Converting vs. Redesigning for Ultra

Owned by Mariann Hawken
Last updated: Feb 13, 2024
2 min read

Ultra is very easy to learn and to use. However, your course adoption strategy may depend on how much time you have to accomplish your goals. You have three paths to consider:

Infographic describing three pathways to Ultra

However, your course adoption strategy may depend on how much time you have to accomplish your goals: 

Strategy

Tips to Remember

Strategy

Tips to Remember

Convert

Use the Ultra Course Preview to explore: Discover what you can do in Ultra!

However, do NOT use Ultra Course Preview on a previously delivered course or course in progress:

  • Once an existing course uses to Ultra, you WILL lose student grades & submissions.

  • Some courses cannot be converted back to Original due to the overall archive size (e.g., content + student data).

Copy

Start fresh with a blank course and pull content from Original and/or Ultra courses.

  • Content entirely from a course or at granular level
    (e.g., specific folders, only question banks, only rubrics)

  • Content from one or course or from multiple courses
    (e.g., Course A, Course A and Course B) 

Construct

Be deliberate in Ultra tool choices to benefit your course and teaching style. Ask: What would you do differently with your course from what you do now?

Use a course blueprint to plan your course roadmap
Align your materials, active learning & assessments to your course/unit objectives

Leverage Ultra Docs to present content

  • Combine smaller chunks (Original Items)

  • Distribute nested content (Original Folders & Items)

  • Embed and display attached files or YouTube videos

  • Add links to websites or third-party tools (including Panopto, Google Docs/Slides)

If possible, use descriptions to provide context to folders, learning modules, links, etc.

 

Which approach is best?

Ultimately, the choice is up to you -- however, if allow yourself as much time as possible to prepare your course for Ultra, no matter which path you choose, you will be ready.

General Tips

  1. Consolidate content & remove unnecessary content areas to reduce layers
    Access the Content Collection and delete duplicate files

  2. Remove duplicate tests, rubrics, grade columns
    Export tests as question banks

  3. Verify links to websites and remove anything that’s broken
    Remove publisher integrations and relink after converting to Ultra

  4. Request a course development shell with a copy of specific course/term to give yourself room to design your new course.





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