Technology and AI Workshops

Get acquainted with the new AI-powered features available in Blackboard Ultra and learn how they can transform your course design workflow. In this 1-hour session, you'll receive a comprehensive overview of Blackboard's AI tools, including course module generation, assessment creation, rubric building, roleplay scenarios, and Socratic conversations. Explore practical examples of each feature in action and learn best practices for using AI responsibly, including critical review of AI-generated content, accuracy verification, maintaining academic integrity, and ensuring quality control in your courses.

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

• Identify and describe the range of AI-powered features available in Blackboard Ultra for course design and content creation
• Recognize appropriate use cases for each AI tool based on specific instructional needs and learning objectives
• Apply best practices for responsible AI use, including critical review of generated content, accuracy verification, and quality assurance
• Evaluate when and how to integrate AI tools into their course development workflow while maintaining academic quality and integrity

Dates and Registration links:

• Tuesday Feb. 10, 2026
• Monday Aug. 10, 2026
• Thursday Jan. 21, 2027

Learn how to combine backward design principles with AI-powered tools in Blackboard Ultra to create well-aligned course modules. In this 1-hour hands-on session, you'll review the fundamentals of backward design—starting with learning objectives, then designing assessments, and finally selecting activities—and discover how Blackboard's AI features can support this process. Explore practical strategies for using AI to generate module content while ensuring strong alignment between your objectives, assessments, and learning activities.

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

• Apply backward design principles to ensure alignment between learning objectives, assessments, and activities in course modules
• Use Blackboard Ultra's AI tools to generate course module content that supports backward design
• Evaluate and refine AI-generated materials to maintain coherent alignment across objectives, assessments, and activities
• Apply effective prompting strategies to generate discipline-specific content that fits within a backward design framework

Dates and Registration links:

• Tuesday April 14, 2026

Explore how AI-powered tools in Blackboard Ultra can help you design effective formative and summative assessments. In this 1-hour hands-on session, you'll learn to distinguish between formative and summative assessment strategies and discover how Blackboard's AI features can generate diverse assessment options for both purposes. Learn practical techniques for using AI to create quizzes, discussion prompts, assignments, and other assessment tools while ensuring they align with your learning objectives and provide meaningful feedback opportunities for students.

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

• Differentiate between formative and summative assessments and identify appropriate uses for each in course design
• Use Blackboard Ultra's AI tools to generate various types of formative and summative assessments
• Evaluate and refine AI-generated assessments to ensure alignment with learning objectives and appropriate rigor
• Apply effective prompting strategies to create discipline-specific assessments that support student learning and provide actionable feedback

Dates and Registration links:

• Thursday March 12, 2026 
• Wednesday Sept. 9, 2026
• Thursday Feb. 11, 2027

Learn how to create effective rubrics using AI-powered tools in Blackboard Ultra. In this 1-hour hands-on session, you'll explore what rubrics are, why they're essential for transparent grading and student success, and how Blackboard's AI features can help you generate comprehensive rubrics quickly. Discover practical strategies for using AI to create clear, criterial-based rubrics that communicate expectations, support consistent grading, and provide meaningful feedback to students.

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

• Define what a rubric is and explain its importance for transparent assessment and student learning
• Use Blackboard Ultra's AI tools to generate rubrics aligned with specific assignments and learning objectives
• Evaluate and refine AI-generated rubrics to ensure clear criteria, appropriate performance levels, and discipline-specific standards
• Apply effective prompting strategies to create rubrics that communicate expectations and support equitable grading practices

Dates and Registration links:

• Tuesday May 5, 2026 
• Monday Oct. 19, 2026
• Wednesday March 10, 2027

Discover how to create engaging roleplay scenarios using AI-powered tools in Blackboard Ultra. In this 1-hour hands-on session, you'll explore what roleplays are, why they're particularly effective in medical education for developing clinical reasoning and communication skills, and how Blackboard's AI features can help you generate realistic patient scenarios and case studies. Learn practical strategies for using AI to create immersive roleplay experiences that allow students to practice critical skills in a safe, simulated environment.

