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Instructional Design & Learning Technologies (IDLT) Updates
Posted April 8, 2026
by IDLT
IDLT has been hard at work supporting faculty through the transition to Blackboard Ultra and promoting accessible course design. Here’s a summary of current initiatives and available resources.
Blackboard Ultra Resources
KB Articles & Guidance
We’ve launched a comprehensive Ultra Transition Guide and Feature Comparison article in the ITS Knowledge Base covering what’s changing in Ultra, what stays the same, and how to get started. This article, and others that have been made public (search the KB with the keyword “Ultra”), provide step-by-step instructions and tips.
Self-Paced Trainings
Self-paced trainings are available in the ITS Training Organization in Blackboard:
- Introduction to Blackboard Ultra
- Blackboard Ultra: Assignments
- Blackboard Ultra: The Gradebook (just added!)
- Blackboard Ultra: Turnitin (just added!)
To access them, in Blackboard: navigate to Organizations → ITS Training Services (ORG-TRAINING) → Blackboard → Blackboard Ultra, then select your desired training.
Additional trainings about communication tools and AI features will be added over the next few months.
Open Labs & Course Support
Faculty can also take advantage of:
- Hands-on open labs (Please register for an Ultra course shell)
- Tue, May 12 - 11:00 AM-1:00 PM, FH 0303
- Thur, Apr 23 - 1:00 PM-3:00 PM, SE 2268
- Tue, May 12 - 11:00 AM-1:00 PM, FH 0303
- Fri, May 15 - 10:00 AM-12:00 PM, AH 1201
- Fri, Jun 26 - 10:00 AM-12:00 PM, SE 2268
- Fri, Jun 26 - 1:00 PM-3:00 PM, AH 1201
- Thur, Apr 16 - 10:00 AM-12:00 PM, SE 2268
Course Shell Timelines
- Summer 2026: Original shells remain unless Ultra is requested.
- Fall 2026 course shells will be created in Blackboard Ultra beginning May 18.
- Any courses created after May 18 will be Ultra courses by default.
- Blackboard Original course shells (classes, developmental, templates) and organizations will become read-only after May 18. You may export or copy content, but modifications to Original courses will no longer be possible.
Why Start Now
We strongly encourage faculty to begin exploring Ultra and reviewing resources now rather than waiting until August. Requesting a developmental shell and experimenting early allows time to become comfortable with the environment and make adjustments gradually, reducing stress as the Fall 2026 semester approaches.
The good news is that you do not need to rebuild courses from scratch. Most existing content can be reused in Ultra with only minor updates. A few tools, including certain test question types, blogs, wikis, and specific Respondus LockDown Browser settings, will require modification.
Digital Accessibility
Blackboard Ally Tool
Running the accessibility course report is the best way to get started with enhancing your course. This will give you an overview to begin with the simplest content to remediate.
Support & Remediation
- Faculty can submit Blackboard shells for remediation to meet ADA Title II compliance (April 24 deadline). Courses are remediated in order of submission, prioritizing currently taught courses. Submit via the Course Remediation form .
- If you run into any issues, you’re not sure how to fix, feel free to email accessibility@siue.edu or idlt_center@siue.edu .
