IT eLearning Technologies

Blackboard Gradebook Changes, Drop-in Office Hours, and PD Opportunities

• Blackboard Gradebook Grid View Changes
• Blackboard August Enhancements
• Getting Your Fall 2026 Blackboard Courses Ready
• Blackboard Security and Zoom Maintenance 8/18-19
• Faculty Office Hours – Course Development & Accessibility Support
• August Professional Development Opportunities
• Connect with eLearning

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Enjoying Summer, Looking Ahead to Fall

• Blackboard Fall 2026 Course Availability
• Blackboard Enhancements for July
• Web Content Accessibility Reminders
• Blackboard Unavailable During Overnight Campus Network Maintenance, 7/8 – 7/9
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Connect with eLearning

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Spring is heating up!

• June Blackboard Enhancements
• 4 Tips for Making Your Blackboard Course More Accessible!
• GV Technology Summit: Presenter Proposal Deadline Extended to September
• Adobe Education Institute
• Professional Development Opportunities for June and July

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Wrapping Up Winter Semester & eLearning Support for Summer

• May Blackboard Enhancements
• Summer Blackboard Student Enrollments & New Semester Checklist
• Fix–Your-Content-Day - May 5 - Hands-on Support - Refreshments too!
• Support and Resources for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
• GVSU SAVE Reminder
• GV Tech Summit – Request for Proposals
• New Zoom Capabilities Now Available
• May & Early June Professional Development Opportunities

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April Updates: Blackboard, Accessibility, and Training Opportunities

• Blackboard Enhancements for April
• Support and Resources for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
• April Spotlight: Barbara Stevens & Blackboard Ally
• Call for Proposals: GV Technology Summit Returns November 3, 2026
• Professional Development Opportunities for April and Early May

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Upcoming Blackboard Updates, New Resources, and Professional Development Opportunities

• Blackboard Enhancements for March: Adding a Second Due Date for Discussions and Anonymous Grading by Test Question
• Spring/Summer 2026 Blackboard Course Availability
• Best Practice for Student Video Assignments: Use Panopto or Padlet
• Did You Know? Blackboard Grading Tips
• Respondus LockDown Browser and macOS 11
• Student Outreach Toolkit for Faculty
• Faculty Spotlight: VR Courtroom from Courtney Topić and Hunter Bridwell
• GV Technology Summit Returns November 3, 2026
• Professional Development Opportunities

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Panopto Retention Policy Reminders, Tips to Support Remote Instruction, Suggestions for How to Boost Your Students' Digital Skills, and eLearning Professional Development Opportunities

• Panopto Retention Policy - Phase 2
• February Blackboard Enhancements
• Boost Digital Skills with Our "Digital Skills for College Success" Course
• Tips and Technologies to Support Remote Instruction
• Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
• Connect with eLearning

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Wrapping Up 2025: Resources, Updates, Events, and a Bb Navigation Facelift to Kickstart Your New Year!

• Fall Blackboard Stats
• Wrapping up the Semester – A Few Closing Tips!
• Winter Blackboard Prepping – Frequent Requests
• Blackboard Navigation Facelift for January
• Digital Literacy Institute 1/6/26 – 1/8/26
• Boost Digital Skills with Our "Digital Skills for College Success" Course
• Save the Date: Speed TECHing 1/23/26
• Professional Development Opportunities

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Winter 2026 Prep: Key eLearning Updates for Faculty

• Blackboard Winter 2026 Semester Course Availability
• Faculty Spotlight
• New Ideas and Features to Use When Designing Your Winter Blackboard Courses
• Blackboard Enhancements for December
• Panopto Archives - Tips & FAQs
• Explore All the Ways The Bridge Team Can Help You
• Review Your Blackboard Ally Course Reports Regularly for Accessibility Concerns
• Upcoming Professional Development / Partner Events

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Join Us for “Fix Your Content Day” + Accessibility Updates

• Upcoming Accessibility Requirements
• Join us for Fix Your Content Day! With Spotlight Video: Barbara Stevens
• In Practice: Review your Ally Course Accessibility Reports Regularly
• Making Video Content Accessible
• Accessibility Myths... Busted!
• Professional Development to Support Accessibility
• Blackboard Enhancements for November
• Digital Teaching Symposium — Free, one-day event for Worldwide Higher Education Professionals!
• Input Needed: Help Shape GVSU's Digital Strategy
• Self-Paced and Webinar Professional Development Opportunities

