IDDS Home | Blackboard Toolbox Home | Overview | Assessment Click on the name of the tool above to view more detailed information about each tool. |
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Course Options
Overview 
All aspects of your Blackboard course can be managed from the Course Options area. Instructors have the ability to add or import information through the Import Course Cartridge and Package features. The entire course or individual parts of the course can be saved and reused through the Recycle Course, Course Copy, Export Course and Archive Course tools. The course menu and individual tools as well as the entire course availability can be managed using the Manage Course Menu, Manage Tools and Settings areas.
Instructors have the option to adjust the Course Menu by adding, removing or renaming course menu items. Instuctors can add items in the Content Area and the Tool Area. Direct links can be placed on the menu by adding a Course Link or External Link. It is suggested that instructors keep the first 8 default links on the Couse Menu so that Shippensburg University students are provided with consistency in appearance and functionality. Instructors can add up to 10 different areas for each course.
Blackboard Course Menu Tutorial Files
| Manage Course Menu | |
Add New Course Link | |
| Add New Content Area | |
Add External Link | |
| Add New Tool Area | |
Instructors can Manage the tools or areas available to students in the course shell which include the Address Book, the Communications area, the Discussion Board, and Content Tools.
Blackboard Manage Tools Tutorial Files
| Manage Tools | |
Enable Building Blocks | |
| Enable Blackboard Tools | |
Enable Content Types | |
The Setting area allows instuctors to change the course availability and duration dates, allow for guest and observer access, change the course look and feel in the Course Design area and set the entry point for the course. If you are interested in creating a banner for your course, the IDDS has an Adobe Photoshop Elements: Banner creation workshop. Please check the workshop schedule for available times or email to set up a one-to-one training session.
Blackboard Settings Tutorial Files
| Settings | |
Set Course Entry Point | |
| Course Availability | |
Course Design | |
| Course Duration | |
Course Banner | |
At Shippensburg University our courses are automatically generated from semester to semester therefore course shells are not recycled.
The Course Copy tools allows instructors to copy course material in four different ways. Instructors can copy selected material into a new course or an existing course, copy just the enrollments, or make an exact copy of the course which includes enrollments and all course interaction.
Blackboard Course Copy Tutorial Files
| Course Copy | |
Copy Course Materials into an Existing Course | |
| Copy course Materials into a New Course | |
Course cartridges are available from most textbook companies. According to Blackboard, course cartridges can serve as the starting point for instructors who are beginning to develop their online teaching strategies and can serve as supplements to an already-existing online course.
Blackboard Course Cartridge Tutorial Files
| Import Course Cartridge | |
How to Add Course Cartridge Materials during Course Creation | |
Instructors can use this feature to upload material "packaged" using the Export Course tool. The instructor can choose to import the entire course or selected parts of the course. It is important to note that the packaged zip file should NOT be modified in any way and, "will result in unstable and unpredictable behavior when the course is imported." (Blackboard Academic Suite Instructor Manual, pg. 219) Please read the Import Package PDF file below for more information.
Blackboard Import Package Tutorial Files
| Import Package | |
Export
Course[Export and Archive Manager ]
The Export Course tool in Blackboard exports the course material uploaded into Blackboard but does not save any student interactions. The Export Course file is compressed into a .zip file. It is important to note that the packaged zip file should NOT be modified in any way and, "will result in unstable and unpredictable behavior when the course is imported." (Blackboard Academic Suite Instructor Manual, pg. 219) Please read the Export Package PDF file below for more information. Exporting a course or course material does not remove it from the Blackboard Learning System.
Blackboard Export Course Tutorial Files
| Export Course | |
The Archive Course tool creates a .zip file that contains all course material AND all student interactions. Archiving a course does not remove it from the Blackboard Learning System. The file that is created during this process can only be saved to the instructors' computer. If a student has challenged a grade and the instructor needs to view the archived course, the contents must be placed in a Blackboard shell. Please contact the SU Blackboard Administrator, Shelley Gross-Gray to initiate this process.
Blackboard Archive Course Tutorial Files
| Archive Course | |