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

• Define roleplay as a pedagogical tool and explain its effectiveness in medical education for developing clinical and interpersonal skills
• Use Blackboard Ultra's AI tools to generate roleplay scenarios and patient cases aligned with specific learning objectives
• Evaluate and refine AI-generated roleplays to ensure clinical accuracy, appropriate complexity, and realistic contexts
• Apply effective prompting strategies to create discipline-specific roleplay scenarios that support experiential learning

Dates and Registration links:

• Wednesday June 10, 2026
• Thursday March 8, 2027

Learn how to use AI-powered tools in Blackboard Ultra to create dynamic conversations that employ Socratic questioning techniques. In this 1-hour hands-on session, you'll explore the Socratic method—a teaching approach that uses guided questioning to promote critical thinking and self-discovery. Examine why Socratic questioning is valuable in medical education for developing clinical reasoning and diagnostic skills, while also understanding its strengths and limitations. Discover how Blackboard's AI conversation features can simulate Socratic dialogues that challenge students to think deeply and articulate their reasoning.

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

• Define Socratic questioning and analyze its strengths and weaknesses as a pedagogical approach in medical education
• Use Blackboard Ultra's AI tools to generate conversation scenarios that employ Socratic questioning techniques
• Evaluate and refine AI-generated Socratic dialogues to ensure appropriate scaffolding, clinical relevance, and cognitive challenge
• Apply effective prompting strategies to create discipline-specific conversations that promote critical thinking and clinical reasoning

Dates and Registration links:

• Tuesday July 7, 2026
• Tuesday May 4, 2027

• ID: T1.2
• Length: 1 hour
• Click here to view schedule and register

Facilitator

• Glenn Bridges

PowerPoint can enhance your presentations by providing a roadmap, reinforcing what you say, and allowing you to use graphics and other multimedia to clarify understanding and support different learning styles. When presenting scientific information, presenters must possess the skills to clearly convey information and learning objectives without overwhelming respondents. This workshop will explore effective layout/ formatting skills and tools that create dynamic and impactful slides, including audio, animations, and transitions.

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

• Use professional design and layout templates to create engagement
• Reformat slides for effective message delivery
• Organize layers and understand effective layering techniques
• Create templates for future use
• Use PowerPoint Transitions
• Insert graphics, audio, diagrams, and charts in a presentation
• Apply best practices for using PowerPoint

• ID: T1.3
• Length: 2 hours
• Click here to view schedule and register

• ID: T1.4
• Length: 2 hours
• Click here to view schedule and register

Facilitator

• Jessica Klotman

Poll Everywhere is a tool that can be used to engage your learners in online and in-person instruction. Integrating Poll Everywhere in your instruction can enhance student participation, amplify classroom teaching, and allow you to assess student understanding.

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

• Explain the meaning and purpose of audience response systems such as Poll Everywhere
• Understand theoretical perspectives informing the use of polls in online learning
• Identify engagement strategies using various Poll Everywhere question types
• Outline best practices for using polling techniques in distance education courses
• Experience Poll Everywhere from a user perspective
• Identify different question types in Poll Everywhere
• Learn how to create and setup an account
• Create a poll and embed it in a presentation
• Understand group/collaboration features for Poll Everywhere from an instructor standpoint

• ID: T1.5
• Length: 2 hours
• Click here to view schedule and register

Facilitator

• Raffy Macapinlac

Are you looking for a way to efficiently assess learner understanding regardless of the teaching modality (hybrid, online, and/or face-to-face)? Do you give exams that will be graded by multiple professors? Blackboard tests may be option for you. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll explore how to use the Test feature in Blackboard to disseminate and manage your formative and summative assessments. 

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

• Identify formative and summative assessment strategies used in online education
• Create a test using different question formats and deploy/grade a test in Blackboard
• Apply recommended best practices for assessing student learning in Blackboard

• ID: T1.6
• Length: 1 hour
• Click here to view schedule and register

Facilitator

• Glenn Bridges

PowerPoint can enhance your instruction by providing a roadmap, reinforcing what you say, and allowing you to use graphics and other multimedia to clarify understanding and support different learning styles. This workshop will explore effective layout and formatting skills and tools that can create dynamic and impactful slides, including audio, animation, and transitions.

