Boise State University

Level 1: Creating Content in Blackboard
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Last updated January 09, 2007

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Workshop Goals Table of Contents

Workshop participants will:

  • Be introduced to the content, communication, and assessment areas of Blackboard
  • Learn how to customize their "My Boise State" page
    • Contents
    • Layout
  • Learn how to use selected tools and features within the Course Options and User Management Areas
    • Manage Course Menu
    • Manage Tools
    • List/Modify Users
  • Learn how to use selected items within the Content Area and Course Tools
    • Announcements
    • WYSIWYG Equation and Scientific Notation Editors
    • Course Content - Items, Folders, External Links, Course Links
    • Adaptive Release
    • Review Status
    • Performance Dashboard
    • Copy Content Function
  • Learn how to request that Blackboard course sites be created via Broncoweb
Blackboard Introduction - General overview of available features Table of Contents
  • Requirements
  • Login Instructions
  • Announcements
  • Course Information (syllabus, schedule, etc.)
  • Staff Information
  • Course Documents (lectures, course content, etc.)
  • Assignments
  • Tests, surveys and pools
  • Communication (email, student pages, discussion board, etc.)
  • External Links
  • Tools (drop box, check grade, calendar, edit homepage, etc.)
  • Blackboard Resources & Contact Information
Customizing Your "My Boise State" Page Table of Contents


 

Button

Application

Select the modules that you would like to appear on your "My Boise State" page

Customize the order of your modules and select a color theme

Edit view

 

Minimize/maximize module view

Remove module from view

 

Course Options - Manage Course Menu Table of Contents


 

Course Menu

Application

Instructors can create navigation elements within the Course Menu and give them any name they choose. For example, an Instructor can create an area called Overview Document instead of choosing from a predefined list of navigation button names.  Instructors may also use links as Course menu buttons to link directly to a URL, or to other areas of the course.

The Course Map and Control Panel are always present for instructors. The Course Map can also be accessed by students. The Control Panel is where instructors, TAs, graders, and course builders will go to manage their course sites.
  1. Select Control Panel -> Manage Course Menu
  2. Choose the type of area or link to add - Content Area, Tool Area, Course Link, External Link

Content Area, Tool Area

  1. In the drop down listbox, choose a predefined name OR specify your own name in the second text field.
  2. Choose users that are allowed access to newly created area.
  3. Click Submit.

Course Link

  1. Specify name for link.
  2. Click Browse, and choose desired link location. Use the expandable menu to navigate to the place you want.
  3. Choose users that are allowed access to newly created link.
  4. Click Submit.

External Link

  1. Specify name for link and target (internet address).
  2. If desired, check mark box to launch in a new window, i.e., a new browser window (recommended).
  3. Choose users that are allowed access to newly created link.
  4. Click Submit.
Course Options - Manage Tools Table of Contents

Instructors can control the availability of all Blackboard Learning System's Tools through the Manage Tools area. Course Tools appear directly on the Course Menu or within areas of the Course Menu (such as under Tools). The following is a list of Blackboard's Course Tools: Address Book, Announcements, Calendar, Collaboration, Communications Area, Content Area, Discussion Board, Dropbox, Electric Blackboard, Email, Gradebook, Groups, Manual, Personal Information, Resources, Roster, Staff Information, Student Homepage, Tasks, and Tools Area.

  • Select Control Panel -> Manage Tools -> Tool Availability.
  • Choose the areas to enable (make available to yourself and/or students).
  • Choose the area to make available to guests and/or observers.
  • Click Submit.
User Management Table of Contents

User management enables the instructor to manage users within the course site.  Once you have requested a course site, users will automatically be enrolled and dropped from the course site according to the Peoplesoft registration records.

List/Modify Users

  1. Select Control Panel -> List/Modify Users
  2. Search for users (see tips below)
  3. Click OK

Search Tips:

To...

Then...

search for a user using the user's last name, user name (ID number), or Email address
  • Select the Search tab.
  • Enter either a last name, user name (ID number), or Email address.
  • Select either the Last Name, User Name, or Email option.  All matching entries will be displayed.

search for a group of last names that start with a particular letter or a user name that starts will a particular number
  • Select the A-Z, 0-9 tab.
  • Click on the first letter of the last name or on the first number of the user's user name. All matching entries will be displayed. 

list all users
  • Select the tab.
  • Click List All to list all the names enrolled.  All entries will be displayed.
Creating An Announcement Table of Contents
  1. Go to the Control Panel.


