The Office of Academic Technology and Digital Innovation is dedicated to supporting faculty with comprehensive educational technology solutions, including Blackboard and a diverse range of digital learning tools.
Our services include:
- Professional development workshops and training sessions
- Personalized one-on-one consultations
- On-demand resources and support materials
Explore our full range of services and resources here.
Join us for our Spring 2026 professional development offerings. To register or learn more about upcoming sessions, please contact us at actech@hartford.edu.
Getting Started with Blackboard Ultra
New to Blackboard Ultra or looking for a refresher? This hands-on workshop is designed to help faculty get comfortable navigating and using the Ultra Course View. Participants will explore the intuitive interface, learn how to create and organize course content, set up assignments and discussions, communicate with students, and manage grades. Whether you’re transitioning from Original Course View or starting fresh, this session will give you the confidence to build a streamlined, student-friendly course in Blackboard Ultra.
Wednesday, Jan. 14, 10 a.m.–noon (Woods Classroom, Harrison Libraries)
Thursday, Jan. 15, 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. (Virtual)
Tuesday, Jan. 20, 1 p.m.–3 p.m. (Woods Classroom, Harrison Libraries)
Tuesday, Jan. 20, 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. (Virtual)
Instructors with questions about the transition to Blackboard Ultra are encouraged to contact the Office of Academic Technology, Teaching, and Learning at 860.768.4661 or actech@hartford.edu.
Ally Up! Quick Wins for Blackboard Accessibility
Small changes, big difference—30 minutes to accessible content that empowers all students!
Ready to make your Blackboard course content work for everyone? Join us for this hands-on workshop where you'll learn how to use Blackboard Ally to improve accessibility. Your students are already downloading alternative formats in Blackboard—now discover how to make that process even smoother. We'll show you how to spot accessibility issues, fix them in minutes, and create content that works for students with diverse learning needs. Whether someone needs audio, large print, or translated text, Ally helps you deliver.
Topics covered:
- Alternative Text for Images
- Quick Fixes for PDFs (Titles, Language, OCR)
- Headings for Documents & PowerPoints
- Tables
- Editing Captions for Videos
No accessibility expertise required—just bring your willingness to learn!
Monday, Jan. 12, 2 p.m.–3 p.m. (Virtual)
Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2 p.m.–3 p.m. (Woods Classroom, Harrison Libraries)
Tuesday, Jan. 20, 11 a.m.–noon (Woods Classroom, Harrison Libraries)
Wednesday, Jan. 28, 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. (Virtual)
Wednesday, Feb. 4, 11 a.m.–noon (Virtual)
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 10 a.m.–11 a.m. (Woods Classroom, Harrison Libraries)
Wednesday, March 4, 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. (Virtual)
Thursday, March 12, 2 p.m.–3 p.m. (Woods Classroom, Harrison Libraries)
Wednesday, March 26, 11 a.m.–noon (Virtual)
Tuesday, April 7, 3 p.m.–4 p.m. (Woods Classroom, Harrison Libraries)
Wednesday, April 22, 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. (Virtual)
RSVP to actech@hartford.edu and an invite will be sent to you.
Microsoft Education with Teams for Classes
Microsoft Education is a comprehensive suite of digital learning tools and services that integrate seamlessly with Learning Management Systems like Blackboard to enhance teaching and learning experiences. Through the Microsoft 365 LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability) integration, faculty can access powerful collaboration tools, assignment creation capabilities, and AI-enhanced learning accelerators directly within their Blackboard courses. The platform includes tools for real-time collaboration, video meetings, file sharing, AI-powered assignments, and learning accelerators—all designed to create more engaging, personalized learning experiences without requiring students or faculty to leave their familiar Blackboard environment. Think of it as bringing the best of Microsoft's educational technology directly into your existing course structure, making it easier to collaborate with students, create interactive assignments, and track learning progress.
Tuesday, Jan. 13, 10 a.m.–11 a.m. (Virtual)
Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2 p.m.–3 p.m. (Woods Classroom, Harrison Libraries)
Wednesday, Jan. 21, 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. (Virtual)
Monday, Feb. 16, 2 p.m.–3 p.m. (Woods Classroom, Harrison Libraries)
Tuesday, March 10, 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. (Virtual)
Thursday, April 16, 10 a.m.–11 a.m. (Woods Classroom, Harrison Libraries)
RSVP to actech@hartford.edu and an invite will be sent to you.
Microsoft Teams (Non-Instructional Use)
This hands-on workshop is designed for staff and administrators who use Microsoft Teams for meetings, collaboration, and day-to-day communication. Participants will learn best practices for organizing teams and channels, managing chats and files, scheduling and running effective meetings, and using collaboration tools to streamline workflows. This session focuses on operational and administrative use of Teams rather than classroom or instructional applications.
Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2 p.m.–3 p.m. (Virtual)
Monday, March 23, 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m. (Virtual)
RSVP to actech@hartford.edu and an invite will be sent to you.
AI Magic: The Ultimate Toolkit for Spellbinding Course Design w/Blackboard
Wave your wand and let AI work its magic! This spellbinding session unveils Blackboard’s AI Design Assistant for effortless quizzes, assignments, rubrics, and visuals, plus the AI Roleplay tool for immersive, interactive learning. Save time, spark creativity, and enchant your students with AI-powered tools that make course design feel like wizardry. Join us and add a little magic to your teaching!