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

• Use design and layout templates to create engagement
• Format slides for effective message delivery
• Organize layers and understand effective layering techniques
• Use effective graphics, audio, diagrams, and charts to a presentation
• Use animation, embedded video, and other multi-media
• Apply best practices for using PowerPoint

• ID: T1.7
• Length: 1 hour
• Click here to view schedule and register

Facilitator

• Raffy Macapinlac

Assessments are essential for gathering information on effectiveness of instruction, student understanding of the course materials, and achievement of learning objectives. Assessments provide feedback to students on their learning and are also an incentive to improve academic performance. In an online environment, many instructors struggle with providing reliable assessment opportunities and grading to accurately gauge student learning. In this workshop, participants will learn about formative and summative assessments, characteristics of effective learner assessments, and how to create online assessments/tests in Blackboard.

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

• Identify high-quality formative and summative assessment strategies used in online education
• Create a test using different question formats and deploy/grade a test in Blackboard
• Apply recommended best practices for assessing student learning in Blackboard

• ID: T1.8
• Length: 1 hour
• Click here to view schedule and register

Facilitator

• Raffy Macapinlac

Blackboard has a variety of communication tools including announcements, emails, and discussion boards. This workshop will give an overview of these different tools and different ways to implement them during a course for maximum effectiveness.

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

• Differentiate between the different communication tools in Blackboard.
• Decide which communication tool is best suited for different scenarios.
• Apply best practices when using any of the blackboard communication tools.

• Length: 1 hour
• Click here to view schedule and register

Facilitator

• Raffy Macapinlac

This workshop provides a hands-on, high-level overview of how to access and navigate a Blackboard course. This workshop will walk you through navigation and creation of various features within Blackboard.

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

• Access a Blackboard course
• Use basic features within Blackboard

Register online.

• ID: T1.1
• Length: 1 hour
• Available times (please select one)
  • Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, 9-10 a.m.
  • Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.

Facilitator

• Jessica Klotman

Padlet is a collaborative tool where learners actively engage by creating and sharing posts related to course content. Like a virtual bulletin board, learners can post, comment, and upload a variety of media (e.g., files, images, videos, links, drawings, gifs). During this workshop, participants will learn to create a Padlet as well as best practices for increasing engagement in-person, online, and in hybrid formats.

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

• Recognize the pedagogical benefits of using Padlet to engage learners online.
• Create a Padlet board, attach a variety of media, use recommended settings, respond to a post, and share the board with others.
• Apply best practices for using Padlet to build community and increase collaboration. 

Register online.

• ID: T1.2
• Length: 1 hour
• Available times (please select one)
  • Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.

Facilitator

• Glenn Bridges

PowerPoint can enhance your presentations by providing a roadmap, reinforcing what you say, and allowing you to use graphics and other multimedia to clarify understanding and support different learning styles. When presenting scientific information, presenters must possess the skills to clearly convey information and learning objectives without overwhelming respondents. This workshop will explore effective layout/ formatting skills and tools that create dynamic and impactful slides, including audio, animations, and transitions.

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

• Use professional design and layout templates to create engagement
• Reformat slides for effective message delivery
• Organize layers and understand effective layering techniques
• Create templates for future use
• Use PowerPoint Transitions
• Insert graphics, audio, diagrams, and charts in a presentation
• Apply best practices for using PowerPoint

Register online.

• ID: T1.3
• Length: 2 hours
• Available times (please select one)
  • Aug. 16, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Sept. 18, 2024 2 - 3 p.m.
  • Oct. 21, 2024 9 - 10 a.m.
  • Nov. 8, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Nov. 22, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Jan. 22, 2025, 2 - 3 p.m.
  • Feb. 17, 2025, 9 - 10 a.m.

Facilitator

• Glenn Bridges

Moving to remote and hybrid teaching-and-learning formats, requires educators to teach use innovative strategies and technological tools to deliver lectures, engage students, and facilitate discussions online. Synchronous online class sessions, where everyone joins a Zoom meeting at a scheduled time, is one way to engage remote learners. In this workshop, we will explore strategies to improve learner engagement online using such Zoom tools as polling, whiteboard, and breakout rooms. We will also present faculty lead examples of integrating the advanced engagement tools in Zoom in a team-based learning (TBL) environment. 