     
  2. Click Announcements, located under Course Tools.


     
  3. Click the Add Announcement button.


     
  4. Enter (type or copy/paste) the text of the announcement in the Announcement Information Subject and Message fields. Note the availability of the Text Box Editor which includes the WebEQ Equation Editor and MathML Equation Editor.
  5. Select the Yes or No radio button for "Always show this announcement on the course's main page."
  6. Choose date restrictions, if necessary
  7. If applicable, click Browse to locate a course content file to link to the Announcement.
  8. Click the Submit button. A Content Receipt page will be displayed.
  9. Click the OK button. You'll be returned to the Add Announcement page. You can Modify or Remove existing Announcements from this page.
  10. To view the Announcement in the Course Site, click the Course Name link located in the Bread Crumb Trail near the top of the window.

Course Content - Folders and Items Table of Contents

The following instructions can be used to create a Course Syllabus, Course Schedule, or any other type of document within a Content Area.

  1. Go to the Control Panel.


     
  2. Click Course Documents, located under Content Areas.
     

     
  3. To create a folder, click the Add Folder button.
     

     
  4. In the drop down listbox, choose a folder name
    OR
    Specify your own name in the second text field. Do not enter anything in the Text field unless you want a description displayed directly beneath the folder, such as...
     

     
  5. Choose date restrictions, if necessary.
  6. Select Yes to make the folder visible to students.
  7. Click the Submit button. A Content Receipt page will be displayed.
  8. Click the OK button. The folder will be displayed. You can Reorder, Modify, or Remove the folder from this page.
  9. To Open (work within) the folder, click the folder hyperlink.
     

     
  10. To create a document, click the Add Item button.
     

     
  11. Choose or enter the document title.
  12. Enter (type or copy/paste) the text of your document in the Text field.
  13. Documents can be attached to an item in the Content Attachments section.
  14. In most cases, select the following under the Options section...
     

     
  15. Click the Submit button. A Content Receipt page will be displayed.
  16. Click the OK button. The document will be displayed. You can Reorder, Modify, or Remove the document from this page. You can also Track document usage (if enabled).
  17. To view the document in the Course Site, click the Course Name link located in the Bread Crumb Trail near the top of the window.
     

     
  18. Click the Course Documents button.
     

     
  19. Click the folder hyperlink. The document will be displayed.
     
Adaptive Release Table of Contents

Adaptive Release of Content provides controls to release content to users based on a set of rules provided by the Instructor. The rules may be related to availability, date and time, individual users and user groups (such as course Groups), scores or attempts on any Gradebook item, or review status of another item in the course. 

An Adaptive Release rule consists of a set of criteria that defines the visibility of a content item to users. Criteria are the parts that make up the rule. For example, date and membership are two types of different criteria. Each content item may have multiple rules, and each rule may consist of multiple criteria. To view an item, a user must meet all of the requirements of the rule. This means that if a rule has multiple criteria, the user must meet all criteria before the item is available.

For example, the Instructor may add an Assignment to a course. One rule for this Assignment may allow all users in Group A to view the Assignment after a specific date. This rule would consist of Membership criteria and Date criteria. Another rule for this Assignment may allow all users in Group B to view the Assignment once they had completed Homework #1. This rule would consist of Membership criteria and Gradebook criteria.  NOTE: Only one Membership criteria and one Date criteria may be created for each rule. Multiple Gradebook criteria and Review Status criteria may be added to each rule.

  1. Click the Manage button to the right of a folder or item.
     

  2. Choose the appropriate Adaptive Release Option(s).


    Note:  For additional information about adaptive release, view the Adaptive Release Blackboard Tutorial at http://www.blackboard.com/quicktutorials/

Review Status Table of Contents

The Review Status tool allows the Instructor to track user review of specific content items. Once the Instructor enables the tool for an item, each Student tracks their progress. A Mark Reviewed button appears on the item when the user opens the Content Area. After reviewing the item, the Student selects this button to mark it Reviewed. The Instructor may check the status of Student reviews on the User Progress page.

