By Fall 2024, all Blackboard courses at UAMS will be transitioned to the Ultra Course format. This conversion is part of UA System initiative to move all campus Learning Management Systems to the modernized Ultra Course format.
What is an Ultra Course?
The Ultra Course experience is a new approach to Blackboard Courses. It is modernized, intuitive, simple, built on responsive design principles, and more accessible for students and instructors. Our implementation of Ultra also includes a video management tool that students and instructors can utilize.
When can you start teaching with Ultra?
You can start using Ultra now. Simply request an Ultra sandbox to begin developing your course. Once your Spring or Summer 2024 shells are ready, you can request blackboardhelp@uams.edu to switch them to the Ultra format. Once switched, you can copy your development shell to your official course shell. Starting Fall 2024, all new course shells will automatically switch to the Ultra Format.
We strongly urge departments to think strategically about their Ultra adoption. This is a good opportunity to get a department’s courses on a standard template format. An Ultra Template Sandbox is available for review, or you can work with our instructional designers to develop a template unique to your program’s needs.
How can you get started?
- Request a Sandbox so you can experiment or have a place to build your course for Ultra.
- Participate in one of the training options found on our Training Resources page.
- Review our Ultra Transition Tips page.
- Begin building your course.
- When you get access to your official courses, request BlackboardHelp@uams.edu to switch them to the Ultra format.
What will happen to Original Courses?
The Original Course format will no longer be offered starting Fall 2024. All new course and organization shells will be in the new Ultra Format. Historical courses will remain in the original format for up to four years then they will be archived and purged from the system.