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

• Define learner engagement and outline levels of engagement
• Identify strategies to build community and foster interaction in a Zoom class
• Use Zoom tools such as polling, whiteboard, and breakout rooms to promote interaction and keep students engaged
• Apply best practices for using polling, whiteboard annotations, and breakout rooms in TBL environments

Register online.

• ID: T1.4
• Length: 2 hours
• Available times (please select one)
  • Aug. 20, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Sept. 4, 2024 2 - 3 p.m.
  • Oct. 7, 2024 9 - 10 a.m.
  • Nov. 11, 2024, 2 – 3 p.m.
  • Dec. 2, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Jan. 8, 2025, 2 - 3 p.m.
  • Feb. 3, 2025, 9 - 10 a.m.

Facilitator

• Jessica Klotman

Poll Everywhere is a tool that can be used to engage your learners in online and in-person instruction. Integrating Poll Everywhere in your instruction can enhance student participation, amplify classroom teaching, and allow you to assess student understanding.

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

• Explain the meaning and purpose of audience response systems such as Poll Everywhere
• Understand theoretical perspectives informing the use of polls in online learning
• Identify engagement strategies using various Poll Everywhere question types
• Outline best practices for using polling techniques in distance education courses
• Experience Poll Everywhere from a user perspective
• Identify different question types in Poll Everywhere
• Learn how to create and setup an account
• Create a poll and embed it in a presentation
• Understand group/collaboration features for Poll Everywhere from an instructor standpoint

Register online.

• ID: T1.5
• Length: 2 hours
• Available times (please select one)
  • Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.

Facilitator

• Raffy Macapinlac

Are you looking for a way to efficiently assess learner understanding regardless of the teaching modality (hybrid, online, and/or face-to-face)? Do you give exams that will be graded by multiple professors? Blackboard tests may be option for you. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll explore how to use the Test feature in Blackboard to disseminate and manage your formative and summative assessments. 

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

• Identify formative and summative assessment strategies used in online education
• Create a test using different question formats and deploy/grade a test in Blackboard
• Apply recommended best practices for assessing student learning in Blackboard

Register online.

• ID: T1.6
• Length: 1 hour
• Available times (please select one)
  • July 17, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Aug. 22, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Sept. 11, 2024 2 - 3 p.m.
  • Oct. 14, 2024 9 - 10 a.m.
  • Nov. 13, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Dec. 4, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Jan. 15, 2025 2 - 3 p.m.
  • Feb. 10, 2025, 9 - 10 a.m.

Facilitator

• Glenn Bridges

PowerPoint can enhance your instruction by providing a roadmap, reinforcing what you say, and allowing you to use graphics and other multimedia to clarify understanding and support different learning styles. This workshop will explore effective layout and formatting skills and tools that can create dynamic and impactful slides, including audio, animation, and transitions.

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

• Use design and layout templates to create engagement
• Format slides for effective message delivery
• Organize layers and understand effective layering techniques
• Use effective graphics, audio, diagrams, and charts to a presentation
• Use animation, embedded video, and other multi-media
• Apply best practices for using PowerPoint

Register online.

• ID: T1.7
• Length: 1 hour
• Available times (please select one)
  • Thursday, July 18, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Friday, Aug. 23, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.

Facilitator

• Raffy Macapinlac

Assessments are essential for gathering information on effectiveness of instruction, student understanding of the course materials, and achievement of learning objectives. Assessments provide feedback to students on their learning and are also an incentive to improve academic performance. In an online environment, many instructors struggle with providing reliable assessment opportunities and grading to accurately gauge student learning. In this workshop, participants will learn about formative and summative assessments, characteristics of effective learner assessments, and how to create online assessments/tests in Blackboard.

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

• Identify high-quality formative and summative assessment strategies used in online education
• Create a test using different question formats and deploy/grade a test in Blackboard
• Apply recommended best practices for assessing student learning in Blackboard

Register online.

