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Blackboard Faculty Manual

1.0 Content: Course Documents & Course Information

1.1 Add an Item

Items are general pieces of content that can be added to any content area in a Blackboard course. Items can reside on their own in main content areas or within folders in a content area.

1. From the Control Panel, open the Content Area in which the item should appear.
2. Click the Add Item icon. The Add Item window opens.
3. Section 1: Content Information
   • Name: enter the name of the item.
   • Text: provide a description of what the file contains and any helpful instructions.
4. Section 2: Content
   • Attach local file: Browse to locate the file you want to attach.
   • Link to Content Collection: Browse to locate a file that is in your Content Collection.
   • Name of Link to File: Enter the title of the document that you would like students to see. They will click on this title to view the attached file.
   • Special Action: Usually this can be set as Create a link to this file. If attaching a .zip file, choose unpackage this file.
5. Section 3: Options
   • Make the Content Available: Choose 'Yes' to allow students to view the item now.
   • Track number of Views: Tracks how many times the file has been accessed
   • Date and Time Restrictions: Makes the attached file available to students only during a specific period of time.
6. Section 4: Click Submit.

1.2 Add a Folder

Folders allow instructors to organize materials in logical chunks, such as by weeks, modules, units, chapters, etc. Each week's folder can contain the lecture materials, readings, assignments, assessments and/or a link to a discussion forum, for that week - resulting in a modular structure.

1. From the Control Panel, open the Content Area in which the folder should appear.
2. Click the Add Folder icon. The Add Folder window opens.
3. Section 1: Folder Information
   • Name: Enter the name of the folder
   • Text: Type description or instructions, if desired.
4. Section 2:Options
   • Make the Content Available: Choose 'Yes' to allow students to view the folder now.
   • Track number of Views: Tracks how many times the folder has been accessed
   • Date and Time Restrictions: Makes the folder available to students only during a specific period of time.
5. Section 3: Click Submit.

1.3 Add an External Link

Instructors can add External Links to online databases, articles, journals, online labs, and textbook web sites, adding richness to the distance learning experience and supplementing textbook or other course materials.

1. From the Control Panel, open the Content Area in which the folder should appear.
2. Click the Add External Link icon. The Add External Link window opens.
3. Section 1: External Link information
   • Name: Type the name of the article, journal, website, or lecture.
   • URL: Type or copy the website address, starting with http://
   • Text: Type a description of the link such as a summary, author's name, and what to pay special attention to.
4. Section 2: Content - Attach any supporting documents, as needed, to supplement the External Link.
   • Attach local file: Browse to locate the file you wish to attach
   • Link to Content Collection: Browse to locate a file in your Content Collection.
   • Name of Link to File: Enter the title of the document that you would like students to see. They will click on this title to view the attached file.
   • Special Action: Set to Create a link to this file.
5. Section 3: Options
   • Make the Content Available: Choose 'Yes' to allow students to view the link now.
   • Open in a New Window: Set to 'No'.
   • Track number of Views: Tracks how many times the link has been accessed.
   • Date and Time Restrictions: Makes the link available to students only during a specific period of time.
6. Section 4: Click Submit.

1.4 Add a Course Link

Adds a link to another section of the current course.

1. From the Control Panel, open the Content Area in which the course link should appear.
2. Click the Add Course Link icon. The Add Course Link window opens.
3. Section 1: Add Course Link
   • Name: Enter the title of the link. If you are linking to a discussion board forum, type the name of the forum here.
   • Text: Enter a brief description of the link.
4. Section 2: Course Link
   • Click the Browse button.
   • From the pop-up site map, choose the destination for the link from the list.
   • If linking to a specific forum in the discussion board, be sure to completely open that part of the hierarchy and select the specific forum from the site map.
5. Section 3: Options
   • Make the Content Available: Choose 'Yes' to allow students to view the link now.
   • Track number of Views: Tracks how many times the link has been accessed.
   • Date and Time Restrictions: Makes the link available to students only during a specific period of time.
6. Section 4: Click Submit.

Blackboard Version 8.0