Ultra Training Opportunities, Instructor Help Hours, Book Discussion – August 2026
Posted: 2026-07-30 13:06:36 Expired: 2026-08-06 13:06:36
Disclaimer: This news item was originally posted on 2026-07-30 13:06:36. Its content may no longer be timely or accurate.
Professional development opportunities for faculty and staff
Trainings for instructors
- Blackboard Ultra Introduction for Graduate Teaching Assistants
- Blackboard Ultra *New* Gradebook
- Getting Started with Vevox
- Instructor Help Hours - Stop by with your Blackboard, instructional technology, or course design questions. No appointment necessary; get one-on-one assistance from the IDC team. If you are not on campus and need support, submit an IT Service Center ticket or request a consultation, and we can help you virtually.
Find the full schedule and details on the Professional Development & Training Knowledge Base (KB) page.
AI Conversations Series
This fall, the Office of the Vice President for Information Technology will host the AI Conversations Series, a monthly Zoom discussion series facilitated by the Instructional Design Center. Each session will center on a selected article about generative AI to guide conversation and professional reflection.
Topics include:
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September 8: AI Literacy (Chapter 3 from Teaching with AI)
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October 6: Effective Context Engineering for AI Agents
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November 10: Ethics Is the Edge: The Future of AI in Higher Education and AI Ethical Guidelines
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December 8: Generative AI’s Environmental Impact and Using ChatGPT Is Not Bad for the Environment
Participation is flexible; you are welcome to attend one session or all four, depending on your interest and schedule. We hope the series will offer a thoughtful and engaging opportunity for campus-wide dialogue and professional learning. Additional details, including the Zoom link and discussion articles, will be shared in advance of each session.
Fall 2026 Book Discussion
We are excited about our book selection: The Joyful Online Teacher by Flower Darby. Visit our IDC Book Discussion Knowledge Base page for more information, including places to order the book.
💬 Registration is open! Please register by September 4th.
Discussions will be held at 2:00 pm on September 24, October 9, and October 22.
-- NDSU IT Knowledge Base: Kristi Steinmann