn quick wins and hidden tools you can start using immediately to boost productivity.

Fall dates coming. 

Microsoft Excel 101
Fall dates coming. 

Getting Started with Microsoft Teams
Fall dates coming. 

To get started with Microsoft Teams, see this resource.

Create Fillable PDF Forms from Documents and Images

8/26/26 1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. 
9/25/26 1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m. 

Zoom Show-Me Videos

Product walkthroughs and quick reference videos are featured throughout the in-depth training courses in Zoom’s Learning Center. Browse by product category below or search the continuously growing collection for a specific video.

Work Smarter with Zoom AI Companion

This 30-minute session introduces participants to Zoom AI Companion and demonstrates practical ways to use its features before, during, and after meetings. Participants will explore how AI-generated meeting summaries, smart recordings, Zoom Docs, and writing assistance can streamline daily workflows while maintaining responsible and ethical AI use.

8/17/26 1:30 p.m. - 2 p.m.
9/24/26 3 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.