Ultra Ambassador Feature
How Dr. Margaret Butcher is Gaining New Insights into Student Engagement with Ultra
Dr. Margaret Butcher is a teaching assistant professor in the communications department in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and an Ultra ambassador. Since converting her courses to Ultra in Spring 2023, she’s enjoyed a newfound level of engagement with her course creation and a love for Ultra’s robust analytics. The TIPS team had a chance to talk to Dr. Butcher to hear more about her experience converting to Ultra and how it’s enhanced her teaching and her students’ learning.
How long have you used Blackboard Ultra?
I first developed in Ultra for online in Spring 2023, then piloted the class and developed one more, which I’m piloting now. I’ve also transitioned two of my Bb Classic classes to Ultra.
What size is the enrollment in your courses that are in Blackboard Ultra?
My classes are usually between 30-35, both online and face-to-face.
How long did you use Blackboard Original and what was the transition like for you?
I started using Blackboard when they expanded to Global in 2003! We didn’t have developers in this then-new technology, so I had to learn that quickly, too. I was part of a pilot program to create and teach in an international hybrid degree in China, the first of its kind in that country. I’ve been using Blackboard ever since.
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?
I think the most challenging aspect is navigating the different cluster format and trying to locate some of the functions, like how to make groups and manage those. When making the transition, it’s all about the exploration, taking the time to click on all the buttons and try things out using a Sandbox or transferring an old course shell I’m not really using to see where things end up. I know many people are hesitant to just go in and play around with what’s there, but practice is the best way I’ve found to get comfortable in the new format.
Was there a feature that you couldn’t directly reproduce in Blackboard Ultra? What did you do to get a similar functionality?
I don’t know that there was any one feature that I couldn’t reproduce. There may have been when I first transitioned, but there are so many new and positive features that I think I must have put the others out of mind! If I had to pick a challenge, it would be getting used to the threads in the discussions.
What is your favorite feature in Blackboard Ultra?
The analytics is now my favorite part of Blackboard Ultra. I just found out about it in my course review. I knew that the analytics were there but didn’t really understand how they could be interpreted to help me see how my students were working in the online classes. Tracking the days and times that students spend in the class in a visual depiction works well with my own learning style, and the level of engagement gives me better insight into my students. It allows me to check with my students and help them find ways to become more engaged.
How has Blackboard Ultra improved your teaching and course design?
In my opinion, Bb Ultra is less “clunky” and more easily navigated. There are some places where I think more clicks are required, but otherwise, the organization is more visibly appealing, and the ability to easily incorporate images allows for a break for the eyes when one is browsing or working through the different areas of the course shell. These features have been available for a while but one might need to know how to code them correctly to get the desired outcome. Bb Ultra makes it really easy.
What impact has Blackboard Ultra had on student engagement and learning outcomes in your course?
I don’t know that it is the learning management system itself, but because I’m organizing my courses a bit differently, I think the interaction with the student to the technology is simpler to achieve.
What future enhancements or features would you like to see in Blackboard Ultra?
Blackboard has gone far beyond what I could have imagined, and I know that there are new aspects to technology that are introduced all the time. I’m sure there are many features that would enhance the LMS further, I am just waiting to see what comes! If there became a reliable way to identify work generated through AI, that would be a logical next step, similar to SafeAssign, which was added several years ago. That is one of the biggest challenges right now for higher education, and we are still in that “not-sure-what-to-do-with-it” phase. Learning how to use the technology ethically and responsibly lies more on the creators of the content and courses, but I’m sure there will be new tools developed and integrated that will address this challenge.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention about Blackboard Ultra?
The transition has made me more fully engaged with my course creation and design, with the help of Global Campus. The support that faculty get is incredible. As new opportunities and elements to Bb Ultra are introduced, we learn and are challenged to integrate them to enhance the learning opportunities and engagement of our students.
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!