Adding Content to Blackboard

This page:
2.1 Add Content
2.2 Add Folders
2.3 Add an Item
2.4 Modify Course Content
2.5 Create an Announcement
2.6 Add a Syllabus





2.1 Add Content

Click directly on Course Documents (or Course Content) in the Course Menu or go to the Control Panel and click on Course Documents.

In the far right area of the window, click Edit View. The icons along the top represent the most frequently used features. Additional Content Types can be found in the drop-down box at the right (set to “Learning Unit”).





2.2 Add Folders

Use Folders to organize your content and make it easier for students to find. You can add sub-folders to folders, and then add Items inside each folder.

Click on the Folder icon. Be patient. Before Blackboard proceeds, it will load some applets. Depending on your browser, you will be asked to click OK or Trust, as shown in the examples.

Type a Name for the folder, then type a description in the text box. Click the Submit button, then, when prompted, click the OK button.




2.3 Add an Item

On the Course Documents page, click Edit View. On the Edit View screen click the Item icon. When prompted click “Trust” or “OK” to allow Blackboard to continue to the Add Item screen.

Type a Name for this Item. This Name will become the link your students click on to access this content, so it should be a descriptive title or phrase.

Now you must choose how best to provide your content. (Some additional considerations, or pros and cons of each method, are described in "Some Considerations") You can:

  1. Type the content into the WYSIWYG editor, or copy and paste text from another document, or
  2. Attach a file to this Item. Type a brief description. In the area numbered “2) Content,” click Browse to choose a file. The file can be a document, pdf file, spreadsheet, PowerPoint slideshow, image file, audio file, video, etc. If you do not provide a descriptive name for the file, the actual filename will be displayed as the link to click on.

    You may add several files to each item. They must be added one at a time. Add one, click Submit, then choose to Modify the Item to add more. Files will be listed in the order in which they are added (see 2.4 Modifying Course Content).
  3. Do both. Type or paste content into the WYSIWYG Editor and attach a file. In the student view, the file will be listed first, followed by the content.

    In the Options area, choose whether to make this content available immediately or at a later date. You can also track the number of times the item is viewed.

    When done, click the Submit button, then click OK.



2.4 Modifying Course Content

Modify: change the Name, edit content, change settings, attach an additional file to an Item

Manage: set access rights, turn on statistics tracking

Copy: copy the item, folder, or content to another area of this course, or to another course

Remove: remove the item from this area




2.5 Create an Announcement

Go to the Control Panel.

In the Course Tools area, click on Announcements.

Click Add Announcement.

In the Add Announcement editing screen, type a name for the Announcement and type the message in the WYSIWYG Editor.

Choose Options. A Permanent Announcement will appear on the course Home Page until removed by you. Unfortunately, it will also always appear on the My UVM page under the My Courses list, extending that list, so use this option sparingly.

The announcement can include a link to an area within the course. For example, to an assignment, discussion board thread or content item. It can also be sent by e-mail to all participants in the course.

The name of the announcement will also appear under the course listing on the MyUVM page.




2.6 Adding a Syllabus

There are several ways to build a Syllabus in Bb. You can:

  1. Edit the built-in Syllabus. Your course comes with a blank Syllabus. To edit it, click on Syllabus in the Course Menu. Then, on the Syllabus screen, click Edit View in the upper right corner. Click on Modify, then on Modify Syllabus. In the Syllabus Builder, Name the syllabus, then add your information to the three pre-existing areas. Rename the areas if needed.
  2. Attach a pre-existing syllabus file (pdf, doc, etc) to the Syllabus link in the Course Menu. To use a syllabus that you have created outside Bb you can delete the pre-built syllabus and replace it with your document.

    In the Course Menu, click on Syllabus, then Edit View. Click on Remove to delete the Syllabus. In the drop-down box to the right, choose Syllabus, then click the small “Go” button next the drop-down box. When prompted, type in a Name and choose “Use Existing File.” Click in the “Attach local file” box, browse for your syllabus file, select it and choose Open. Once it appears in the “Attach local file” box, click Submit.

  3. Create a series of Items that contain portions of your Syllabus. Remove the existing Syllabus and create new Items as described in section 2.3, above. Name and create each portion of the Syllabus as an Item.