• ID: T1.8
• Length: 1 hour
• Available times (please select one)
  • Friday, July 19, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Monday, Aug. 27, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.
  • Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, 9 – 10 a.m.

Facilitator

• Raffy Macapinlac

Blackboard has a variety of communication tools including announcements, emails, and discussion boards. This workshop will give an overview of these different tools and different ways to implement them during a course for maximum effectiveness.

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

• Differentiate between the different communication tools in Blackboard.
• Decide which communication tool is best suited for different scenarios.
• Apply best practices when using any of the blackboard communication tools.

Register online.

• Length: 1 hour
• Available times (please select one)
  • Sept. 16, 2024, 10 - 11 a.m.
  • Jan. 13, 2025, 10 - 11 a.m.
  • April 8, 2025, 10 - 11 a.m.

Facilitator

• Raffy Macapinlac

This workshop provides a hands-on, high-level overview of how to access and navigate a Blackboard course. This workshop will walk you through navigation and creation of various features within Blackboard.

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

• Access a Blackboard course
• Use basic features within Blackboard

Register online. 

• Length: 1.5 hours

Facilitator

• Glenn Bridges

Unleash your creative potential in "Storyboarding Mastery: Visualizing Ideas with Precision." This course is designed for aspiring creators, filmmakers, and designers who want to bring their ideas to life through the powerful tool of storyboarding. Through hands-on exercises and expert guidance, you'll learn how to visually map out your concepts, mastering techniques that enhance storytelling and communication. Whether you're working on a film, animation, or any visual project, this course will equip you with the skills to craft compelling storyboards that captivate and engage your audience.

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

1. Explain the Role of Storyboarding: Explain the purpose and significance of storyboarding in the creative process, including its applications across various industries.

2. Develop Storyboarding Techniques: Demonstrate proficiency in essential storyboarding techniques, including framing, sequencing, and visual storytelling.

3. Create Effective Storyboards: Design and produce a storyboard that effectively communicates a narrative or concept, considering elements like timing, pacing, and flow.

4. Analyze and Critique Storyboards: Evaluate and provide constructive feedback on storyboards, identifying strengths and areas for improvement.

Teaching Modality: Online Live – Instructor Led 
Level: Basic 
Facilitator: Jessica Klotman, Senior Instructional Designer
Registration Form

Description: Padlet is a collaborative tool where learners actively engage by creating and sharing posts related to course content. Like a virtual bulletin board, learners can post, comment, and upload a variety of media (e.g., files, images, videos, links, drawings, gifs). During this workshop, participants will learn to create a Padlet as well as best practices for increasing engagement in-person, online, and in hybrid formats. 

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

• Recognize the pedagogical benefits of using Padlet to engage learners online.
• Create a Padlet board, attach a variety of media, use recommended settings, respond to a post, and share the board with others.  
• Apply best practices for using Padlet to build community and increase collaboration. 

Teaching Modality: Online Live – Instructor Led
Level: Basic
Facilitator: Glenn Bridges, Senior Instructional Designer
Registration Form

Description: PowerPoint can enhance your presentations by providing a roadmap, reinforcing what you say, and allowing you to use graphics and other multimedia to clarify understanding and support different learning styles. When presenting scientific information, presenters must possess the skills to clearly convey information and learning objectives without overwhelming respondents. This workshop will explore effective layout/ formatting skills and tools that create dynamic and impactful slides, including audio, animations, and transitions.

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

• Use professional design and layout templates to create engagement
• Reformat slides for effective message delivery
• Organize layers and understand effective layering techniques
• Create templates for future use
• Use PowerPoint Transitions
• Insert graphics, audio, diagrams, and charts in a presentation
• Apply best practices for using PowerPoint

Teaching Modality: Online Live – Instructor Led
Level: Basic
Facilitator: Raphael Macapinlac, Senior Instructional Designer
Registration Form

Description: VoiceThread is a collaborative tool that immerses participants in an active and engaging environment. Like a discussion board, with VoiceThread instructors and/or students can create, share, and comment on images, PowerPoint presentations, videos, audio files, documents, and PDFs using a microphone, webcam, text, phone, and audio-file upload. In this workshop, participants will learn to create a VoiceThread by uploading media, commenting on and annotating that media, and sharing it with others.

