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Blackboard
Adding Content

Adding Content

Blackboard makes it easy to add a variety of information to your course site. You may add files, images, and Web links to any area in your site.

The first step in posting course materials is deciding where you would like to post the materials. You can post content to the following areas:

Syllabus– Information about your course.
Course Materials – General course documents, including Web links, links to Westlaw and Lexis, uploaded PDFs and Microsoft Word documents, and audio and video files.

You should also consider whether you would like to organize your materials into folders. Folders make it easier for students to find documents by limiting the amount of scrolling they need to do and labeling specific content areas.

You can upload just about any file type to Blackboard, but the type of document that you upload affects how your students can view it. If you upload documents that were created and saved in specific software programs (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.), your students will have to have that particular software installed on their computer to view the documents. Students generally have access to the Microsoft Office suite of programs, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Students usually do not have access to Word Perfect, Lotus Notes, MacIntosh programs or specialized software.

Adding a Word Document, PDF or Other File

Files can be images in JPG or GIF format, PDF documents, Word, PowerPoint, or Excel documents.

Select the section of your course (usually Course Materials) where you want to place a document or other file.
At the top right hand corner of the content page, select EDIT VIEW.
Select the + Item button on the toolbar.
Enter a name for your new item in the Name field (required). For example, you could
use the title of an article to identify the article.
Enter a description into the Text field (optional); such as the bibliographic information
for an article.
The formatting toolbar for text includes: Spell Check, Font, Bold, Italics, Underline,
Bullets and Lists.

Blackboard Add Content form showing text input box for name, format toolbar, and Text Editor Box

Click on the Browse button to find your file (on hard drive, diskette, CD, etc.).
Type the text you want students to click on into the Name of Link to File field.
Accept the default Special Action: Create a link to this file
Define the folder options:

Make content available: Yes or No (you may change this at any time).
Track number of views: Yes or No
(this option lets you track how often individual users view the document).
Choose date and time restrictions: Display After or Display Until
(this setting automates the availability of the content).

Scroll to the bottom of the page and Click the Submit button.

Blackboard form showing fields for attaching local file, naming link to file, selecting a special action, choosing content options and submitting content

You will receive a Success message. To return to EDIT VIEW, click the OK button.
You may also click any of the navigational links at the top of the content display page.

Blackboard page showing that the item has been successfully added

Link to Web or Electronic Resources

An External Link to a site outside of Blackboard may be added to the your course.

Select the content area where you want to place an External Link.
At the top right hand corner of the content page, select EDIT VIEW.
Select the + External Link button on the toolbar.
A name for the link is required.
The complete URL must be entered starting with http://.
You may add additional information or instructions in the Text input box.

Blackboard Add External Link form showing text input boxes for name, URL, and text editor

Click on the Browse button to find your file (on hard drive, diskette, CD, etc.).
Type the text you want students to click on in the Name of Link to File field.
Accept the default Special Action: Create a link to this file

Define the External Link options:

Make the content available: Yes or No (you may change this at any time).

Open in new window: Yes or No (The default is No but the External Link may
be best viewed in a new Browser window).
Track number of views: Yes or No
(this option lets you track how often individual users view the document).
Choose date and time restrictions: Display After or Display Until
(this setting automates the availability of the content).

Scroll to the bottom of the page and Click the Submit button.

Blackboard Add External Link form showing Attach local file browse button, text input boxes for name of link, radio button to configure options, calendar, and the submit button

You will receive a Success message. To go back to EDIT VIEW for the Week 2 folder, click the OK button.
You may also click any of the navigational links at the top of the content display page.

Blackboard page showing the external link was added successful

You may test your new link by clicking on the link name in the EDIT VIEW page.
To make corrections or additions to the link, select the Modify button to open
the Add External Link form.

Blackboard page EDIT VIEW page showing external link and the Modify, Manage, Copy, and Remove buttons

To add an electronic resource from the Law Library’s collection, please contact your library liaison.

Posting a Syllabus

Select the Syllabus link from the main menu.

Blackboard Course Menu showing Syllabus link

Select EDIT VIEW from the top right hand corner of the content window.

Blackboard page showing the Syllabus content area and the EDIT VIEW link

Click the + Item button, on the left side of the toolbar.

Blackboard EDIT VIEW page of the Syllabus content area showing the Add Content toolbar

Enter a name for your new item in the Name field (required). For example, Syllabus.
Enter a description into the Text field (optional).

Blackboard Add Item form showing text input box for name and the text editor

Click on the Browse button to find your file (on hard drive, diskette, CD, USB drive, etc.).
Type a name for your link into the Name of Link to File field. For example, Course Name Fall 2006.
If you do not supply a name, the filename will be used.
Accept the default Special Action: Create a link to this file

Blackboard Add Item form showing the Attach local file Browse button, text input box for Name of link and drop-down menu to select Special action

Define the folder options:

Make content available: Yes or No (you may change this at any time).
Track number of views: Yes or No
(this option lets you track how often individual users view the document).
Choose date and time restrictions: Display After or Display Until
(this setting automates the availability of the content).

