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Innovative Educator Series - The One That Made Accessibility Effortless - Dec 12 2025
The Engagement Entourage: An Ensemble of Practices for Digital Teaching to Foster Engagement and Inclusion. 



Innovative Educator Series - Dec 11

The Title II ADA requirements are a serious responsibility, but they are also an opportunity. Institutions that take thoughtful, structured action now will be far better prepared to meet the rules. 

How to meet the new Title II accessibility requirements

Wisconsin Blackboard User Group

WIBUG - Accessibility with Ally

Innovative Educator Series - The One Where Everyone Has a VoiceExplore how instructor presence and asynchronous discussion tools in Blackboard Ultra can foster belonging, boost engagement, and support student success across online, hybrid, and face-to-face classrooms.Speaker 1 Using Asynchronous Discussions in Face-to-Face Courses Bret Sikkink, PhDThis presentation explores how well-structured asynchronous discussion board assignments can be used in traditional classroom or blended course models to increase access to discussions for all students, support active learning strategies during and between class meeting times, promote the scaffolding of constructive projects, and increase student-to-student interaction throughout the term.Speaker 2 Is Anyone Out There? Cultivating a Sense of Belonging through Instructor PresenceCarol Westcamp-Sessums, Professor, University of Arkansas–Fort SmithStudents enrolled in an asynchronous online class often feel isolated and lonely, which often negatively impacts their retention and success in the class. In order to help students feel a sense of belonging and to view their instructors as “real humans,” instructors can create a social presence in their classes. There are many articles discussing strategies for creating an instructor presence in the online classroom, and this presentation will discuss the strategies that have worked well for me, including developing an authentic instructor persona, as well as using various tools in Blackboard Ultra to help communicate with students to build trust, empathy, and authentic communication.

Innovative Educator Series - The One Where Everyone Has a Voice

Innovative Educator Series - The One Where Learning Feels Like a GameThis session explores how gamification can be used to promote engagement, problem-solving, and deeper learning through purposeful course design. Using examples such as escape-room-style activities in Blackboard, presenters will share practical approaches that make learning interactive without losing academic focus.Speaker 1Applying escape room principles to create engaging contentPeter Boorman, Learning Designer, University of Southampton. In this session Peter will demonstrate how he incorporated escape rooms principles and elements of gamification to create an ‘escape room’ module in Blackboard Ultra. The module is designed for staff to become familiar with Blackboard Ultra in a unique and fun way. Acting as a student, staff must navigate through different areas to find information, discover clues and solve puzzles. This presentation is designed to generate ideas for how you could apply escape room principles to your own course and use Blackboard Ultra features to create engaging content.

Innovative Educator Series - The One Where Learning Feels Like a Game

K-12 User Group

Blackboard K-12 User Group - January 8, 2026

APAC Blackboard User Group

Hi EveryoneTis the holiday season!&nbsp;Our next APAC user group meeting is Thursday 18 December at 11am AEST.Here is the link to join<a href="https://au.bbcollab.com/guest/f349e431da7e4ddc81745a130181f86e" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://au.bbcollab.com/guest/f349e431da7e4ddc81745a130181f86e</a>&nbsp;Please let me know if you have any items to add to the agenda which is currently as follows	&nbsp;&nbsp;Benwell’s backyard progress and planning update 😊	Anthology updates on any issues and time for Q&amp;A&nbsp;Info sharing <ol><li data-list="bullet">Any new Ideas exchange items that have been raised/need upvoting?&nbsp;</li><li data-list="bullet">Good news stories/updates /areas of concern</li><li data-list="bullet">Other business&nbsp;</li><li data-list="bullet">Next meeting will be in February 2026</li></ol>Here’s the link to our APAC UG google doc for Collation of institutional information – <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IBYUZZqiqOx_tBaRT2mxRSwxGyivcg2ipoioPZv_Lj8/edit?gid=1973197816" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">google doc</a>If your institute does not already have a page to update, please copy and paste the template into a worksheet and add your info.I look forward to catching up and welcome any slides you would like shared, agenda items, topic ideas, feedback, or suggestions for our meetings.CheersSharon &nbsp;

APAC December User Group Meeting

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