Blackboard 9.1 SP 11 The Content Editor

Transcription

1 Blackboard 9.1 SP 11 The Content Editor Introduction Blackboard has introduced a new content editor. The content editor is available to instructors, teaching assistants and students throughout Blackboard. As examples, the content editor now appears in Blackboard Discussion Boards, Blogs, Wikis, Journals, Course Messages, Assignments, and Tests. This document introduces the features in the new content editor. Learning outcomes After following the steps in this document, you will be able to: Identify the new content editor in your Blackboard course; Use the content editor in simple mode or advanced mode; Identify options in each of the three rows of icons in the content editor; Preview content and view the content editor full-screen; and Access additional help resources. Viewing the content editor This is the content editor: RETRIEVED FROM BLACKBOARD When three rows of icons are expanded, such as in the image above, the editor is in advanced mode. 1

2 When only one row of icons appears at the top of the content editor, the editor is in simple mode. Only the more commonly used icons are visible in simple mode. The arrows at the top right corner of the content editor allow you to toggle (click) between simple mode and advanced mode. Simple mode Advanced mode RETRIEVED FROM BLACKBOARD Each of the three rows of icons will be explored in the following pages. Icons will be addressed in the order in which they appear (from left to right) in the advanced mode. Top row of the content editor (advanced mode) From left to right: bold text, italicize text, underline text and strikethrough text. Example: Type your text and then highlight words with your cursor and select the appropriate icon(s). Or, select any of these icons first and begin typing. 2

3 Click on Paragraph to view a drop-down menu containing the following formatting options: heading, subheading 1, subheading 2, paragraph, and formatted code. Headings and subheadings can help organize large amounts of content in a way that is less visually overwhelming. Click on the current font family (Arial appears by default), in order to choose another font family. There are now a total of 17 font families available. Click on the current font size (12 point is the default) to choose a different size up to 36 point. Larger text can be pasted into the content editor. 3

4 Click on the arrow to the right of the Bullet List icon (above) to choose a type of bullet from the dropdown menu. Options include: default (disc), circle (outlined circle), disc or square. Click on the arrow to the right of the Number List icon (above) to choose from a drop-down menu of numbering options. Click on the arrow to the right of the T icon (near the right side of the top row of icons) in order to change text colour. See image on the next page. 4

5 Type your text, highlight specific words with your cursor and then select a font colour for those words. Or, select the font colour first and then begin typing. Click on the arrow to the right of the highlight icon (above) to choose from a variety of colours to highlight text. To remove formatting highlight the text which should no longer be formatted and click on the Remove Formatting (eraser) icon. *The action can be undone if you have accidentally removed formatting for the wrong text. 5

6 Middle row of the content editor (advanced mode) To cut content from the content editor, highlight the content which should be removed and then click on the scissor icon. Some browsers might not allow this option to be used. If that is the case, use the CTRL + X keys in order to cut selected content from the content editor, or use the delete or backspace keys. To copy content from within the content editor, highlight the selected text or object(s) that you would like to copy and then click on the Copy (paper) icon. Some browsers might not allow this option to be used. If that is the case, use the CTRL + C keys in order to copy selected content from the content editor. To paste copied or cut content into the content editor, click on the Paste icon (clipboard graphic). Some browsers might not allow this option to be used. If that is the case, user the CTRL + V keys to paste selected content. To find and replace text in the content editor, click on the Find (magnifying glass) icon. A pop-up window will be displayed on the window which will allow you to type a word to find. You can also click on the Replace tab in order to insert the text that should appear in another word s place. See image on the following page. 6

7 The Undo (left pointing arrow) and Redo (right pointing arrow) allow you to undo or redo actions in the content editor. From left to right: align left, align centre, align right and align full. The above icons allow you to align text in the content editor. You can highlight content and then select any of the alignment options or you can click on any of the alignment options before beginning or continuing to add content. To indent text, click on the icon with the right pointing arrow; to out-dent text, click on the icon with the left pointing arrow. 7

8 The superscript and subscript icons allow you to add smaller text to the top right or bottom right of a character in the same fashion as is depicted by the icons. Superscript example Subscript example You can insert a link (icon depicts two connected links) or remove a link (icon shows a broken link) text in the content editor either to a website or to a file saved to your computer or to the Content Collection. You must first highlight the text that you wish to link to another item Once the Insert Link icon has been selected, a pop-up window will appear Beside Link Path, you can paste the URL for a web page, or you can select the Browse My Computer or Browse Course button to link to a specific file Click on the Insert button at the bottom right of the window to add the link. 8

9 You can change the text direction from left to right (default) to right to left. Click on the Line icon in order to insert a line across the entire width of the text area. Click on the Horizontal Rule icon to specify the pixels or percentage of the width of the text area the rule should cover as well as the height of the rule. Click on the Insert button at the bottom right corner of the pop-up window when you have specified the width and height of the line and whether it should have shadow. Click on the above icon to insert a nonbreaking space into the content editor. 9

10 Click on the Spell Check (ABC/checkmark) icon in order to check whether there are any spelling mistakes in your text. Bottom row of the content editor (advanced mode) Record from your webcam using the Video Everywhere feature. A Google account is required to use this feature. The Video Everywhere feature allows you to create and post videos to your course that are automatically unlisted (only people with the link can view it) in YouTube. The Insert File (paperclip) icon allows you to insert a file from your computer, the Content Collection or by specifying a source URL. Click on the Insert/Edit Image (picture) icon to add or edit an image from your computer or from the Content Collection. The image may also be resized again once it is inserted into the content editor. Click on the Insert/Edit Embedded Media icon to add Flash, QuickTime, Shockwave, Windows Media, Real Media, Iframe or embedded audio files saved to your computer or to the Content Collection. 10

11 Click on the Launch Math Editor icon in order to access the WIRIS formula editor. See image on the next page. The Insert Mashup button has changed. Click on Mashups to add a YouTube video, SlideShare presentation or Flickr photo directly to the content editor. Click on the Show Non-printing Characters icon to see non-printing characters on the screen click once more to remove the non-printing characters from your view. Use the new Block Quote feature (quotation mark icon) to add a block quote without having to manually align the text. Unselect the Block Quote icon after you have added the quote. 11

12 Click on the Symbol icon (copyright sign) in order to add a symbol to the content editor. When you move your cursor over any of the symbols in the Select Special Character pop-up window, you are also provided the name, HTML code and code number on the right side of the chart. Double-click on a symbol to insert it into the text area. Click on the Emoticon icon (the happy face) in order to choose from a variety of emoticons. Double click to add the emoticon of choice to the text area. 12

13 Use the Anchor icon to anchor objects, such as pictures, into place. First place your cursor where you would like to place the anchor and then select the Anchor icon. Anchors are not required, but this feature is available for those who wish to use anchors and are familiar with HTML code. Click on the Insert/Edit Table (grid) icon to create a table in the content editor. Once a table is created, ten icons for editing the table will be available to the right of the Insert/Edit Table icon: Table Row Properties Insert Column Before Table Cell Properties Insert Column After Insert Row Before Delete Column Insert Row After Merge Table Cells Delete Row Split Merged Table Cells 13

14 Click on the HTML button to open an HTML Code View pop-up window. When finished viewing, adding or editing code, select the Update button at the bottom right corner of the window. Click on the CSS button to edit cascading style sheets. Preview content and full screen options The Preview and Full Screen options are available at the top right corner of the content editor. Preview Full Screen Additional help resources A help tool is available within the content editor click on the i icon near the top right corner of the content editor in order to view a description of each feature. For more detailed information about the content editor, including keyboard shortcuts, please visit PUBLISHED MARCH