Click the Submit button.

Blackboard Add Item form showing the radio button and calendar to set Options and the submit button

You will receive a Success message.
To go back to EDIT VIEW for the Syllabus folder, click the OK button.

Blackboard page showing the Item was added successfully

Click the OK button to return to the main menu.

Blackboard Syllabus EDIT VIEW page showing new item and the OK button

You may continue to add materials while you are in the EDIT VIEW of the Syllabus content area.

Post a First Class Assignment

Select the Syllabus link from the main menu.

Blackboard Course Menu showing Syllabus link

Select EDIT VIEW from the top right hand corner of the content window.

Blackboard page showing the Syllabus content area and the EDIT VIEW link

Click the + Item button, on the left side of the toolbar.

Blackboard Edit View page of the the Syllbus folder showing the Add Item button

Enter First Class Assignment in the Name field.
Enter instructions to the student in the Text field.

Blackboard Add Item form showing text input boxes for name and description

If you want to add a file, click on the Browse button to find your file (on hard drive, diskette, CD, USB drive, etc.).
Type a name for your link into the Name of Link to File field. If you do not supply a name, the filename will be used. This is the text the student will click on to see or save your file.
Accept the default Special Action: Create a link to this file
Define the folder options:

Make content available: Yes or No (you may change this at any time).
Track number of views: Yes or No
(this option lets you track how often individual users view the document).
Choose date and time restrictions: Display After or Display Until
(this setting automates the availability of the content).

Click the Submit button.

Blackboard Add Item form showing the Content, Options, and Submit sections

You will receive a success message. Click the OK button to return to the Syllabus folder.

Blackboard page showing the item was added successfully

You may reorder the First Class Assignment by using the drop-down order menu.
Select the DISPLAY VIEW link at the top right corner of the content area when finished.

Blackboard Edit View page of the Syllabus and Assignments folder

Your First Class Assignment is displayed in the Syllabus folder.

Blackboard Display View page of the Syllabus and Assignments folder

Adding Faculty Information

You can use the Faculty Information area to provide your students within information on your office hours, contact information, or any other information that
will be helpful to your students. You must use the Control Panel to add or update faculty information.

Select the Control Panel button from the Tools section, below your course menu.
On the left side of the Control Panel page under Course Tools, select the
Staff Information link to add faculty or staff information.

Blackboard Course Menu and the left side of the Control Panel and the Staff Information link

Select the + Profile button from the Add toolbar. You may also add Folders to organize faculty and staff information.

Blackboard Staff Information page showing the Add Profile button

The Profile Information form allows you to enter standard contact and office information.
A title, first name or last name and an email address are required.

Blackboard Add Profile form showing text input boxes for title, first and last name, email, work phone, office location, and office hours

Under options, choose whether you would like to make your profile available now.
You can always change this later.
To add a photo of yourself, select Browse to locate your image file. Your image
should be in JPG or GIF format and 150 x 150 pixels in size. If you save and use your
photo from the School of Law faculty profile page, Blackboard will automatically resize
the image to fit.
You may also provide the address to your Web page in the Personal Link text box.
Click the Submit button.

Blackboard Add Profile form showing radio button to Make Profile Available, the Browse button to attach a Current Image, text input box for Personal Link,a nd the Submit button

You will receive a Success message.
To go back to the Modify/Remove page for your profile click the OK button.

Blackboard Staff Information Receipt showing details of the profile added

Posting an Announcement

Blackboard announcements are a good way to keep students apprised of new information or changes to the course schedule. New announcements appear both in the My Announcements box (visible upon initial login) and on the course's homepage. You may specify that an announcement become available and/or disappear at a specific date and time, or remain visible permanently. You must use the Control Panel to create and post announcements.

Select the Control Panel button from the Tools section below your course menu.
On the left side of the Control Panel page under Course Tools, select Announcements.
Select the + Add Announcement button from the Announcements edit page.
Provide a subject for your announcement.
Type your message in the Message input box.

Define the Announcement options:
Permanent announcement: Yes or No (The default is No).
If you define the announcement as permanent it will display at initial login
and on the course homepage continuously.
Define a date range if you want to restrict announcement display at login and on
the course homepage.
Select the Calendar button or the drop-down menu to find your date.
If you are restricting the date of display, make sure to define a time by using the
drop-down menu.
Leave the Display Until check box empty if you want the viewer to be able to use the Announcement tabs to view previous announcements.
Use the Browse button to create a Course Link to an item or folder within your course.
The Course Map will open for you to select a location.
Click the Submit button.
Click the OK button to return to the Announcement Modify/Remove page.