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

• Identify pedagogical implications of using VoiceThread to create interactive teaching and learning experiences
• Learn to create a VoiceThread using various media, add narration and annotations, and share it with others
• Discuss recommended settings and best practices that leverage the use of VoiceThread

Teaching Modality: Online Live – Instructor Led
Level: Basic
Facilitator: Glenn Bridges, Senior Instructional Designer
Registration Form

Description: Moving to remote and hybrid teaching-and-learning formats, requires educators to teach use innovative strategies and technological tools to deliver lectures, engage students, and facilitate discussions online. Synchronous online class sessions, where everyone joins a Zoom meeting at a scheduled time, is one way to engage remote learners. In this workshop, we will explore strategies to improve learner engagement online using such Zoom tools as polling, whiteboard, and breakout rooms. We will also present faculty lead examples of integrating the advanced engagement tools in Zoom in a team-based learning (TBL) environment. 

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

• Define learner engagement and outline levels of engagement
• Identify strategies to build community and foster interaction in a Zoom class
• Use Zoom tools such as polling, whiteboard, and breakout rooms to promote interaction and keep students engaged
• Apply best practices for using polling, whiteboard annotations, and breakout rooms in TBL environments

Teaching Modality: Online Live – Instructor Led
Level: Basic
Facilitator: Samantha, Poll Everywhere Trainer
Registration Form

Description: Poll Everywhere is a tool that can be used to engage your learners in online and in-person instruction.  Integrating Poll Everywhere in your instruction can enhance student participation, amplify classroom teaching, and allow you to assess student understanding.

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

• Explain the meaning and purpose of audience response systems such as Poll Everywhere
• Understand theoretical perspectives informing the use of polls in online learning
• Identify engagement strategies using various Poll Everywhere question types
• Outline best practices for using polling techniques in distance education courses
• Experience Poll Everywhere from a user perspective
• Identify different question types in Poll Everywhere
• Learn how to create and setup an account
• Create a poll and embed it in a presentation
• Understand group/collaboration features for Poll Everywhere from an instructor standpoint

Teaching Modality: Online Live – Instructor Led
Level: Basic
Facilitator: Raphael Macapinlac, Senior Instructional Designer
Registration

Description: Are you looking for a way to efficiently assess learner understanding  regardless of the teaching modality (hybrid, online, and/or face-to-face)?  Do you give exams that will be graded by multiple professors? Blackboard tests may be option for you.  In this hands-on workshop, you’ll explore how to  use the Test feature in Blackboard to disseminate and manage your formative and summative assessments. 

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

• Identify formative and summative assessment strategies used in online education
• Create a test using different question formats and deploy/grade a test in Blackboard
• Apply recommended best practices for assessing student learning in Blackboard

Teaching Modality: Online Live – Instructor Led
Level: Basic
Facilitator: Glenn Bridges, Senior Instructional Designer
Registration Form

Description: PowerPoint can enhance your instruction by providing a roadmap, reinforcing what you say, and allowing you to use graphics and other multimedia to clarify understanding and support different learning styles. This workshop will explore effective layout and formatting skills and  tools that can create dynamic and impactful slides, including audio, animation, and transitions.

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

• Use design and layout templates to create engagement
• Format slides for effective message delivery
• Organize layers and understand effective layering techniques
• Use effective graphics, audio, diagrams, and charts to a presentation
• Use animation, embedded video, and other multi-media
• Apply best practices for using PowerPoint

Teaching Modality: Online Live – Instructor Led
Level: Basic
Facilitator: Raphael Macapinlac, Senior Instructional Designer
Registration Form

Description: A rubric provides a means of conveying to students the expectations of quality for assignments; it can also help students better organize their efforts to meet the course requirements. Blackboard Rubrics can be applied to discussion boards, blogs, journals, wikis, and assignments. In this workshop, participants will learn about the pedagogical implications of using rubrics to assess students, best practice use, and create

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

• Define a rubric and explain the different parts of a rubric
• Describe different types of rubrics and the benefits of using rubrics in instruction
• Discuss best practice tips for effective design and use of rubrics
• Learn to create a rubric, associate it to an assignment, and grade using a rubric in Blackboard

Teaching Modality: Online Live – Instructor Led
Level: Basic
Facilitator: Raphael Macapinlac, Senior Instructional Designer
Registration Form

Description: Did you know that you could increase participation and collaboration in an online, hybrid, or even a face-to-face course using the Discussions and Groups features in Blackboard? During this hands-on workshop, you’ll be introduced to the Discussions and Groups features in Blackboard.

