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New & Upcoming

Accessibility and Artificial Intelligence (AI): A Week of Learning and Innovation
February 9–13, 2026

Click on the tab below to view topics, times, and locations for available sessions on that day. No registration required.

Beyond the Slide Deck: Simple Ways to Design Interactive Activities with AI Support
Presenter: Ms. Shannon Hoehn, IT Project Manager, Information Technology and Lecturer, College of Liberal Arts and Romain College of Business
Date: Monday, February 9, 10:00am-11:00am
Zoom: https://usi.zoom.us/j/95870548438, Meeting ID: 958 7054 8438
Description: This one‑hour workshop demonstrates practical, ethical ways to use AI to convert your lectures, notes, and course materials into small‑group activities, in‑class applications, and discussion prompts that deepen student engagement. This is meant to be a "starter course" for those thinking about ways to have AI support (not replace) their expertise!
Accessibility Foundations for Online Materials: Designing content students can access, use, and understand
Presenter: Mr. Jeremy Adams, Instructional Designer, Online and Adult Learning
Date: Monday, February 9, 1:00-2:00pm 
Room: BE 1033
Description: This workshop introduces practical accessibility foundations for online course materials using the POUR framework. Faculty will focus on small, high-impact design choices that improve access without requiring technical expertise. The session includes examples and hands-on practice to support immediate application.
ADA Accessibility: Making Our Website Easy for Everyone
Presenter: Mr. Noah Lutz, Front-end Developer/programmer, University Wed and Digital Content
Date: Monday, February 9, 2:00-3:00pm
Room: BE 0030

Description: Learn about website accessibility and ADA requirements, with a focus on simple, practical ways to make our website easier for everyone to use, including people with disabilities. Discover how people with disabilities experience websites and where common barriers can appear. See real-world examples of how small content changes can make a big difference.

A Conversation About Conversational AI in Ultra
Presenters:
Mr. Jeremy Adams, Instructional Designer, Online and Adult Learning
Mr. Roger Gude, Instructor and Academic Advisor for Bachelor of Professional Studies, College of Liberal Arts
Mr. Kyle Tharp, IT Business Manager, Information Technology and Lecturer, College of Liberal Arts
Date: Tuesday, February 10, 10:00am-11:00am
Room: UC2217-2220
Description: This panel brings together faculty and an instructional designer to share experiences using Blackboard Ultra’s AI Conversation tool. Panelists will discuss how they’ve used the tool, what they’ve observed in practice, and open questions that remain. Time will be reserved for audience questions and discussion.
Gamification and AI 
Presenter: Mr. Walter Fisher, Senior Applications Administrator, Information Technology
Date: Tuesday, February 10, 11:00am-12:00pm
Room: LA 1008
Description: We’ve been talking about gamification in learning for many years, but it has always been a challenging topic to tackle. Traditionally, we’ve had two main options: create a simple application that was fun but ultimately felt too basic, or build an elaborate, highly designed experience that was so time‑intensive you could only manage it once a semester. It’s unfortunate that there hasn’t been a way to create engaging, high-quality applications all the time—or is there?
Creating Transparent Assignments for Student Success with AI as a Guide
Presenter: Dr. Amy Chan Hilton, Director of Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
Date: Tuesday, February 10, 12:00-12:50pm
Zoom: : https://usi.zoom.us/j/99569290055 | Meeting ID: 995 6929 0055
Description: The Transparent Assignment framework helps your students understand the how and why of course content and assignments - and increases their confidence and success. Plus, it helps you align the assignment with student learning outcomes. We'll also explore using generative AI to guide you as you create transparent assignments. To the get most out of this session, bring an assignment idea.
Campus AI Use for Students, Educators, and Administrators 
Presenter: Mr. Kyle Tharp, IT Business Manager, Information Technology and Lecturer, College of Liberal Arts
Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2:00-3:00pm
Room: LA 1015
Description: Join us for a guided tour of the AI tools available across campus, learn how to access and use them effectively, explore real‑world use cases for educators, administrators, and students, and see AI agents in action during a live demo. A great intro for anyone looking to understand what AI can actually do in our academic environment.