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September Highlights: Grading Tips, Online Teaching Supports & PD Events

• Faculty Spotlight: Jennifer Tyler
• Did You Know That All Instructors Have Access to the Foundations of Online & Hybrid Teaching Skills Course?
• Discover, Share, and Grow in the Online & Hybrid Faculty Learning Community
• Beyond the Discussion Board: Fresh Ways to Engage Students Online
• Partner Events with FTLC: Digital Literacy Fridays
• Essential Grading Tips for Using Blackboard
• October Updates for Blackboard
• Upcoming Professional Development

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Fall Prep + Exciting Updates from eLearning

• Digital Skills for College Success – Student Orientation
• New Studio Location for the Bridge – DCIH 260
• Student Outreach Toolkit found in Blackboard
• Faculty Spotlights: Raymond Higbea and Julia Vandermolen
• New Feature: Using Padlet for Graded Assignments
• Adobe Express Training
• Partner Events: FTLC Learning Communities Facilitated by eLearning Technologies
• Digital Literacy Fridays
• New September Blackboard Enhancements
• Respondus LockDown Browser Changes on Windows 11
• New Self-Paced Training Options
• September and October Professional Development Webinars
• Register for the GV Tech Summit!

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Sizzling Summer Updates & Blackboard Enhancements for a Smooth Fall Start

• Blackboard Fall Course Availability and 3 Changes in the Blackboard Template
  • Messages Manager folder renamed Student Outreach Toolkit
  • Assist area replaced with Student Resources document
  • Course ID now contains CRN number
• Faculty Wanted: Blackboard AI Design Assistant Pilot
• July Blackboard Enhancements
  • MathJax (New)
  • Student Engagement with Announcements (New)
  • Enhanced Pop-Out Rubrics
• New in Hypothesis: Annotate Images Directly in PDFs!
• Faculty/Staff Technology Spotlight
• Windows 11 Training
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Connect with eLearning

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What's New This Summer: Adobe Express, AI Pilots, Studio Move, and Exciting PD Events

• Faculty Wanted: Pilot Blackboard AI Tools to Refresh Your Curriculum
• New Studio Location for the Bridge - DCIH 260
• New Respondus Excel Feature: Important Limitations to Consider Before Use
• Reminder: Adobe Express and Acrobat Pro Now Available
• June Blackboard Enhancements (Resizable dividers for documents, Bulk Category, Jumbled Sentences)
• Faculty Spotlight - Microsoft Read-A-Loud Tools for Accessibility
• GV Technology Summit – Call for Proposals
• Digital Literacy Summer Institute
• Professional Development Offerings for June

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Spring is bursting with professional development and special events!

• Making Spring/Summer Blackboard Courses Available – Slight Change
• GVSU SAVE Reminder
• Need Help Getting Grades from Blackboard to Banner?
• Panopto Archives – Tips & FAQs
• April 30 – Publisher Integration Updates
• Save the Date – May 15 – Global Accessibility Awareness Day
• May Blackboard Enhancements
• Tech Summit – Request for Proposals
• Faculty Spotlight – Quality Matters
• QM FTLC Learning Community
• Windows 11 Training Reminders
• Special Event – XR and AI in Action: A Hands-On Workshop with BodySwaps and Ludenso
• May Professional Development Opportunities

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Blackboard Spring Cleaning, Panopto Maintenance, and More!

• Spring/Summer Blackboard Course Availability
• Blackboard Course Archives
• Panopto Maintenance Scheduled Saturday 4/12/25
• Faculty Spotlight - Enhancing Student Engagement with Blackboard's Knowledge Check Tool
• April Blackboard Enhancement: See Whether Students Have Viewed Your Feedback
• Did You Know Series
• Save the Date! GV Technology Summit! 10/2/25
• April Professional Development Opportunities

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Marching Forward: Spring/Summer Blackboard Courses, Grading Tips, Faculty Spotlight, and More

• Spring/Summer Blackboard Courses
• Grading Tips
• Faculty Spotlight
• Did You Know?
• March Enhancement - Design Improvement for Rubrics
• The Message Manager Folder
• Technologies and Approaches to Support Mid-Semester Feedback
• Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
• Request a Consultation

