Using the CSV Import tool for Calendar Entries in Blackboard

Learn

The CSV Import Tool in Learn allows faculty to upload announcements and/or calendar entries as a group. This training resource will focus on using this tool for calendar entries.

To use the CSV Tool (located under Course Tools in Course Management), you will need to properly format an Excel document and save it as a CSV file. You can find a sample file to use as a template within the CSV Import page, or you can simply open an Excel document.

Step 1: If you open the sample file, you will notice that each column is labeled. The column headers must maintain these names in order for the file to load properly into Blackboard learn.

Necessary Column Labels:A1 Start DateB1 End DateC1 TitleD1 Description

Step 2: Add Start Dates and End Dates to your spreadsheet. Your first date should correspond with the first day of the term. Once you have entered a date into the first cell under Start Date, you can autofill the remaining dates. Each date in the term should be listed. The exact same dates should be listed in the End Date Column, since calendar entries run for one day. Make sure that the dates match up in columns A and B.

To autofill cells, click on the black “x” in the lower right-hand corner and drag down

Step 3: Under Column C, Title, add a descriptive title for the entry. Include the course number or course name in the title. For example, G124 Begin Module 1: The Writing Process and Purpose or G124 Initial Discussion Post Due. After you have entered a Title, add in a Description of the Calendar Entry in Column D. NOTE: Students will only see the title when they look at the calendar. They will have to click on the entry to see the information entered into the Description.

Include in Description:• List of Assignments for the week on Monday• Any meetings• Due Dates for the Initial Discussion Post • Due dates for Response Posts • Due Dates for Weekly Graded Assignments

Step 4: Once you have completed your Excel file by adding in titles and descriptions for all of the weekly Modules, save the file to your computer as a CSV file.

Step 5: Your calendar CSV file is now ready to be uploaded into your Blackboard Learn course. Log into Blackboard Learn and scroll down to Course Management. Click on Course Tools, and then click on CSV Import. A new window will open. Select Calendar Entries under Content Type. Then, select Browse, in order to Browse your computer for your saved Calendar CSV file.

Step 6: Browse your computer for your calendar CSV file. Make sure you select All Files to ensure that you are able to see your CSV file. Once you have located your file, click Open.

Step 7: Your file will be listed next to File to be imported. Ensure that it is the correct CSV file and select Submit.

Step 8: The results of your import will appear on a new screen. Entries that did not contain any information will appear as errors in the Import Status column; however, they can be ignored, as they will not disrupt your actual entries from importing correctly. See next slide.

Step 9: If you navigate to the Course Calendar, you can click on the entries to open a pop-up window and review the additional information you entered under description.