Timeline: Ultra Courses Activation Project
The project will be carried out in six stages with evaluations carried out after each, as follows:
Stage 1: Preparation for POC (Jul — Nov 2023)
Test and document Ultra course functionality.
Develop a course transition process for simple courses and more complex courses that use more technologies.
Develop a change management plan for proof of concept (POC) communications, resources, and support.
Review all Summer Semester and Semester One Learn.UQ to determine a transition readiness rating (High, Medium, Low).
Identify POC test courses for Summer Semester 2023 and Semester 1 2024.
Report results of the preparation stage to the Digital Learning Program Steering Committee to inform decision about whether to proceed to Stage 2.
Stage 2: Summer Semester 6 course POC (Aug 2023 — Feb 2024)
an initial POC trial will be run with six Summer Semester courses. These will be courses identified by eLearning as 'standard' use cases with course coordinators with 'standard' support requirements.
test course transition processes, communications, resources, and support with the six trial courses (including STEM and humanities).
develop and update guides and workshops to support the Semester 1 POC
collect feedback from POC participants to evaluate teaching and learning benefits of transitioning to Ultra courses using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTUAT) process
provide 'sandpit' sample Ultra course to interested teaching staff to explore
collect feedback from staff and students using the UTUAT new-system evaluation model. Collect feedback from support teams on the new course look and functionality, transition process, teaching and learning benefits, and lessons learnt
report results of this stage to the Digital Learning Program Steering Committee to inform decision to procced to Stages 3 and 4.
Stage 3: Semester 1, 2024 50 course POC (Jan — Jun 2024)
deliver a POC trial with approximately 50 courses in Semester 1, 2024. Thirty courses (one per school) will be identified by the eLearning team and approved by faculties plus three additional courses nominated by each faculty
consult with faculties and schools to determine the adoption approach (i.e. by programme or by year cohort)
review all Semester 2 Learn.UQ courses to determine a transition readiness rating (high, medium, low)
collect feedback from staff and students using the UTUAT new-system evaluation model. Collect feedback from support teams on the new course look and functionality, transition process, teaching and learning benefits, and lessons learnt
report results of this stage to the Digital Learning Program Steering Committee to inform decision to proceed to Stage 4.
Stage 4: Enabling phase (Jun — Dec 2024)
determine course adoption approach
course identification for enabling projects
treatment testing for enabling projects and main deployment
enabling projects
change management projects to transition courses off legacy tools (wikis, blogs, Group Peer Assessment tool) to prepare for move to Ultra
engage with stakeholders responsible for faculty and school support tools regarding testing on Ultra courses
professional development and support resources.
Stage 5: Main deployment (Jan 2025 — Dec 2026)
subject to resourcing and deployment approach, progressively transition courses to Ultra over five semesters: S1 2025 (840 courses), S2 2025 (890 courses), Summer 2025 (34 courses) S1 2026 (875 courses)and S2 2026 (876 courses). Faculties will be consulted about the deployment speed and approach.
deliver standard eLearning Support services to support the transition:
workshops in a variety of formats: online, face-to-face, self-paced
staff and student guides
one-on-one eLearning Advisers Consultations
eLearning technical support with jobs logged via email.