Ultra provides a new, modern course view with a cleaner, streamlined, more accessible, and intuitive interface with easy-to-use workflows.
Blackboard has publicly declared that they will end technical support for Original by the end of 2023.
All faculty have access to the Ultra Teaching Essentials tutorial on Blackboard. You will find this tutorial helpful in learning more about the Ultra platform as it covers topics such as building courses and navigating an Ultra site.
It simply means that you are taking the original version of your course and moving it into the new format - Ultra.
No. Everyone must convert their course(s) themselves following the directions for conversion, but CTE is there to support and guide you throughout the process. Ask for a course conversion kit from E-Support@triton.edu and follow the enclosed directions. Reach out to Ultrasupport@triton.edu for questions and click HERE to book an appointment with us for assistance.
Log in to your Blackboard account and look for a Course Conversion Kit for the course you want to convert. Email E-Support@triton.edu if you don’t find the Conversion Kit for the course you want to convert. Click HERE to book an appointment with the Ultra support team member to get help with the conversion process.
The sooner the better! Remember that teaching your course and converting your course are two separate things. You are unable to convert a course that you are currently teaching, so don’t worry- you cannot affect the course you are currently teaching. You WILL be able to convert your course using the Course Conversion Kit which is not a “live” course. After you convert your course, you will be able to copy that converted course moving forward. CTE recommends converting at least one course before the end of the Fall 2022 semester. Ultra support team members are there to assist you. Click HERE to book an appointment with the Ultra support team member to get help with the conversion process.
No. The course provided in the “course conversion kit” is the course that will be converted to Ultra--not the actual course you are teaching. You are unable to convert a course that you are currently teaching this semester.
Yes. Removing old links, saving videos, items that haven’t been used for some time, etc. will ease the conversion process for you. For the complete list of tasks you can review and complete beforehand, please follow the Pre-Conversion Checklist.
Once you click on the Use the Ultra Course button, your course will be permanently saved to the Ultra format. That doesn’t mean that you are no longer able to edit it. It just means that you are converting it from the Original to the Ultra format. Once in Ultra, you can continue to edit your course as needed.
Review your course to ensure all the course materials have been transferred and continue to edit your course as needed. Follow the Post Course Conversion Checklist.
You can access Ultra by downloading the Blackboard Learn App
The online Peer Review committee has created an expedited process to review updated co-owned online courses looking at only four specific components of the course. Those components are ADA compliance, technological components that support the course, completed rubrics ensuring sufficient task on time in the course, and basic universal design (UDL). The faculty (the original developer of the course) will be compensated $700 for updating a co-owned course. For any faculty member interested in updating an existing co-owned online course or selling their current, converted Ultra course shell, please contact your dean to let them know of your interest.
Starting summer 2023, all Blackboard course shells issued will be in Ultra by default. If a faculty member is not ready to teach in Ultra, they can contact e-support@triton.edu to request an original shell.