Using Course Files in Blackboard 9

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1 Using Course Files in Blackboard 9 Each Blackboard course now includes a central file repository called Course Files. Rather than uploading files directly to Course Documents or another Content Area, instructors can upload, organize and edit course materials from Course Files. Course Files are for instructors only; students can only access files if the instructor creates links to them in Content Areas such as Course Documents, Course Information, etc. The Web Folder (or Shared Locations if you are on a MAC) allows an instructor to edit and upload files directly from his or her computer without ever having to log into Blackboard. Instructors not using the Web Folder will still have to edit files locally on their computers and then re-upload them into Blackboard, as in the past. Course Files are flexible and can be used in a variety of ways. With Course Files, you can: Create, edit and upload files to your course right from your desktop without logging in to Blackboard. Edit files without having to download them from your course. Upload multiple files to your course in a single step. Link the same file to multiple areas of your course, such as content areas or discussion boards. Download all files for your course from a single place for easy backup. Instructors who like to plan and organize all course content prior to the start of the term can create Course File folders, upload all files into the folders, then create links to these folders and files in Content Areas so students can access them. Instructors who have a more day-to-day approach to teaching can set up folders, then add files to them as they go. Either way, instructors will be able to benefit from using Course Files. Note: Copied courses will automatically load folders and files into Course Files. Basic Steps for Setting up Course Files FCLD recommends you use the following steps when setting up a Blackboard course. 1. Open course files by clicking on Files in the Control Panel and selecting the course ID. How-to Videos Available Visit Blackboard s On-Demand Learning Center, available in all Blackboard 9 courses. BB9 1 Faculty Center for Learning Development

2 Accessing Your Course Files 2. Select Create Folder in the Action Bar near the top of the page. Creating a folder or moving content into a folder will not affect the way the content is displayed within the course. 3. Type a name for the folder and click Submit. Creating a Folder in Course Files 4. To upload files to the folder, first click on the folder name to open it. 5. Select the Upload button on the Action Bar. If you would like to upload individual files, select Upload Files. You can either drag files into the space from your computer, or use the browse button to select files for uploading. If you have a ZIP file of materials to add to the course, select Upload Package. This option will automatically unzip its contents, and create the same folder structure within Course Files. 6. Click Submit to upload the files. If you have loose files in Course Files, you can easily add them into a folder. Check the check box next to file(s) you want to move. Select the Move button above the list of files. Under Destination, click the Browse button. A window will open up listing the folders in your course. Select the radio button next to the folder where you would like to move the files Click Submit. BB9 2 Faculty Center for Learning Development

3 Linking to Files in the Content Areas of Your Course Students cannot access course files. In order for your students to access course files, you must add a link to it in any content area of your course. To add a link: 1. Enter a content area (e.g. Course Documents) and point to the Build Content button. 2. Select File in the left column. 3. Click on Browse Course to find and add the file to the content area. This creates a link to the file in your Course Files. It is possible to create several links to one file in Course Files using this same method. For example, if you want your syllabus to appear in Course Information and also in your Course Documents area, you would go through the above steps twice, first from Course Information and then from Course Documents. Each link will point to the single file. This saves you the trouble of having to upload it or copy it each time. Editing Files Using a Web Folder Setting up a Web Folder (also referred to as WebDAV) allows you to manage and edit all of your course files from your desktop without having to log into Blackboard each time. When a Web Folder is set up, Blackboard creates a storage folder that appears to be on your computer, but is actually still on Blackboard itself the folder is really just a convenient link to Blackboard s Course Files area. This way, you can edit, add files, remove files, organize files in your local Web Folder, but you are actually making changes to Course Files in Blackboard itself. This saves you the trouble of having to log in, but also save you the hassle of having to download and re-upload a file if you made changes to it. Note: Because the files do not actually reside on your computer, you must be connected to the Internet to access your files via the Web Folder. If you don t happen to have Internet access but still wish to edit course documents, be sure you copy the file to your regular My Documents folder (it s probably a good idea to have backups anyway). Edit the file and save the changes. When you are back online, you can then copy the updated file to the Web Folder to replace the older version. Setting Up a Web Folder Blackboard provides excellent instructions for setting up a Web Folder on a MAC or a PC. Keep in mind that you will need Web Folder for each course, corresponding to each course s Course File repository. To locate Blackboard s instructions, access the Course Files section of your Blackboard course and click on Set Up Web Folder. From here, you will be provided with specific instructions for adding a Web Folder to your desktop. For added convenience, you can create Web Folders on multiple computers (such as your office computer, your home computer and your laptop). If you edit a file at home, you will find the changes when you access the file at BB9 3 Faculty Center for Learning Development

