How do I add course content?

Blackboard gives you two basic ways of getting content into your course site: typing/pasting it in directly or uploading it from your computer. In the latter method, the system automatically generates links to your uploaded files and requires no reformatting of your documents.

What kinds of files can I upload?

You can upload many different types of files into Blackboard. The following file formats are commonly used in Blackboard:

• .htm, .html (web pages)
• .pdf (Adobe Acrobat)
• .doc (Microsoft Word)
• .ppt (Microsoft PowerPoint)
• .xls (Microsoft Excel)
• .jpg, .gif, .tif (Graphic images) 

How do I to upload content?

To upload a file into Course Documents, enter your course site and:

1. Click Control Panel and select Course Documents (under "Content Areas" heading).
2. From the Add toolbar, select Item.
3. In the Content Information section (1), provide a name for your document by either selecting from the pull-down menu or entering a name into the text box beside "or specify your own name".
4. Under Content section (2), click the Browse button and locate the file you wish to upload. Provide link text for the file (optional) and leave the pull-down menu to its default setting of "Create a link to this file." Note: for information on what types of files you can upload, see "What kinds of files can I upload" above.
5. Select any additional desired options in the Options section (3).
6. Click Submit, (4).

How do I create a folder?

Use folders to organize your content.

1. Click Control Panel and select Course Documents (under "Content Areas" heading).
2. From the Add toolbar, select Folder.
3. Provide a name for the folder, or select one of the names provided by the pull-down menu.
4. Add descriptive text to the folder name in the text box.
5. Select options for controlling duration of announcement display: display seven days (default), display permanently or display for date range specified (Tip: be sure to check the boxes to the left of "Display After" and "Display Until").
6. Click Submit.

How do I link to a web page outside of Blackboard?

To add a link to a course site:

1. Click Control Panel and enter one of the Content Areas, such as "Course Documents".
2. From the Add toolbar, select External Link.
3. Provide a name for the link, enter URL of website and provide annotation (optional).
4. Select desired options under (2) and (3).
5. Click Submit.

How do to link to different areas of my Blackboard course?

The course link enables you to link from one area of your course site to another. For example, suppose you keep your assignments and e-reserve readings in separate content areas. A way to improve your site's navigability for students would be to add a course link connecting a reading assignment directly to the reading. The following steps could apply to such an example:

1. Click Control Panel and select Assignments (under "Content Areas" heading).
2. From the Add toolbar, select Course Link.
3. Provide a name for the link (e.g. "Link to Readings") and any additional comments (e.g., this will link you directly to the readings in Course Documents).
4. Next, click the Browse button, which will launch a "course map" in the upper right-hand of your browser.
5. Locate Course Documents in the course map, click the '+' to reveal the contents of the area/folder, and when you've found the content you wish to link to, click the radio button on its left.
6. Click Submit to close the course map.
7. Click Submit to finish creating the link.

How to Copy/Move Content

How to copy content within a Blackboard course:

After you add a content item to your site, you will find a three buttons to the right of it: Modify, Copy and Remove.

1. Click on the Copy button. The subsequent screen shows you 1) what you'll copy, and; 2) what its destination is--which course and which folder in that course.
2. Select the course into which the item will be copied.
3. Click Browse (this launches a course map for the selected course) and choose the location in the target course for the item;
4. If you wish to delete the item after the copy (copy + delete = move), select Yes for "Delete item after copy?"
5. Click Submit.

How to use copy content from one Blackboard course to another:

1. From within the Control Panel click Course Copy (under Course Options heading).
2. Click Copy Materials into an Existing Course.
3. Click the Browse button, which will launch a search box, and search for the desired course. (An easy way to generate a listing of courses into which you can copy is to click the Search button.).
4. Use the Select button to the right of the listed courses to choose the desired course.
5. Under step (2), select the areas of the source course (which you're currently in) that you wish to copy into the target course;
6. Click Submit. NOTE: although the system promises to notify you via e-mail when the copy process is complete, that function does not work. In general turnaround time for the operation is less than ten minutes.

How to use Import Package:

If you've archived or exported content from a previous course site, you can integrate it into your current Blackboard site.

1. From within the Control Panel click Import Package (under Course Options heading).
2. Click the Browse button and locate the Blackboard Archive (this will be a file in .zip format).
3. Select which areas of the archive you wish to import.
4. Click Submit.

How do I create an announcement?

Blackboard announcements are a good way to keep students apprised of new information or changes to schedule. New announcements appear both in the My Announcements box (visible upon initial login) and on the course's homepage for seven days (by default). You can specify that an announcement become available and/or disappear at a specific date and time, or remain visible permanently. Additionally, you can add a Course Link into the announcement to provide quick navigation to an area of your site.

1. Click Control Panel and select Announcements (under Content Areas heading).
2. Click Add Announcement.
3. Provide subject and body of announcement, and select text type.
4. Select options for controlling duration of announcement display: display seven days (default), display permanently or display for date range specified (Tip: be sure to check the boxes to the left of "Display After" and "Display Until").
5. Click Submit.

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