Blackboard Basics - Adding Contents


Adding Syllabus

To post Course Syllabus in BB course site, go to the course Control Panel -> Syllabus, or go to course menu button Syllabus -> Edit View.

 

Posting Announcement

Announcements must be added via the Control Panel. They can be time released, or last the life of the course. They may also be emailed to all course participants with one check of a box. This document (Announcement.pdf) has all the info.
TIP - You do not have to begin your course with this Announcements page. You can select any Blackboard content area to be the first thing students see.

 

Modify Course Menu

To modify the left panel Menu bar settings, add or remove menu buttons, go to course Control Panel -> Manage Course Menu.  

 

Copy Contents and/or Settings from Another Course

Course Instructor or TA can copy course materials and settings from another: After the new course has been setup, go to the Source course (usually the old course), then Control Panel -> Course Copy -> Copy Course Materials into an Existing Course, then type in or Browse to get the Destination Course ID (usually the new course) -> Select the areas you want to make copy, Submit. It's straight forward and very convenient. You will receive the confirmation message when a copy is done.

Further more, with current BB system, you can actually copy contents by item or by folder, which is very inconvenient in some situations. Just go to the corresponding area in Source course, hit on Copy button on the item/folder you want to copy, then select the Destination Course and Destination Folder, Submit.

 

Upload an entire folder full of documents from your computer at one time

The Document Packager allows you to upload multiple files all at once rather than one item at a time.  It retains the naming of your files and the folder they're in. 

1- Clean up your folder, making sure everything in it is something you want to post to your course, then zip it (instructions on how to make this a zipped folder are included in quick guide)

2- From the "edit view" link in any content area in your course, just select "Document Package" from the drop down and click "Go" (much as you do to add an Assignment).  Browse your computer for the .zip folder you just created and submit it. 

The folder will appear in your course with each document an item within that folder.  You can, of course modify the name of the folder or remove items from it just as you would any other Blackboard folder.  See screenshots and more under Cool Tools in the How to Blackboard demo course you should see when you log into Blackboard.