Pages in this tutorial:
Welcome | 1. Log in / Access Your Course | 2. Add Content to Your Course | 3. Other Content Types | 4. Some Pros and Cons to Consider

Some Pros and Cons to Consider

When adding content to your Course Documents area you can type or paste content directly into the WYSIWYG Editor, or you can attach files. Which is better? What kinds of files should you attach? The following outlines some choices and their pros and cons.

ACTION	PROS	CONS
Type content directly into WYSIWYG editor (What You See Is What You Get)	Easy to edit and format. Handy tool for content that changes. Integrated in course, so easy for students to read.	If you need to save it outside Bb you will have to copy/paste the text into a word processor, then save the file, i.e. the editor does not create a “file” that can be downloaded. The text is embedded directly into Bb.
Copy/paste text from a word processor into Bb WYSIWYG editor	Easy. You can retain a copy of the original file for later editing.	May lose some of the formatting. Word processor has more format options than the WYSIWYG editor.
Attach a PDF file to a Bb Item	All formatting will be retained. Students will see and can print the file exactly as you created it. Most browsers and computers can read PDF files without difficulty.	You must have Word 2007 for Windows, or Word for Macintosh (any version), or a dedicated pdf file making program.* You must retain a copy of the original non-pdf file if you want to edit it. After editing, the old pdf file must be deleted from Bb and the new version re-attached. Downloading many PDFs may be slow and inconvenient for students
Attach an HTML file to a Bb Item	Opens the page inside the Blackboard window. No downloading necessary. Retains most formatting.	Blackboard navigation breadcrumbs disappear. May lose formatting, especially if formatted using CSS stylesheets.
Attach a .doc, .ppt, audio, video, or other file to a Bb Item	Can create the file in the application of your choice and easily move it into Bb. Can easily download the file by clicking on it in Bb, then choosing to Save it to Disk.	When the student clicks on the file, their browser will have to know how to handle it. Most browsers will ask if it should be opened in a particular program (ex: Word, PowerPoint) or if it should be Saved to the Disk. If the student does not have the appropriate program they will be unable to open the file.
Attach overly large files like PowerPoints, audio or video files	None. Talk to the CTL about ways to make your files smaller.	Large files will take a longer time to load into Bb. They also take longer for students to download. Some students may not be able to download them at all.