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A flurry of eLearning news for February

• Panopto Archives – Tips & FAQs
• A Reminder on How to Track Attendance in Zoom Meetings
• Resources from 1/24 Speed TECHing Event
• Not Using Blackboard Learning Modules? Converting from Folders to Modules Gets Easier 2/7!
• February Blackboard Enhancements
• Student Incompletes and Past Blackboard Course Access
• An Introduction to Quality Matters
• Join our Online and Hybrid Faculty Learning Community
• Professional Development Highlights & Opportunities

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New Semester Bb Tips, Frequent Start-Up Requests, and eLearning Professional Development Opportunities

• Making your Course Available to Students - Interface Change
• 2 Gradebook Enhancements
• Tips for Navigating the GVSU Service Portal
• 4 Strategies for a Successful Semester Start
• Save the Date - January 24, 2025 - Speed TECHing
• Join our Online and Hybrid Faculty Learning Community
• Additional January Professional Development Opportunities
• Connect with eLearning

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Wrapping Up 2024: Resources, Updates, and Events to Kickstart Your New Year!

• Blackboard Maintenance Scheduled for 12/18/24 (12am – 6am)
• Fall Blackboard Stats
• Wrapping up the Semester - A Few Closing Tips!
• Winter Blackboard Prepping - Frequent Requests
• Discussion Enhancement "New Post" Indicator
• Virtual Drop-In Assistance 1/3/25
• Save-the-Date! Speed TECHing 1/24/25
• Assessment Conference
• Professional Development for January 2025

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Winter courses, New Ideas and Features in Blackboard, and more!

• Winter 2025 Blackboard Course Availability
• New Ideas and Features to Use When Designing Your Winter Blackboard Courses
• Panopto Retention/Archival Policy
• Join the Online/Hybrid Learning Community
• Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities/Drop-In Support
• GVSU Assessment Conference

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Mid-Semester Surveys, Student Blackboard Feedback, Grading Strategies & More!

• Technologies and Approaches to Support Mid-Semester Feedback
• Grading Tips
• November's Blackboard Enhancement - Student Activity Logs
• Benefits to Requesting Template Courses in Blackboard
• Innovation Open House on 10/29
• Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

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Essential Grading Tips for Blackboard, Discussion Notifications, and Enhancing Accessibility

• It's Back: Email Notifications for Followed Discussions
• Essential Grading Tips for Using Blackboard
• Enhancing Accessibility with Ally: Empowering Students and Instructors for Inclusive Learning
• Upcoming Professional Development

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3 New Bb Course Design Enhancements, Flip and Google Jamboard Replacement Tools, and More!

• 3 Blackboard Course Design and Layout Changes
• Getting Started with Blackboard's AI Rubric Design Assistant
• Alternative Tools To Replace Flip and Google Jamboard
• Digital Studio Renamed the Bridge
• Panopto Retention Policy - Upcoming Changes
• Blackboard Retention Policy Reminder
• Work Day Learning – A New Process for Registering for eLearning Webinars

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Two Important Bb Enhancements, Back-to-School Resources, and Opportunities to Connect with eLearning for Assistance!

• Two Important Blackboard Feature Enhancements
• Pearson Integration Update Planned for August 14
• 5 Tasks to Help You Prepare for the Fall Semester
• Message Manager Folder - Mental Health Toolkit Reminder
• August Professional Development
• Opportunities to Connect with eLearning for Assistance

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Goodbye Flip, Blackboard Feature Enhancements, AI Rubric Design Assistant, and More!

• Goodbye Flip
• June Blackboard Feature Enhancements
• Rubric Design Assistant
• Weekly Wednesday Office Hours
• Fall Course Availability
• Microsoft Efficiencies Series & Creating Instructor Presence with Panopto
• Timeline and Assistance for Migrating Blackboard Organizations to Ultra

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Hot Topics and New Tools in eLearning: Spring/Summer Edition

• Weekly Wednesday Office Hours
• 3 Tips to Help You Prepare for the Spring/Summer Semester
• Zoom Appointment Scheduler - It's a Game Changer for Virtual Office Hours!
• Quality Does Matter
• Digital Studio Renamed the Bridge
• From Surviving to Thriving: Extend Your Learning
• Upcoming Professional Development
• Connect with eLearning

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Grading Tips and Other Resources for Ending the Semester Strong

• Gradebook and End-of-Semester Assistance
• April's Feature Enhancements for Blackboard Ultra
• Student Enrollments for Spr/Sum Courses & Common Faculty Requests
• RSVP for Our Surviving to Thriving Celebration!
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for Students begins May 6, 2024
• Blackboard Organizations Migration to Ultra Timeline/Assistance
• Staffing Changes in eLearning

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Grow and thrive this spring with Blackboard Ultra!

