Getting Up to Ultra Speed
- Matthew Warne
- Shannon Pitt
- Sandy Mustico
Training and Support Resources for Moving to Ultra
Online Learning Service (OLS) and ITS are committed to providing a diverse set of resources for Syracuse University instructors as Syracuse University transitions from original to ultra course view. We appreciate that the challenges and pressures facing faculty mean that an individual's support needs and timeline may be different than their colleagues' needs. OLS is providing a variety of synchronous training opportunities with different styles and timelines in addition to asynchronous materials available anytime. Our intent is to provide a suite of resources so that faculty can have support in the format that helps them most.
With a large number of instructors and classes making the transition, OLS has limited capacity for extensive one-on-one training, but we are working to expand our capacity for individualized consultations.
Upcoming Events
Events & Office Hours
Date | Time | Event Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Mondays | 9:00 - 10:00 AM | Monday Office Hours | Open time with Online Learning Services staff for instructors to ask questions and get support on ultra courses. Hosted on Zoom: https://syracuseuniversity.zoom.us/j/99215387414
|
Tuesdays | 2:00 - 3:00 PM | Tuesday Office Hours | Open time with Online Learning Services staff for instructors to ask questions and get support on ultra courses. Hosted on Zoom: https://syracuseuniversity.zoom.us/j/96710631791
|
Past Events
OLS preserves a record of past events in Answers. Selected recordings of events are on the page Past Trainings
Documentation
Answers Pages
OLS has created custom documentation for Syracuse University Instructors on the core features and functions of the ultra course view. The easiest way to browse these pages is to open the sidebar and peruse the page hierarchy for the feature you are interested in. OLS documentation will expand throughout the transition. As this resource develops page names and locations may change. If you are unable to locate a resource, the top-level Blackboard documentation page will have links to ultra documentation.
Blackboard Documentation
Blackboard provides in-depth documentation for instructors on all of ultra course view's features. When browsing Blackboard's documentation, look for text at the top of the page reading "You are viewing Ultra Course View content" to ensure that the page is for your ultra course.
Live Support Meetings
Office Hours
Throughout the transition, OLS will be hosting office hours regularly via Zoom. Some of these hours will be open to any campus instructor, while others will be limited to a particular user group. The days and times for current office hours are at the top of this page along with a Zoom link to join.
Individual Consultation
Online Learning Services is adding additional staffing resources to consult with faculty on the transition to teaching in the ultra format. Interested instructors should email help@syr.edu to schedule a time to discuss your courses with a staff member.
Training and Informational Events
Workshops
Online Learning Services will host a variety of workshops to assist instructors in using the new view. Upcoming events will be posted at the top of this webpage. Events will be recorded where possible and posted here.
Lunch and Learn Events
Ultra courses will be a regular focus of online Lunch and Learn presentation hosted by ITS throughout the transition. These events are recorded with the recordings being provided to participants. Please refer to the monthly "Technology Tips" email from ITS for information about upcoming events. Registrants will receive links to event recordings where available.
On April 28th, 2023, Online Learning Services hosted an event featuring a panel of faculty members that are already teaching in the ultra format, for them to share their experience of the transition. The
(including the audio and chat transcript).
Community Building
New Faculty Orientation
Beginning with the Fall 2024 semester, new faculty will receive courses in the ultra format. Online Learning Services is creating resources specifically for new faculty to provide information about using Blackboard at Syracuse University and to help them understand the suite of computing resources provided by ITS.
Teaching Squares and Faculty Learning Communities
For faculty that organize a group of colleagues that are interested in making the transition to ultra courses together, Online Learning Services will provide customized training and support or group facilitation. Depending on the size of your group and your desired time commitment, OLS has a number of models they can provide to help structure groups around the topic of teaching and learning with technology. For more information email help@syr.edu with some information about the size of your faculty group and interest for a consultation and assistance on creating a group.