SNACKS & SWAG AVAILABLE ALL DAY

Anthology Trainers will be On-Site

  • Session 1: 9-10:15am: Designing for Everyone: Practical Accessibility Strategies Using Blackboard Ally: This session is designed to give faculty the skills to build inclusive, accessible courses without guesswork. This session introduces the core accessibility principles behind WCAG 2.1 AA and demonstrates how Blackboard Ally flags issues, explains their impact, and guides instructors to quick, effective improvements. Participants will learn how to interpret Ally indicators, fix common accessibility barriers, and use Ally’s remediation workflows to strengthen student learning for all.
  • Session 2: 10:30-11:45am: 
  • Teaching Smarter: Using Blackboard’s AI Tools to Save Time and Enhance Course Design: Discover how Blackboard’s AI tools can streamline your teaching workflow. This session focuses on AI-powered capabilities such as generating assessments, creating rubrics, converting documents into learning materials, and assisting with course structure. Attendees will learn practical, responsible uses of AI that help reduce administrative load while maintaining academic integrity and faculty control.
  • Session 3: 1:30-2:45pm: Making AI Work for Learning: Practical Use Cases for Blackboard’s AI Conversation Tool: The AI Conversation tool brings an interactive, tutoring-style experience directly into Blackboard courses—and this session shows faculty how to make the most of it. Participants will learn how to configure the tool, set guardrails, and create conversation presets that align with course objectives. The session highlights a range of practical use cases, including supporting study guides, offering concept clarification, providing practice scenarios, helping students brainstorm project ideas, and enabling low‑stakes exploration of complex topics. Faculty will leave with strategies for using AI in ways that enhance learning while preserving academic integrity.
  • Session 4: 3-4:15pm: Optimizing your Course: AI Tools, Accessibility, Faculty Favorites, and What’s Coming Next: This session brings provides an overview of the tools you have in Blackboard to support cutting edge course design, improving accessibility, and the most popular tools faculty use in Blackboard. You will see some of the the analytical capabilities available to you in your course and what administrators can see at USI. The session also highlights upcoming features and functionality coming Blackboard and Ally. Faculty and staff will leave with practical strategies for improving the courses, managing your students, and maximizing ensuring accessibility and enhancements coming in the immediate future.

Accessibility Foundations for Online Materials: Designing content students can access, use, and understand
Presenter: Mr. Jeremy Adams, Instructional Designer, Online and Adult Learning
Date: Thursday, February 12, 10:00-11:00am
Room: LA 1009

Description: This workshop introduces practical accessibility foundations for online course materials using the POUR framework. Faculty will focus on small, high-impact design choices that improve access without requiring technical expertise. The session includes examples and hands-on practice to support immediate application.

AI for Home and Work: Efficiency Everywhere  (Encore presentation from Professional Development Day)

Presenters: 
Mrs. Brandi Hess, Director of University Web and Digital Content
Mr. Jason Provence, Senior Web Programmer
Date: Thursday, February 12, 11am-12:00pm
Room: BE 0030

Description: Discover practical, real-world ways AI can save you time—both at home and in the office. Jason and Brandi will share simple, accessible examples of how AI can streamline everyday tasks, boost productivity, and reduce friction in your personal life and professional workflow. No technical background required—just tools you can start using right away.

Hands-On Workshop: Using Generative AI to Make Course Materials Accessible 

Presenter: Dr. William Elliott, Associate Dean and Professor of Geology, Pott College of Science, Engineering and Education
Date: Thursday, February 12, 1:00-2:00pm
Room: BE 2001
Description: This hands-on workshop will be an opportunity for faculty to learn how to use AI to make their course materials accessible. Embedded Generative AI, such as Co-Pilot and Gemini, along with stand alone platforms, such as ChatGPT and Otter AI, will be explored.  Bring along course documents and presentations that need to be made accessible and share your own insights with using AI.
Human-centered Teaching and Learning and AI: A Card Game 
Presenter: Dr. Amy Chan Hilton, Director of Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
Date: Thursday, February 12, 2:00-2:50pm
Room: ED 3145
Description:  Explore ideas for using AI in your classes while highlighting human values in teaching and learning. Join us in conversation, idea generation, and reflection via a card game.
Design Smarter, Not Harder: Using AI for Learning Objectives, Assignments, and Rubrics
Presenter: Christine Nelson, Senior Instructional Designer, Online and Adult Learning
Date: Friday, February 13, 10:00-11:00am
Zoom: https://usi.zoom.us/j/96707007119   Meeting ID: 967 0700 7119
Description:  This session introduces faculty to practical ways AI can support course design by drafting learning objectives, assignment descriptions, and rubrics. Participants will see concrete examples and prompts that help improve clarity, alignment, and efficiency while maintaining academic rigor and faculty control.
Using AI to Connect Curriculum to Career: Skill Translation, Professional Identity, and Job Search Strategy 
Presenter: Ms. Susan Todd, Instructor, Academic Advisor, Career Coach, and Recruiter, Bachelor of Professional Studies, College of Liberal Arts
Date: Friday, February 13, 11:00am-12:00pm
Room: : BE 0005

