ITSpotlight is designed to keep the campus up to date on ITS activities and services.
Announcements - Tech Updates
Instructional Design & Learning Technologies (IDLT) Updates
Posted April 08, 2026
by IDLT
IDLT has been hard at work supporting faculty through the transition to Blackboard Ultra and promoting accessible course design. Here’s a summary of current initiatives and available resources.
Blackboard Ultra Resources
KB Articles & Guidance
We’ve launched a comprehensive Ultra Transition Guide and Feature Comparison article in the ITS Knowledge Base covering what’s changing in Ultra, what stays the same, and how to get started. This article, and oth...
Webinar Recording: From Checklists to Check-ins — Accessibility, AI, and Human Judgment in EdTech
Posted April 08, 2026
by IDLT
Accessibility is most effective when technology and human insight work together. This engaging panel discussion explores how AI-driven tools are reshaping accessibility in higher education while highlighting the continued importance of reflection, ethical decision-making, and human judgment in course design.
IDLT highly recommends this webinar, as it offers practical ideas and timely strategies that connect directly to the accessibility and course improvement work many faculty ar...
Blackboard Ultra Transition: New Self-Paced Trainings, Open Labs, and Course Shell Updates
Posted March 11, 2026
by IDLT
As previously announced in campus communications, Blackboard at SIUE is transitioning all courses to the Blackboard Ultra experience, with full adoption required by Fall 2026. To support you through this process, IDLT has launched an ITS KnowledgeBase transition guide that walks through what’s changing, what remains the same, and how to begin working in Ultra.
Available Support Resources
In addition to the new self-paced trainings, we offer:
-
Open labs for ...
Blackboard Ultra Modernization Updates
Posted February 11, 2026
by IDLT
As previously announced in campus communications, SIUE is transitioning fully to the Blackboard Ultra course experience, with the Original view being retired by Fall 2026. While this change is required, it is designed to be a smooth and well-supported transition. Ultra offers a streamlined layout, improved accessibility, and a more consistent learning experience, making courses easier to build, navigate, and maintain.
Current resources to help you prepare:
What’s New with Respondus Monitor
Posted February 11, 2026
by IDLT
Respondus Monitor is a fully automated online proctoring solution that works alongside LockDown Browser to help support academic integrity during online exams. Using a student’s webcam, Monitor records the testing session and flags potential concerns, allowing instructors to review key moments rather than watching entire videos.
Recent enhancements make Respondus Monitor more flexible and accurate than ever, including improved sensitivity levels, Respondus Vision for better...
IDLT Welcomes Ashley Cochran!
Posted January 14, 2026
Ashley Cochran has joined IDLT as an instructional designer with our Resource Development team. She is a proud graduate of SIUE, where she earned her degree in Elementary Education. She brings over 6 years of experience in education, including 4 years as a classroom teacher and 2 years as a training specialist. Her time supporting educators sparked a passion for instructional design and creating meaningful learning experiences. Ashley is dedicated to developing resources that keep students engag...January 2026 Respondus Webinar Opportunities
Posted January 14, 2026
by IDLT
Respondus is hosting several webinars throughout January for faculty who want to learn more about LockDown Browser, Respondus Monitor, and/or the Respondus 4 test authoring tool. The webinars will provide demonstrations of the tools and how to utilize them in your Blackboard courses.
If you plan to use any of these tools this semester, please consider registering for one of the upcoming Respondus webinars at this link: Respondus Webinars - Registration
ITS provides support for...
New Navigation in Blackboard
Posted January 14, 2026
by IDLT
Blackboard is rolling out a refreshed user interface designed to make teaching and course management more intuitive and efficient. These updates are based on extensive instructor feedback and aim to reduce clicks, improve performance, and clarify navigation across the system.
What’s changing:
-
Cleaner, refreshed navigation with better use of screen space and faster page loads
-
A Home button replaces the “X” for exiting courses, returning you to y...
Preparing for Digital Accessibility: SIUE’s Guide to the 2026 Standards
Posted November 12, 2025
Like many public post-secondary institutions, SIUE is preparing to comply with new digital accessibility requirements that go into effect on April 24, 2026. The new digital accessibility standards help ensure equal access to an institution’s web presence for all users—not just its internal faculty, staff, and students.
-
Public websites, such as for admissions, employment, special programming, and academic departments
The Cascade CMS Knowlede Base
Posted November 12, 2025
Hannon Hill, the developer of the Cascade CMS, has developed a useful Knowledge Base that provides many useful tips and how-to's for Cascade content managers.
Here are a handful of useful resource links for Cascade:
- Creating content
- File Imports
- Add an image to a page
- Adding a caption to an image
- Add a PDF to a page
- Create an anchor link
- Inserting a video
- Content review
- Accessibility Check
Reminder: Video Files Should Not Be Uploaded Into Cascade
Video files (.mp4, .avi...
CougarNet is getting a new look!
Posted October 08, 2025
by IDLT
Starting Sunday, Oct. 12, you’ll notice a refreshed landing page and easier-to-use navigation in CougarNet.
Want a sneak peek? Check out our short demonstration video to see the updated layout in action.
More details and support contacts will be shared as the Oct. 12 rollout gets closer.
