<?xml version="1.0"?>
<News hasArchived="false" page="1" pageCount="1" pageSize="10" timestamp="Mon, 18 May 2026 06:32:51 -0400" url="https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/umbc-ai/posts.xml?tag=ultra">
  <NewsItem contentIssues="true" id="143999" important="false" status="posted" url="https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/umbc-ai/posts/143999">
    <Title>Enhancing Student Engagement with AI Conversations in Blackboard Ultra</Title>
    <Tagline>12-1pm EDT Friday, September 20, 2024; online</Tagline>
    <Body>
      <![CDATA[
          <div class="html-content">
          <span><p><span><img src="https://ai.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/734/2024/09/ultra_ai.webp" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto;"></span></p>
          <h4><span>Enhancing Student Engagement with AI Conversations in Blackboard Ultra</span></h4>
          <div><span><strong>12-1pm EDT Friday, September 20, 2024; online</strong></span></div>
          <div><span><span><hr></span></span></div>
          <p><span>Join </span><a href="http://doit.umbc.edu/itnm/staff/hawken/" rel="nofollow external" class="bo"><span>Dr. Mariann Hawken</span></a><span>, director of UMBC's Instructional Technology, and </span><a href="http://doit.umbc.edu/itnm/staff/abrams/" rel="nofollow external" class="bo"><span>Josh Abrams</span></a><span>, Instructional Design Specialist, for an exploration of Ultra’s new </span><a href="https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Instructor/Ultra/Interact/AI_Conversation" rel="nofollow external" class="bo"><span>AI Conversations</span></a><span>, a Socratic questioning exercise powered by AI to support the responsible use of AI. In this session, discover how AI Conversations can be integrated into your courses to enhance student learning and engagement. When defined by the instructor for complexity and personality, the AI Conversation allows students to explore a topic and gain new perspectives. </span></p>
          <p><span>AI Conversations will be available </span><a href="https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/instructional-technology/posts/143384" rel="nofollow external" class="bo"><span>in the September release</span></a><span> and future updates to this tool in late fall will include roleplaying and debate exercises.</span></p>
          <span>Get more information and register for the event </span><a href="https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/instructional-technology/events/132067" rel="nofollow external" class="bo"><span>here</span></a><span>.</span></span><div>
          <span><br></span> <hr>
          <a href="https://ai.umbc.edu/" rel="nofollow external" class="bo"><strong>UMBC Center for AI</strong></a> </div>
          </div>
      ]]>
    </Body>
    <Summary>Enhancing Student Engagement with AI Conversations in Blackboard Ultra  12-1pm EDT Friday, September 20, 2024; online     Join Dr. Mariann Hawken, director of UMBC's Instructional Technology, and...</Summary>
    <Website>https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/instructional-technology/events/132067</Website>
    <TrackingUrl>https://dev.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/143999/guest@my.umbc.edu/2ae84bdc4f5a139548225f4b18f445e4/api/pixel</TrackingUrl>
    <Tag>ai</Tag>
    <Tag>blackboard</Tag>
    <Tag>education</Tag>
    <Tag>teaching</Tag>
    <Tag>ultra</Tag>
    <Group token="umbc-ai">UMBC AI</Group>
    <GroupUrl>https://dev.my.umbc.edu/groups/umbc-ai</GroupUrl>
    <AvatarUrl>https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/081/cfb27ebe008c2636486089a759ea5c36/xsmall.png?1691095779</AvatarUrl>
    <AvatarUrl size="original">https://assets2-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/081/cfb27ebe008c2636486089a759ea5c36/original.png?1691095779</AvatarUrl>
    <AvatarUrl size="xxlarge">https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/081/cfb27ebe008c2636486089a759ea5c36/xxlarge.png?1691095779</AvatarUrl>
    <AvatarUrl size="xlarge">https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/081/cfb27ebe008c2636486089a759ea5c36/xlarge.png?1691095779</AvatarUrl>
    <AvatarUrl size="large">https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/081/cfb27ebe008c2636486089a759ea5c36/large.png?1691095779</AvatarUrl>
    <AvatarUrl size="medium">https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/081/cfb27ebe008c2636486089a759ea5c36/medium.png?1691095779</AvatarUrl>
    <AvatarUrl size="small">https://assets3-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/081/cfb27ebe008c2636486089a759ea5c36/small.png?1691095779</AvatarUrl>
    <AvatarUrl size="xsmall">https://assets4-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/081/cfb27ebe008c2636486089a759ea5c36/xsmall.png?1691095779</AvatarUrl>
    <AvatarUrl size="xxsmall">https://assets1-dev.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/002/081/cfb27ebe008c2636486089a759ea5c36/xxsmall.png?1691095779</AvatarUrl>
    <Sponsor>Instructional Technology</Sponsor>
    <PawCount>1</PawCount>
    <CommentCount>0</CommentCount>
    <CommentsAllowed>true</CommentsAllowed>
    <PostedAt>Tue, 17 Sep 2024 17:34:19 -0400</PostedAt>
  </NewsItem>
</News>
