Learn Well Online

Blackboard Ultra is the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) used at the University of Cumbria. This is where you will find all your taught modules, teaching materials, presentations, module guides, assignment descriptions and assignments submission areas (Turnitin). Check the announcements area of your module sites for any updates from your tutors. These may range from room changes to job opportunities. Blackboard also includes discussion forums used in some courses. Getting familiar with Blackboard at the start of your course will help you feel in control of your learning.

Blackboard is available via the Student Hub, or you can login directly at: https://mylearning.cumbria.ac.uk/

An overview of Blackboard is available on our Blackboard page.

You can find out about alternative formats and accessibility options within Blackboard by accessing our Blackboard Ally page.

Discussion Forums (usually in Blackboard) allow for asynchronous conversations (not everyone has to be there at the same time, but can join in the conversation at a convenient time). They work much like social media conversations.

You could be using discussion forums in Blackboard as part of your studies, which will involve things like:

• Read a passage or question posted by a tutor

• Discuss (with the forum) your thoughts or answer(s)

• Discuss other people's responses

• Write up your conclusions outside of the forum

• Submit your conclusions via Turnitin

Watch our video for some for the top 5 tips on how to participate effectively in discussion boards.

Additional instructions are available from the Blackboard page of My.Cumbria.

Lecturers may well use Teams webinars which allow the organiser to invite multiple people into an online conversation that they will lead. These work as an online classroom, with one or more tutors and multiple students. Questions and comments can be posted via a chat window and the whole thing can be recorded for later viewing. The lecturer may expect everyone to switch on cameras to participate in sessions, so you may need a webcam. The ability to contribute vocally (via built in microphone or headset) is also recommended.

The Skills@Cumbria Team offer one-to-one study skills appointments via Microsoft Teams, as well as webinars. Come prepared for these meetings with questions you want to ask and consider sharing your work in advance of the meeting or on screen within the meeting. The Skills@Cumbria team don't insist that cameras need to be on for their Teams appointments and/or webinars, but the ability to contribute vocally is recommended (via built in microphone or headset). 

Skills@Cumbria webinars are open to all students and are not closed cohorts, ie they are not timetabled curriculum sessions with lecturers and library and academic advisers, which might well be recorded. Skills@Cumbria offer recordings of the core content of some webinars on the Webinars webpage. They don't record live webinars with participants as these are not closed cohorts and they want participants to share questions and observations, without being concerned about being recorded. 

See the guidance for Microsoft Teams and always arrive a few minutes early for a webinar or appointment, just so you can check that everything is working ok.

Your Blackboard site may include a range of different types of resources for learning. Video is a common option for all students and may cover short videos about assignments or recordings of lectures. You will be directed when to watch videos as part of your module. Many university videos are hosted on Microsoft Stream and you will be prompted to log-in via your university account. Watch our guide to learning from video to get the most out of academic videos with an active mindset.

The Skills@Cumbria Team offer a range of videos to support your study skills. Browse our SkillsTV webpage to explore some of the topics covered.

You will encounter lots of different types of software and digital resources at the university. It is useful for everyone to be aware of different accessibility resources.

The Assistive Technology page brings together a wide range of resources that are available to students at the university. The page covers eresources, apps for learning, assistive technology, and loan equipment.  

View accessibility settings for Blackboard via the Blackboard Ally resource.

Setting up a suitable space for study is an important part of preparing to do your university work, this could be on campus, or at home. Identifying your own study preferences regarding your environment and time management can mean that you have a more successful experience. Our short video introduces ways to consider your space, how to plan your week and make the most of small units of time.  

Successful students take time to consider how and when they will study. Our time management page will explore this topic in more detail.