This session will cover how to set up your Ultra Gradebook and Overall Grade for accurate final grade calculation and transfer to the Student Admin system. We will cover specific settings and features including total points calculations, weighted percentage calculations, categorizing graded items, including/excluding graded items, incorporating tests/exams, assignments, discussions, as well as many other types of assessments and grades in your course. We will also cover how to send the Overall Grade column to Student Admin for midterm and final grade submission.

Register - https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=3309

This workshop is intended for instructors who have already converted their course to Ultra. The workshop will cover:

- Organizing Course Content

- Communicating with students

- Useful tools, settings, and features

- Assessments and Grading

- Gradebook Organization & Overall Grade Setup

Register - https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=3307

Moving forward, 1000-2000 level courses will use the latest version of Blackboard, called Ultra Course View, a.k.a. “Ultra” Starting in Fall 2025, ALL academic courses will be in Ultra. All levels of experience are welcome, bring your questions! This session will cover:

- An overview of the Ultra course experience and key differences

- How to convert your Original course to Ultra

- The basics of Ultra course building and organization.

Register - https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=3299

Starting in Fall 2024 all 1000-2000 level academic courses will need to transition to using Ultra Course View, aka “Ultra”, Blackboard/HuskyCT’s new modernized course version.

This 3-hour hands-on session is intended for Spring 2025 instructors converting one or more courses to Ultra Course View and will feature:

– Training on Ultra course conversion, best practices in course building, navigation/features

– Dedicated time for attendees to work on their course with the assistance of available CETL support staff.

This is a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Session** - please bring a laptop to the session.

Register - https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=3311

VoiceThread is a powerful HuskyCT integrated tool for transforming media into an asynchronous conversation space. Both instructors and students can create media projects in a slide-show style format, record commentary (voice, webcam or text), and share with others for commenting or discussion.

Pedagogical application:

• Record creative & engaging multimedia presentations
• Post video content enabling learners to directly comment/ask questions
• Stimulate audio/video interaction as a Discussion Board alternative
• Create video content viewing assignments that require student commenting
• Allows learners to explain research, demonstrate understanding, & tell their stories
• Allows learners to build a digital portfolio of shareable artifacts
• Allows learners to collaborate on group projects

Register - https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=3297

This workshop is intended for instructors who have already converted their course to Ultra. The workshop will cover:

- Organizing Course Content

- Communicating with students

- Useful tools, settings, and features

- Assessments and Grading

- Gradebook Organization & Overall Grade Setup

January 13, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
register - https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=3301

Join us for an interactive one-hour session designed specifically for academic program leaders and faculty. This session provides a valuable opportunity to ask questions and gain insights about your program’s learning objectives, curricular maps, key performance indicators, and assessment plans. Whether you’re looking to refine your current strategies or seeking guidance on new ones, this session offers a collaborative environment to address your queries and share best practices. Our assessment fellows will be on hand to provide personalized feedback and practical advice to help you enhance your program’s assessment processes and drive student success. Don’t miss this chance to engage with your peers and elevate your program’s assessment activities.

January 15, 10:00 – 11:00
Register - https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=3286

Grading rubrics are an assessment tool that helps instructors and students focus attention on the important aspects of an assignment. Rubrics promote grading practices that are consistent and free from bias. This introductory workshop explores the elements of a rubric, methods to design rubrics with and without student involvement, and how to apply them within your courses. Attendees are encouraged to bring their rubrics for small group collaborations or their syllabus and ideas for an assignment that would benefit from a rubric.

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the value and role of rubrics in measuring student learning
   2. Recognize the steps in creating a rubric
   3. Connect rubrics with outcomes and learning data
   4. Identify an assignment in your course that could use a rubric and draft the criteria

Register - https://fins.uconn.edu/secure_inst/workshops/workshop_view.php?ser=3265