4 work, etc. Remember, you are actually just using the folder to link to Course Files on Blackboard, so it doesn t matter which computer you use to access and link to them. They all point to the same place. Editing Your Course Files without Web Folders If you are not using a Web Folder, you will need to enter your Course Files page and click on a file so you can download it to your desktop. Once the file is downloaded, you will edit and save the file on your desktop, then re-upload it into Course Files. To re-upload, do the following: 1. Open your Course Files in your Blackboard course. 2. Click on the chevron next to the name of the file you want to replace, and select Overwrite File. 3. Click on the Choose File button to find the file on your computer, and click Submit. The old file will replaced, and any content areas in the course that link to this new file automatically. Additional Course Files Options From the Course Files page, you have options to download, copy, move or delete files from your course. These buttons can be found just above or below the list of files. Moving Your Course Files Download Package: To download one or more files to your personal computer, check the box next to each file and click the Download Package button. This will download a ZIP file onto your computer containing the downloaded files. Move: To move a file into a different folder within your Course Files, check the box next to each file and click the Move button. From here, click the Browse Course button and select the folder in your Course Files where you would like to move the file. Moving a file does not affect how it is displayed in the content area of your course. Delete: To remove a file from your course, check the box next to the file you would like to remove and click Delete. A warning box will pop up click OK. Important: If you have linked to this file in any of the content areas of your course, you will need to enter the content area to remove the link as well. BB9 4 Faculty Center for Learning Development

5 Move/Delete using Web Folder: The files and folders in your Course Files can also be moved/deleted using the Web Folder just as you would with any other files in your My Documents folder. However, moving a file using this method does not maintain the course links to the file. Searching for Content You can search for a file within Course Files using the Search Function in the Control Panel. Type a keyword or text string in the text box and click Go to perform a quick search. Searches are not case-sensitive. Alternatively, click Basic Search under the text box to open the Basic Search page. You can select the check box to Search File Contents. File contents are indexed periodically, so new content may not be found immediately. Searching file contents can increase the search time. Searching for files in Course Files BB9 5 Faculty Center for Learning Development

6 Getting Help with Technology at the University of Hartford Faculty Center for Learning Development (FCLD) FCLD provides consulting and instructional support to faculty and staff who are using technology in teaching and learning. The FCLD Faculty Lab in Mortensen 203a is available for faculty support and use and is equipped with instructional technology- related equipment including: PCs, Macs, scanners, and projectors as well as support staff. Faculty wishing to use the lab may contact FCLD. Phone: (860) Website: Information Technology Services (ITS) ITS Help Desk Computing Center For general computer and Internet/network support questions (not directly related to the classroom but rather passwords, Internet/ problems, printer not working, Banner, Facebook, and grades). Phone: (860) Website: Media Technology Services (MTS) Harry Jack Gray Center E113 MTS maintains and installs classroom equipment, such as projectors, Sympodiums, and interactive white boards, delivers and sets up technology needed for classes such as laptops, overhead projectors, microphones, sound systems, DVD/VCRs, digital cameras, etc., and provides instruction on its use. MTS is also responsible for overseeing ECHO360 Lecture Capture classrooms and administers WebEx web conferencing accounts. Phone: (860) (Main) or (860) (Tech Line) Website: BB9 6 Faculty Center for Learning Development