Description: Many students struggle to explain the value of what they are learning in our courses. This session shares practical strategies for helping students connect coursework to real-world application using AI as a structured reflection tool. Designed for faculty and advisors across disciplines, the session demonstrates how simple AI-supported prompts can help students articulate transferable skills, strengthen professional identity, and approach internships or job searches with greater clarity. No career advising expertise is required.Participants will leave with adaptable strategies that can be integrated into writing assignments, projects, or advising conversations to help students better understand, value, and communicate the impact of their education.

Human-centered Teaching and Learning and AI: A Card Game 

Presenter: Dr. Amy Chan Hilton, Director of Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Director of the Office of Sponsored Projects and Research Administration, Professor of Engineering and Lecturer in Engineering, Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education
Date: Thursday, February 12, 12:00-12:50pm
Zoom: https://usi.zoom.us/j/99569290055 | Meeting ID: 995 6929 0055
Description: Explore ideas for using AI in your classes while highlighting human values in teaching and learning. Join us in conversation, idea generation, and reflection via a card game adapted for virtual interactions.

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

10th Annual Celebration of Teaching and Learning Symposium

Keep the conversation going and join us for the following AI focused sessions during the CETL Symposium

  • Putting the AI in IterAtIve: Freeing Faculty from Feedback Overload – JD Weagley and Larissa Cremeens, Purdue University
  • Building Interactive LMS-Compliant HTML Apps with AI to Enhance Student Learning – Srikanth Dandotkar and Spence Farmer, University of Southern Indiana
  • USI Student Perceptions of Generative Artificial Intelligence – Jennifer Skelton, Zachary Ward, Erin Reynolds, Jara Dillingham, Brian Crose, and Quentin Maynard, University of Southern Indiana
  • A Lesson in Sources: Comparing Textbooks, Scholarly Articles, and Generative AI – Jean Zelenko, University of Southern Indiana
  • Keynote: Using Proactive Design to Support Executive Functions – Dr. Jennifer Pusateri, University of Kentucky

Full Event Calendar

CETL Newsletter

Semester Start: Training Videos

Training Videos from USI Sessions with Shannon Hoehn

Blackboard Ultra Basics: Your First Steps to a Ready Course

Blackboard Ultra Basics: Gradebook & More

Honorlock Training Session for Blackboard Ultra

Recording of training session for new proctoring software, Honorlock. All remote proctoring for the Fall 2025 semester will need to be done in Honorlock.  Proctorio will not be available in Blackboard starting on August 18. Additional training sessions will be provided before the start of Fall Semester.

Honorlock Training Session

*Enter your email address to receive a verification code to gain access

TK20 Key Assignment Link in Blackboard Ultra

Video instructions for adding an assessment link in Blackboard Ultra for Core 39 Assessment.

YouTube Link for Instructions

Video Recordings from Anthology Days Now Available

Anthology Day Recordings

You will have to be signed into your USI account to access the folder and files

Open Office Hours

This is a set time each week where faculty can drop in to get assistance with their Ultra classes. One or more Ultra experts will be available to answer any questions you might have. Each week, there will be a face-to-face session and a virtual session.

  • Tuesdays at 2:00pm (F2F): BE 2001
  • Fridays at 10:00am (Zoom): Meeting ID: 986 3696 4585 

Resources for Students

Blackboard Ultra Knowledge Base

Internal help and documentation for instructors and students using Ultra course view in Blackboard. Covers getting started, adding content to courses, and navigating the platform. 

Anthology Help Center

The starting point for everything Learn Ultra for you, as a student. Find how to start as a new user, common questions, and a guide for troubleshooting. You can also choose to explore and learn about accessibility on Learn, assignments, course content, grading, tests, pools and surveys, and how to better interact with instructors and your track performance, among other interesting topics.