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

• Explore the effectiveness and possible uses of Blackboard Discussions to build communities and engage students online
• Learn to create a discussion forum in Blackboard, respond to a discussion thread, apply recommended settings, and review and assess student participation in the discussions
• Apply best practices for setting up and managing effective discussions online

Teaching Modality: Online Live – Instructor Led
Level: Basic
Facilitator: Raphael Macapinlac, Senior Instructional Designer
Registration Form

Description: VoiceThread is a collaborative tool that immerses participants in an active and engaging environment. Like a discussion board, with VoiceThread instructors and/or students can create, share, and comment on images, PowerPoint presentations, videos, audio files, documents, and PDFs using a microphone, webcam, text, phone, and audio-file upload. In this workshop, participants will learn to create a VoiceThread by uploading media, commenting on and annotating that media, and sharing it with others.

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

• Identify pedagogical implications of using VoiceThread to create interactive teaching and learning experiences
• Learn to create a VoiceThread using various media, add narration and annotations, and share it with others
• Discuss recommended settings and best practices that leverage the use of VoiceThread

Teaching Modality: Online Live – Instructor Led
Level: Basic
Facilitator: Glenn Bridges, Senior Instructional Designer
Registration Form

Description: Moving to remote and hybrid teaching-and-learning formats, requires educators to teach use innovative strategies and technological tools to deliver lectures, engage students, and facilitate discussions online. Synchronous online class sessions, where everyone joins a Zoom meeting at a scheduled time, is one way to engage remote learners. In this workshop, we will explore strategies to improve learner engagement online using such Zoom tools as polling, whiteboard, and breakout rooms. We will also present faculty lead examples of integrating the advanced engagement tools in Zoom in a team-based learning (TBL) environment. 

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

• Define learner engagement and outline levels of engagement
• Identify strategies to build community and foster interaction in a Zoom class
• Use Zoom tools such as polling, whiteboard, and breakout rooms to promote interaction and keep students engaged
• Apply best practices for using polling, whiteboard annotations, and breakout rooms in TBL environments

Teaching Modality: Online Live – Instructor Led
Level: Basic
Facilitator: Glenn Bridges, Senior Instructional Designer
Registration Form

Description: PowerPoint can enhance your instruction by providing a roadmap, reinforcing what you say, and allowing you to use graphics and other multimedia to clarify understanding and support different learning styles. This workshop will explore effective layout and formatting skills and  tools that can create dynamic and impactful slides, including audio, animation, and transitions.

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

• Use design and layout templates to create engagement
• Format slides for effective message delivery
• Organize layers and understand effective layering techniques
• Use effective graphics, audio, diagrams, and charts to a presentation
• Use animation, embedded video, and other multi-media
• Apply best practices for using PowerPoint

Teaching Modality: Online Live – Instructor Led
Level: Basic
Facilitator: Raphael Macapinlac, Senior Instructional Designer
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Description: Assessments are essential for gathering information on effectiveness of instruction, student understanding of the course materials, and achievement of learning objectives. Assessments provide feedback to students on their learning and are also an incentive to improve academic performance. In an online environment, many instructors struggle with providing reliable assessment opportunities and grading to accurately gauge student learning. In this workshop, participants will learn about formative and summative assessments, characteristics of effective learner assessments, and how to create online assessments/tests in Blackboard.

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

• Identify high-quality formative and summative assessment strategies used in online education
• Create a test using different question formats and deploy/grade a test in Blackboard
• Apply recommended best practices for assessing student learning in Blackboard