Are you stepping into the world of Blackboard Ultra? Instructional Technology is offering two identical sessions on January 22, 2024, providing flexible opportunities to fit into an instructors busy schedule.

In these fast-paced and focused sessions, you'll dive into the essentials of Blackboard Ultra, exploring efficient navigation, content creation, assessment tools, grading techniques, and effective communication strategies with students. Our streamlined approach is designed to deliver key information swiftly, ensuring you get the most out of every minute.

Session Objectives

• Swift Navigation: Learn to maneuver through Ultra with ease.

• Content Building: Discover quick tips for effective course material creation.

• Assessment Tools: Set up and manage student assessments.

• Grading Simplified: Review efficient grading practices.

• Student Communication: Explore strategies to maintain clear and effective communication.

These sessions are an ideal jumpstart for instructors preparing to adopt Blackboard Ultra, providing comprehensive coverage of fundamental features.

Post-Session Support: Although the main session is a quick 50 minutes, we invite you to stay for an additional 10-minute Q&A segment. Here, you can ask specific questions and see live demonstrations tailored to your needs.

Join us to streamline your transition to Blackboard Ultra and enhance your digital teaching toolkit. Choose either of the two available sessions and get ready to elevate for Blackboard Ultra!

Join a Session:

Sessions will be facilitated by Instructional Technology Staff:

• Session #1: 9 AM - 9:50 AM
• Staff: Mariann Hawken / Susan Biro
• Session #2: 10:30 AM - 11:20 AM
• Staff: Josh Abrams / Peter Ariev

These sessions will take place in a Microsoft Teams virtual conference room. Please see the individual event to RSVP and learn about login information.

Please note: UMBC is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for all faculty, staff, students, and visitors.  If you would like to request accommodations (e.g., ASL interpreters, captioning, wheelchair access, etc.) for this event, please notify us at least two weeks prior to the event. Requests received after that time cannot be guaranteed, but we will do our best to make arrangements for program access. Please contact the event host (instructionaltechnology@umbc.edu) with your specific request and be sure to include the event title, date, and time.

By: Sofia Brouse

Photo Credit: [Photo taken at UMBC Career Fair headshot booth, photographer unknown]

Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing MCS graduate Marisa Haas about what her life looks like after graduating college this past Spring. During this interview, Marisa discusses how completing her MCS degree at UMBC has helped her with her career after college along with where she sees herself in the future. 

What is your name, major, and when did you graduate from UMBC? Do you have any interests or hobbies outside of work?

“My name is Marisa Haas, my major was in Media and Communication Studies and I graduated this past Spring of 2023. Outside of work, I enjoy cooking, scrap booking, running, growing plants and spending time with my family.”

What are you doing now that you are out of school? How are you enjoying it?

“Now that I am out of school I work a full time job with an HVAC Company named Daikin Applied as a Sales Coordinator. I am enjoying it! I have learned a lot about the mechanical side of HVAC as well as how to assert myself in professional settings, how to network as well as how to be a great team player.”

What does your day typically look like now that you have graduated from UMBC?

“My day starts at 5 am when I wake up and get ready for my day. I stretch every morning, sometimes I boil some oatmeal before work and drink a coffee, other days I'll stop by a local coffee shop on my way in. I will leave my house by 6:40am and get to work by 7am. Once I get to work I assess the jobs and projects that need the most attention and focus on getting them worked through. I will leave work around 3:30 and head home to which I normally try to take my son to the park/ play ball with him and start to make dinner. Once I make dinner I sit down to eat with my family and we watch a movie or just hang out together.”

Now that you have had some experience with life outside of college, how did your time in the MCS department at UMBC prepare you for your career?

“I feel that my major best prepared me for opposing thoughts and personalities that are in this world. Media and Communications has helped me see the bigger and symbolic meaning that is in my industry now as well as the people's lives that I work with.”

Tell me about a lesson that you learned during your time at UMBC that proved to be helpful in your time as a graduate.

“One lesson I learned while at UMBC was to not judge anyone you see, people are complex beings and there is more to a person than how they come off. Plus, all people are weird and we are not the judge of that.”

Where do you see yourself professionally in 5 years?

“In 5 years, I see myself taking every opportunity I get to grow either in my business or taking a new opportunity. I see myself satisfied with my growth and to keep reaching for the next endeavor.”

If you had to give one piece of advice to students who are about to graduate, what would it be?

“My piece of advice would be to keep your head up and to not give up on yourself. It can be tricky navigating life after graduation but keep your eyes open to opportunity even if it is not your ideal job, plan or goal, always remember you can build on skills and opportunities and to keep striving for the direction you want to head in.”