Ultra Ambassador Feature
Dr. Carolyn Rodeffer’s Tips for a Smooth Ultra Transition
Dr. Carolyn Rodeffer is a teaching assistant professor in the Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Venture Innovation department in the Walton College of Business and an Ultra ambassador. As a seasoned Blackboard user with nearly a decade of experience with the platform, Dr. Rodeffer changed to Ultra this spring and had a network of support along the way. In our conversation, Dr. Rodeffer shares how the TIPS team made the transition easier and how her students enjoy easier mobile navigation.
How long have you used Blackboard Ultra?
This is my first semester using Ultra – so I’m two months in.
What size is the enrollment in your courses that are in Blackboard Ultra?
I teach four sections of a required business course, with 52 students per section.
How long did you use Blackboard Original and what was the transition like for you?
I used Blackboard Original for almost nine years. I started attending Ultra workshops about a year ago. It all made sense – but when I tried to set up my course for the Fall 2023 semester, I just couldn’t figure out how to make it work. But then I signed up for Ultra Boot Camp this past semester. It was GREAT! I spent the day before the session playing around with things in a sandbox course – so I had my questions ready for my faculty mentor at Boot Camp. By the time I left the three-hour session, I felt I had everything I needed to successfully make the transition.
What did you struggle with most in your transition to Blackboard Ultra, and what advice would you give to fellow instructors about how to overcome that struggle?
There are some real differences in how to perform routine tasks – and some steps are a little counterintuitive. I was very nervous about setting up my first exam. Entering the settings is completely different. It also took me a while to get used to the fact that when you upload content the default is to “hide” it from students.
Was there a feature that you couldn’t directly reproduce in Blackboard Ultra? What did you do to get a similar functionality?
It took some real digging to figure out how to set up a student to take an exam at a different time from the rest of the class (for example, a make-up test or a test in the testing center). But after sending the question to Blackboard Help, I got the answer (and it worked!). I was also accustomed to using the exam feature that required students to log in from on campus. This feature is not available in Ultra – so I have moved to the access code approach (and a strict monitoring of attendance on exam days) to ensure that only students in the classroom are taking the test. What did you do to get a similar functionality?
What is your favorite feature in Blackboard Ultra?
I really like having the ability to grade all assignments for a significant project, then go back and review my grades (and make adjustments as needed), and then finally post all the grades at the same time. And I like that for small in-class assignments, I can select the option to post scores as I grade. Flexibility and choices are always a positive for me.
How has Blackboard Ultra improved your teaching and course design?
I don’t know if I’d say that it’s improved my teaching. I do think that the transition to Ultra has motivated me to think a bit more deeply about how I organize the course modules in Blackboard. And, feedback from students indicates that they are having an easy time finding the materials they need.
What impact has Blackboard Ultra had on student engagement and learning outcomes in your course?
Most of my students are seniors – and for many of them, my course is the first they’ve seen that has transitioned to Ultra. There was definitely a learning curve for them. But after the first week, they are loving the fact that they can more easily access materials from their mobile devices.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention about Blackboard Ultra?
I really recommend that you sit down for a hands-on session with a colleague who has made the transition to set up your course in Blackboard. That was a real confidence builder for me. I’m sitting down with a colleague this afternoon to do just that.
Want to stay ahead of the curve with your Ultra know-how? Interested in exploring features to customize your teaching and grading experiences? Register for an Ultra Monday Introduction or Follow-Up Friday to learn more or schedule an Ultra Mini Bootcamp session!