• 5/13/24 - Save the Date - Half Day Conference - FREE Lunch!
• Spring/Summer Blackboard Courses Available
• Winter 2024 Blackboard Stats
• How's your Gradebook Look?
• Microsoft 365 Training
• Other Professional Development Opportunities
• Schedule Time with Your eLearning Technologies Team Members

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Let's Take Blackboard to the Next Level!

• How's your Gradebook Look?
• What Your Students Say About Blackboard Ultra
• Student Incompletes and Past Blackboard Access - New Feature
• Add Library Content Directly to your Blackboard Course
• The Power of Padlet
• Podcast on Education and Artificial Intelligence
• Join Us on an Office Road-Trip!
• Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

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New Semester Blackboard Tips, TA Requests, and eLearning Professional Development Opportunities

• Frequent Start-up Requests
• 4 Tips for Starting the Semester Strong
• 3 Steps for Adding Student Teaching Assistants to Blackboard Courses
• Encourage Students to Review the Blackboard Orientation
• Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
• Scheduling Time with an eLearning Technologies Team Member

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Ending Strong and Preparing for 2024

• Grading Tips for Blackboard Ultra
• Virtual Office Hours for Blackboard Ultra Assistance
• Frequent New Semester Requests
• Blackboard December Enhancements and 2024 Blackboard Roadmap Slides
• Extended Access to Previous Blackboard Semesters Coming in 2024
• Ideas for Organizing Your Ultra Course Site
• Scheduling Time with an eLearning Technologies Team Member

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Don't Fall Behind! Support and Training Resources, Preparing for Winter, and More

• Togetherall: Mental Health Support Linked in Blackboard
• Messages Manager Folder
• Winter Course Availability and Blackboard Office Hours
• Submit your Ideas/Feedback to Blackboard
• New Feature Releases in Blackboard
• Dive into AI with our New Podcast
• eLearning Professional Development Webinars for November

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New Services in the Digital Studio, Blackboard Communication Tips, and More

• Expanded Digital Studio Hours
• Meet your Digital Media Developers
• New Feature Releases in Blackboard
• Communication Tips for Blackboard Ultra
• Anthology/Blackboard Idea Exchange
• 3 Reasons for Using the Service Portal
• Upcoming Webinars

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Semester Start-Up Tips from eLearning Technologies

• Looking Back and Looking Forward
• 3 Tips for Starting the Semester Strong
• Invitation to Join our Online/Hybrid Learning Community
• Reminders about Upcoming Webinars
• How to Connect with your eLearning Technologies Liaisons

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Get Ready for Fall Semester: Back-to-School Resources, Valuable Insights and an Introduction to our Newest eLearning Team Member!

• 3 New Features in Blackboard
• 5 Tasks to Help You Prepare for the Fall Semester
• Mental Health Communications Toolkit
• Message Manager Folder
• Meet Steph Balaskas, IT Training Specialist
• Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities

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Fall Courses are Now Available!

• Fall Courses
• Resources to Help You Prepare your Fall Courses
• Join an FTLC Summer Blackboard Ultra Working Group
• Frequent New Semester Requests
• Sample Ultra Course Tours
• Brand New! Search and Easily Add Library Content Directly into Blackboard
• Your Library Liaisons
• What's New in the July Blackboard Ultra Release
• Accessibility Resources
• Virtual and In-Person Office Hours for Ongoing Support
• Upcoming Training Opportunities

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Grading Tips for Blackboard Ultra and much more!