YouTube Playlist for Blackboard Ultra

A collection of video resources for students produced by both Anthology and the CTLE for Blackboard Ultra. Contains short videos covering navigation and interaction.

On-Site Help and Troubleshooting

Our helpdesk technicians are here to assist you with anything that you can't get figured out. Navigating, account issues, and general questions are all welcome. Just submit a ticket or stop by the lower level of the Wright Admin Building (just across from the Orr Center, near the Forums and Red Mango).

Resources for Instructors

While the project is still in the initial phases, being primarily led by self-taught super users, we seek to provide transparency and welcome communication from the campus community. All instructors have been provided with a blank Ultra course shell to play around in, and any questions beyond what the resources below provide can be directed to Shannon Hoehn, Project Manager or Juzar Ahmed, Product Owner

Blackboard Ultra Knowledge Base

Internal help and documentation for instructors and students using Ultra course view in Blackboard. Covers getting started, adding content to courses, and navigating the platform. 

Anthology Help Center

The starting point for everything Learn Ultra for you, as an instructor. Find how to start as a new user, common questions, and a guide for troubleshooting. You can also choose to explore and learn about accessibility on Learn, assignments, course content, grading, tests, pools and surveys, and how to better interact with students or how to set up a course and track performance, among other interesting topics.

Anthology Idea Exchange

The Anthology Idea Exchange allows you to share, like, vote, and comment on your favorite ideas, proposed and submitted by Anthology clients. Drive change in the EdTech community by sharing your ideas today. You will need to sign up for an account to share your ideas and you can sign up to receive status updates for any of the product suggestions available.

Instructor Webinar Series: Teaching in Blackboard Learn Ultra

This webinar series is designed for Instructors who are new to Blackboard Learn Ultra. Includes links to videos on topics including assessments, gradebook, student engagement, and more. 

Anthology Day Recordings

Recorded Sessions from 2/21. Organizational Account Required

Ultra 101: Hierarchy & Basic Course Design

Refining Your Course - Lessons Learned

AI Assistant Demo

A Deep Dive into Exams and the Gradebook

YouTube Playlist for Blackboard Ultra

A collection of video resources for instructors produced by both Anthology and the CTLE for Blackboard Ultra. Contains short videos covering content creation and navigation.

Proctoring Solutions Zoom Recording

Instructions and troubleshooting for setting up proctoring in Blackboard Ultra

On-Demand Webinars and Info Sessions

Looking for inspiration and guidance on your Blackboard® Learn Ultra journey? Discover best practices and uncover meaningful insights from upcoming and on-demand webinars. Includes topics on navigation, course planning, and more. 

Project Information

In the spring of 2024, as part of our mission to improve student success, USI began the process of transitioning our LMS to Blackboard Learn Ultra. As part of the project process and in accordance with our desire for transparency, this page will serve as a timeline for the transition and a resource for members of the project team and faculty.

Why move to Blackboard Learn Ultra?

Supports teaching workflows, making it easier for instructors to teach and improve student outcomes
Simplified navigation
Data-driven learning analytics
Intuitive mobile-friendly experience.
Created in collaboration with real-life instructors and students

Proposed Timeline – Development to Full Adoption

FALL 2024 – DEVELOPMENT

Three Groups
  • IT Led (Scheduled & Drop-in Sessions, Website)
  • Online (OCDP, Online Training)
  • Super Users (Self-Taught)

SPRING & SUMMER 2025 – DEVELOPMENT & TEACHING

  • Same development opportunities as Fall 2024
  • Fall 2024 and SPRING 2025 developed courses taught in Spring & Summer

FALL 2025 – FULL TRANSITION TO ULTRA

  • All course shells for Fall 2025 provisioned in the Ultra Course Experience
  • All faculty teaching on Ultra course experience

Ultra Transition Core Project Team

Shannon Hoehn, IT Project Manager
Juzar Ahmed, Director of Endpoint & Academic Technology
Walter Fisher, Senior Applications Administrator (LMS Lead Admin)
Laurie Wilson, Senior Applications Administrator (LMS Admin)
Kyle Tharp, IT Business Manager (Business Analyst, Website Lead)
Dr. Brian Crose, Director of Online Learning
Robert Dickes, Assistant Professor of Photography and Digital Imaging
Spence Farmer, Online Learning

Connect With
Information Technology

(812) 465-1080