  1. Click the Manage button to the right of a folder or item.
     

  2. Click on Review Status

  3. Enable Review Status by clicking on the radio button.

     

  4. Click Submit
     

Performance Dashboard Table of Contents

The Performance Dashboard tool provides a window into all types of user activity in a course. All users enrolled in the course are listed, with pertinent information about that user’s progress and activity in the course.

The Performance Dashboard is accessed through the Assessment area of the Control Panel.

This Performance Dashboard page displays the following information


• Last Name
• First Name
• Username
• Role
• Date / time of last login
• Days since last login
• Review Status - Only displayed if this tool is enabled. Displays how many items have been reviewed / number of items with Review Status enabled. A detailed view of items may be opened in a new window.
• Adaptive Release - Only displayed if this tool is enabled. An overview of the Student path may be opened in a new window.
• View Grades - Only displayed if the Gradebook is enabled. Provides links to the Gradebook: User Grade List page for that user.
• Users can click Print to open the page in a new window in a printer-friendly format.

Course Content - Creating External Links to Web Resources Table of Contents

The following instructions can be used to create an External Link within any Content Area.

  1. Go to the Control Panel.


     
  2. Click External Links, located in the Content Areas.
     

     
  3. Click the External Link button.
     

     
  4. Enter the link's Name, URL (internet address), and Description if necessary.
  5. You may optionally choose to attach a file.
  6. Select the Yes or No radio buttons to make the External Link visible.
  7. Select the Yes or No radio buttons to indicate if the External Link should be...
     
    • launched in an external window, i.e., a new browser window (recommended)
    • visible to students
       
  8. Tracking the number of views and adding metadata are generally left at the default No.
  9. Choose date restrictions, if necessary.
  10. Click the Submit button. A Content Receipt page will be displayed.
  11. Click the OK button. The new External Link will be displayed.
  12. To view the External Link in the Course Site, click the Course Name link located in the Bread Crumb Trail near the top of the window.
     

     
  13. Click the External Links button. The External Link will be displayed.
     

     
Creating Course Links Table of Contents

The following instructions can be used to create an internal link to any folder or Content Area within your course site.

  1. Go to the Control Panel.
     

     
  2. Click Course Documents, located in the Content Areas.
     

     
  3. Click the Course Link button.
     

     
  4. Enter the link's Name, and Description/Text if necessary.
  5. Click Browse
  6. Click the radio button next to area/document that is to be linked.
  7. Select the Yes or No radio buttons to make the Course Link visible.
  8. Tracking the number of views and adding metadata are generally left at the default No.
  9. Choose date restrictions, if necessary.
  10. Click the Submit button. A Content Receipt page will be displayed.
  11. Click the OK button.
  12. To view the Course Link in the Course Site, click the Course Name link located in the Bread Crumb Trail near the top of the window.
     

     
  13. Click the Course Documents button.
     

     
Copy Content Function Table of Contents

Instructors are able to copy or move content and place it in another area with the same course or within a another course. Entire folders and Learning Units can also be copied.

The following instructions can be used to copy content any content area.

  1. Go to the Control Panel.
     

     
  2. Click Course Documents, located in the Content Areas.
     

     
  3. Click the Copy button to the right of desired folder/item/link.
     

     
  4. Choose a Destination Course using the drop-down menu
  5. Click the Browse button to choose the Destination Folder
  6. Choose Yes or No to "Delete item after copy?"
  7. Click Submit
Requesting Blackboard Course Sites via Broncoweb Table of Contents

Faculty requests for a Blackboard course site can be made via Broncoweb.  Detailed instructions for requesting a course site can be found at http://itc.boisestate.edu/bbsupport/middleware/documentation/

Information & Resources Table of Contents
Boise State University
BSU Blackboard Login: http://blackboard.boisestate.edu
BSU Blackboard Assistance Faculty Support: http://itc.boisestate.edu/BbSupport
 
Blackboard Inc.
Blackboard, Inc. Home: http://www.blackboard.com
Blackboard, Inc. Quick Tutorials:  http://www.blackboard.com/quicktutorials/

Blackboard Assistance at Boise State

email:  blackboard@boisestate.edu  
 phone:  (208) 426-2583 (8-5 Mon-Fri) 
office:  Education 420