Wednesday, Feb. 11, 12:45 p.m.–2 p.m. (Woods Classroom, Harrison Libraries)
Wednesday, April 8, 12:45 p.m.–2 p.m. (Woods Classroom, Harrison Libraries)
RSVP to actech@hartford.edu and an invite will be sent to you.
AI Magic: Google NotebookLM
Join us to explore Google's NotebookLM, an AI-powered research assistant that transforms how you work with documents and sources. Upload PDFs, articles, notes, and other materials to create a personalized AI that can summarize content, answer questions, generate study guides, and help synthesize information across multiple sources. Perfect for research projects, course preparation, literature reviews, and collaborative analysis. We'll cover practical applications for both teaching and research, including how to generate podcast-style audio discussions from your materials and create interactive study resources for students.
Bring your laptop and a few documents you'd like to experiment with!
Wednesday, March 11, 12:45 p.m.–2 p.m. (Woods Classroom, Harrison Libraries)
RSVP to actech@hartford.edu and an invite will be sent to you.
AI-Powered Roleplay: Enhancing Engagement in Blackboard
Unleash the potential of interactive learning with Blackboard’s AI Roleplay tool. This workshop explores how to design dynamic roleplay scenarios that promote student engagement, critical thinking, and real-world application. Learn to create immersive simulations and adaptable role-based activities that bring course concepts to life. Whether you're teaching case studies, fostering collaborative problem-solving, or preparing students for professional interactions, this tool empowers you to craft impactful learning experiences. Recommended: Completion of Getting Started with Blackboard Ultra training.
Thursday, Jan. 29, 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m. (Woods Classroom, Harrison Libraries)
Monday, March 9, 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m. (Woods Classroom, Harrison Libraries)
Tuesday, March 31, 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. (Virtual)
RSVP to actech@hartford.edu and an invite will be sent to you.
Getting Started with Kaltura
Kaltura works like an in-house YouTube, allowing faculty to upload videos to a media library quickly and easily, then link to them from Blackboard and other websites. Faculty who are flipping the classroom, teaching online, using video clips in instruction, or working with student video projects should plan to attend this special information session about Kaltura. Kaltura Capture is a simple, convenient tool that can capture your voice, the action on your computer screen, and webcam video to create lecturettes. You can use it to record audio podcasts, video lectures, or narrated presentations and demonstrations. This session will guide you through the process of recording a narrated screen capture, editing it, and publishing it to Blackboard. Video and audio files should never be added directly to Blackboard; instead, instructors should be using Kaltura. If you require a 1:1 assistance to set up Kaltura, email actech@hartford.edu, and we will be happy to arrange either a face-to-face or virtual appointment.
Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2 p.m.–3 p.m. (Virtual)
Thursday, Jan. 22, 3 p.m.–4 p.m. (Woods Classroom, Harrison Libraries)
Monday, Feb. 16, 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. (Virtual)
Tuesday, March 24, 1 p.m.–2 p.m. (Woods Classroom, Harrison Libraries)
Thursday, April 23, 6:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m. (Virtual)
RSVP to actech@hartford.edu and an invite will be sent to you.
Copilot & Generative AI for Instruction
This interactive workshop introduces faculty to Microsoft Copilot and other generative AI tools for instructional use. Participants will explore practical, ethical, and accessible ways to integrate generative AI into teaching, including lesson planning, content creation, feedback support, and student engagement. The session will also address academic integrity, transparency, and responsible AI use, with examples that can be adapted across disciplines.
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 12:45 p.m. –2 p.m. (Woods Classroom, Harrison Libraries)
Tuesday, March 24, 6:30 p.m.–7:45 p.m. (Virtual)
RSVP to actech@hartford.edu and an invite will be sent to you.
Generative AI for Research
This workshop explores how generative AI tools can support the research process, from idea development and literature discovery to organization, synthesis, and writing support. Participants will examine practical use cases, limitations, and ethical considerations, including accuracy, bias, citation practices, and responsible disclosure. The session emphasizes AI as a support tool—not a replacement—for scholarly judgment and rigor across disciplines.
Wednesday, March 4, 12:45 PM–2 p.m. (Woods Classroom, Harrison Libraries)
Thursday, April 2, 6:30 p.m.–7:45 p.m. (Virtual)
RSVP to actech@hartford.edu and an invite will be sent to you.
Blackboard Drop-In Sessions
Have a quick question about Blackboard? Need help with a specific feature or troubleshooting an issue? Stop by one of our Blackboard Drop-in sessions for on-the-spot support and guidance. These informal, come-and-go sessions are perfect for faculty and staff who need personalized help with Ultra Course View, content setup, grading, communication tools, or Organizations. No registration or agenda—just bring your questions! Drop-ins are available in-person in the ACTECH Office or virtually via Microsoft Teams for your convenience.
Monday, Jan. 12, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 13 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 14, 6 p.m.–8 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 15, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 16, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 20 9 a.m.–11 a.m. or 3 p.m.–5 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 21, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 22, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
RSVP to actech@hartford.edu and an invite will be sent to you.
Need a One-on-One Appointment?
If none of our workshop times or topics fit your needs, we’re happy to meet with you individually. Faculty and staff can schedule a one-on-one appointment for tailored support with Blackboard Ultra, course design, Organizations, or other academic technology tools. Appointments are available in-person or virtually via Microsoft Teams—whichever works best for you. Let us know what you’d like to focus on, and we’ll match you with the right team member to assist you.
Email us at actech@hartford.edu to schedule your appointment.