• The F Word—Fall Courses
• Pedagogical Best Practices in Learn Ultra
• Tips for Grading in Blackboard Ultra
• What's New in the June Ultra Release
• Virtual and In-Person Office Hours for Ongoing Support
• Refresh Your Foundations of Online and Hybrid Teaching Skills
• Join the FTLC- Sponsored Blackboard Ultra Working Group
• Upcoming Webinars

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Copy with Confidence: How to Copy Content in Blackboard Ultra (and more):

• Hello! Get to know the eLearning Technologies Team
• Three Tips for Copying Content from Blackboard Classic to Blackboard Ultra
• Copying Content Between Ultra Courses
• Don't Forget your Spring Cache Cleaning
• Webinars to help with Accessibility, Brainstorming/Collaboration, Course Design and Using Data to Inform Instruction!

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In this email newsletter:

• Resources to support students with Blackboard Learn Ultra
• Blackboard Classic Practice Test Sites Disabled May 3, 2023
• Course Merges and Other Common Blackboard Requests
• Okta to Launch May 3
• Upcoming Training Opportunities

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Are You Ultra Ready? We're less than 26 days away!

• Last call for the FREE Michigan Blackboard User's Group Conference
• Unwrap your Blackboard Learn Ultra Care Package
• Sample Blackboard Ultra Course Tours
• Blackboard Classic Practice Test Courses Disabled May 3
• Blackboard Login Accounts for T_ and S_ GVSU Students
• Drop-in Blackboard Ultra Office Hours
• Upcoming Blackboard Ultra Training
• Answering 4 Common Ultra Questions

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Deadline approaching—Ultra is right around the corner!

• Welcome, Mai Mohamed Nour
• Spring and Summer 2023 Courses Now Available in Ultra
• Six Key Blackboard Ultra Resources
• Sample Ultra Course Tours
• Upcoming Blackboard Ultra Training
• Save the Date: May 5, FREE Michigan Blackboard User's Group Conference

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Blackboard Ultra is just around the corner—get ready!

• Welcome, Landon Nalepinski
• Four Key Blackboard Ultra Reminders
• Ultra Course Tours and Show-and-Tell
• Upcoming Blackboard Ultra Training
• Save the Date: May 5, FREE Michigan Blackboard User's Group Conference

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Breakfast with Blackboard, and More from eLearning

• Special Opportunity—Breakfast and Blackboard Ultra
• Digital Studio Updates
• Get to Know your Digital Media Developers
• Online/Hybrid Faculty Learning Community Meeting
• Upcoming Professional Development

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New Year, New Semester, New Blackboard

• Frequent Start-up Requests
• Blackboard New Semester Checklist
• Photo Roster Enhancements
• Logging into Zoom - Important Changes!
• Meet a Blackboard Ultra Faculty Champion
• Gearing up for Blackboard Ultra Course Training
• Schedule Time with an eLearning Technologies Team Member

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Preparing for 2023!

• Togetherall: Mental Health Support
• Frequent New Semester Requests
• Gearing-up for Blackboard Ultra Training
• Virtual Office Hours for Winter Semester Preps
• Scheduling Time with an eLearning Technologies Team Member

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Answers to your Ultra Questions!

• Meet your Ultra Champions
• Five Commonly Asked Blackboard Ultra Questions
• Online & Hybrid Faculty Learning Community: Ultra Show-and-Tell
• Will Blackboard Organizations be moving to Ultra?
• Coming January 2023—the Digital Creator Lab!
• Your eLearning liaisons: ready to help!

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Blackboard Ultra: let's dispel some myths

• Meet the Ultra Champions
• Two Blackboard Ultra Myths
• Ultra Training Comes in a Variety Options
• Participate in our Online & Hybrid Faculty Learning Community
• Your eLearning liaisons: ready to help!

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Blackboard Ultra: we're not done yet!

• Meet the Ultra Champions
• Blackboard Messaging Updates
• Template Sites: an Inclusive Change
• Blackboard Mobile: New and Improved
• 5 Different Ways to Train for the Move to Ultra Course View
• Participate in our Online & Hybrid Faculty Learning Community
• Upcoming Digital Media Workshops
• Your eLearning liaisons: ready to help!

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News from eLearning, New Semester Edition

• Four things to know about Ultra Base Navigation
• Why is my course menu now black and white?
• Hypothesis: a new tool for social annotation work
• Participate in the Online and Hybrid Faculty Learning Community
• Getting prepared for Ultra Course View with self-paced training
• Upcoming eLearning Technologies webinars
• Your eLearning liaisons: ready to help!

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