Phillips Andover Academy

2/23/2006 – 3:00 – 4:00

Darek Sady

Blackboard Learning System (Release 6.3)

Content System

Introductions

Darek Sady Education

– Utica College of Syracuse University– University of North Carolina Greensboro

Professional Experience– 6 Years in Academia– Faculty Development Trainer– College instructor for 3 Years– Director of IT

2 Years with Blackboard

Introductions and Expectations

Please introduce yourself…Name, Position/Title, Courses that you teachExperience using BlackboardPlanned use or current use of BlackboardExpectation(s) for this workshop Interesting tidbit about yourself or a local

favorite restaurant

Essentials Workshop Learning Objectives

By the end of the workshop, you will successfully be able to:

– Navigate the Content System– Add Content to the Content System– Link Content to Courses in the Learning System– Share Content with System Users and External Parties– Manage Content

Topics of Discussion

Review of the Blackboard Academic Suite Content Collection and Planning Review of the Blackboard Content System

– Navigating the Content System– Adding Content– Sharing Content among Courses and Users and– Notifying Users of Content for Reuse– Searching for Content– Managing Content

Common Content Problems

Common Content Problems

Content Mayhem– File management and storage confusion

Content Multiplication– Editing déjà vu - same document in multiple locations– Email clogging and version soup

Content Isolation– Great content that no one can find, easily share– Limited tools to record and display achievement

Content Vulnerability– Library Reserve Readings distributed without adequate

copyright controls

Collecting Content will allow you to:

Access personal storage as well as content collections that are set up for courses or for general institutional information.

Visit an area for Library Content and locate copyright- cleared materials for use in courses.

Create folders to organize content. Use tools to upload individual and multiple files and folders. Update and revise files online using Web Folders. Version files and maintain multiple iterations to aid in differentiating

instruction or teaching multiple sections of a course.

Navigation Pane

The Blackboard Content System user interface is separated by the different header areas:

– My Content - Collection area for personal content storage area.

– Course Content - When a course or organization is created in the Blackboard Learning System, a corresponding Collection area is also created in the Blackboard Content System.

– Institution Content - Share information across the institution in this Collection area.

– Library - Librarians can place domain-specific content and create eReserves. (Underneath Institution Content.)

– Portfolios- Create and Share Portfolios online.

– Tools- Use to bookmark, search, and workflow.

Navigation-Content Pane

Located in the right pane is: Action Bar Folder Content File Management including Permissions, Versioning, Comments

Navigation-Action Bar

Action Bar - Add/manage content through the Action Bar WebDAV- Used to add multiple files/folders to the Content System Add File - Add a single file to the Content System Add Folder - Add a folder a content area Copy - Copy files Move - Move files/folders to another area within the Content System Remove - Delete files/folders from the Content System Drop-Down List - Add Workflows, Email Content, Download Items

Adding Content

Adding content to the Blackboard Content System may be performed by using the Web Folder or Add File method.

Add Item

Add a file through the Add Item button.

Add Item Options

Add ltem allows users to add two options to the file such as Lock Options and Private Comments.

Web Folder

Use the Web Folder option to copy multiple files and folders to the Blackboard Content System.

External Link Item Type

Users often place external links in their courses and organizations, and these links frequently break as URLs change and external sites become unavailable. Manage assets that exist in third-party systems just like any other item type, using permissions, metadata, versions, and workflow. Librarians can link to e-Reserve items that reside in external library systems.

Web Folders

WebDAV is an Internet Standard used for sharing files via the Internet regardless of platform (Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Sun Solaris, etc.).

Web Folders use WebDAV technology so that each user can access content from the Blackboard Content System as if it were any other network drive or folder.

Files can be edited via the Web Folder and folders and files can be bulk uploaded.

Web Folders requires persistent cookies to be enabled or users will be prompted to re-authenticate by logging in when opening a Web Folder.

NOTE: If persistent cookies are enabled, then users must log out of Blackboard instead of closing the browser window.

Web Folder

Web Folder will open an external window. Users may drag and drop content into their Web Folder by using an additional window.

Activity: Add Content to My Content

1. Open “My Content”2. Add files from the sample content with the

– Add Item button– Web Folder (individual files or folders)

• Copy and Paste• Drag and Drop

3. Add a Folder then copy and move items into the folder– Action Bar buttons– Web Folder

4. Use a Web Folder to update a file and verify changes through the Content System

5. Archive several items– Select several items, then choose Download from Drop Down– Save zip file and then examine zip file contents

Remember to REFRESH!

Sharing Content

Content can be stored for personal use or shared and reused by others. As an “owner” of a file or folder stored in the Blackboard Content System you may:

– Link from a course or organization to content stored in a collection area for use in your instruction.

– Set permissions which allow you to share a file with an individual such as a colleague or a group such as the students in your course.

– Create Workflows to allow other users to collaborate with you in the development of a file or series of files.

– Send Passes to external users to share with others who may not have an account on your Blackboard system.

– Build and share e-Portfolios to document academic growth career preparation, and course preparation.

Linking Content to the Blackboard Learning System

Linking content to the Blackboard Learning System is performed through the Learning System. Users must have course privileges such as an Instructor, TA, Course Builder, etc. Anytime content is shared from the Blackboard Content System, it will automatically request read access. Below are two options for adding content.

Activity: Sharing Content Part 1

1. Open your sample course

2. Add Content System files and folders to a course content area with

– The Text Box Editor attachment buttons– Step 2: Link to Content Collection item – Browse

3. Update a Content System file using a Web Folder and verify the changes via your Learning System course

Sharing Content

Sharing and reusing content are possible through the setting up of permissions on particular files or folders stored in the Blackboard Content System. To manage permissions, users may select click the Hand icon, or Modify.

Sharing Content with Another User

Users may wish to share content on the Blackboard Content System. This is accomplished by adding permissions. Permissions may be granted to a user or a group of users such as those students enrolled in a single course. Permissions that may be assigned to users for a specific file or folder include Read, Write, Delete (Remove), and Manage.

Permissions

May be assigned to single items and in combination with other permissions on folders.

Users must be granted permissions in order to access content directly from the Blackboard Content System and also through links in courses and Portfolios.– Read: Users have the ability to view items or folders and save files to

local drives or networks.

– Write: Users have the ability to make changes to items and folders (copy and move items/folders).

– Delete (Remove):Users have the ability to remove items from the folder or remove the folder itself.

– Manage: Users have the ability to control the properties and settings of items and folders (change permissions, etc.).

Permission Use Cases

Add a file or folder – Read and Write permission on current folder. Copy a file or folder – Read permission on the item and Write permission

on the destination folder. Move a file or folder – Read and Remove permissions on the item to be

moved, Write on the destination folder. Remove a file or folder – Read and Remove permissions on the item. Link a file or folder to a Portfolio or course – Read and Manage access

to the item or folder. Add, Modify, or Remove permissions – Read and Manage permissions

on an item. Versioning – Read and Write permissions on an item.

e-Portfolio Resources

ePortConsortium http://www.eportconsortium.org

American Association of Higher Education http://webcenter1.aahe.org/electronicPortfolios

Culminating Activity: Portfolio

1. Create a new Portfolio titled <Your Name’s> Content System Workshop

2. Create five pages in your Portfolio

3. For content, you can include some brief instructions on how to create the portfolio, link to the Quick Tutorials, or describe the tool:

Page 1 – Adding Content

Page 2 – Permissions

Page 3 – Workflow

Page 4 – Passes

Page 5 – Portfolios

4. Share your completed portfolio with ___________