Tip #91: Adding Images and Files to Discussion Boards

Tip: Instructors and students should follow these specific guidelines to upload and view attachments in discussion boards due to a current issue affecting discussion board attachments.

Please share the student directions with your classes to ensure that student submissions are viewable.

INSTRUCTORS: Attach a file to a discussion board post.

1. In a new post, make sure the Visual Editor in the upper right corner of the message box is On.
2. Select the Attach File icon on the bottom of the message box toolbar.
3. Select Browse My Computer to retrieve the file or image to attach.

STUDENTS: Attach a file to a discussion board post.
Note: Students should not embed images directly into a post.

1. In a new discussion board post, type message.
2. Underneath Attachments, next to Attach File, select Browse My Computer.
3. A new window will open with files available to attach.
4. Click Submit to attach the file.

Note: Instructors may need to enable Attach File for students.

INSTRUCTORS: To enable Attach File on discussion boards for students:

1. Under Control Panel, select Course Tools and Discussion Board.
2. Click on discussion board that contains the forum to edit.
3. Click the dropdown menu next to the forum name and select Edit.
4. Scroll to the bottom of the page to find Forum Settings and select Allow File Attachments if the option is not checked.
5. Click Submit.

Tip #90: Enrolling and Removing Students from a Course

Tip: You can enroll students, remove students, and limit a dropped student’s access

• NOTE: Official university student rosters can be obtained from WebAdvisor and compared with Blackboard rosters.

Enrolling a student:
You can enroll students who are on the official university student rosters but not on the Blackboard roster.

1. Access your course
2. Click on the Users and Groups area of the Control Panel and select Users
3. Click on Enroll Users
4. On the Add Enrollments page, enter the student’s username and click on Submit

Removing students from a course:You can remove students who are not enrolled in the course per your WebAdvisor roster. Keep in mind that all student data will be removed including grades, assignment submissions, and course statistics. If a student has dropped the course, consider limiting their access so that you may retain their student data.

1. Access your course
2. Click on the Users and Groups area of the Control Panel and select Users
3. Select the students you would like to remove from your course
4. Click on Remove Users from Course

Limiting a student’s access and retaining student information:If a student has dropped the course, you can limit their access to the course while retaining all student data, including grades, for that student.

1. Access your course
2. Click on the Users and Groups area of the Control Panel and select Users
3. Click on the action link next to the student’s username and select Change User’s Availability in Course
4. Select No from the dropdown next to Available (this course only)
5. Click on Submit

Tip #89: Beginning of Semester Checklist

Tip: Beginning of semester tasks

1. Enhance course design and menu options
2. Customize course entry by setting a new course entry point (e.g. Announcements, Discussions, Groups, Tools)
3. Combine multiple course sections into one shell (if applicable)
4. Make the course available

Enhance the course design and menu options:

1. Access your course
2. On the Control Panel, click on Customization and then select Style where you can:
• choose a course menu style
• manage how the menu is displayed
• add/change the course banner
3. On the Course Menu, you can:
   • re-arrange the order of menu items by clicking on the double-headed arrow to the left of the menu item then dragging and dropping the item to its new position on the Course Menu
   • rename, show/hide, or delete a menu item by clicking on the action link next to the item
   • add a content area, a link to a course tool, a link to a course area, or an external link to the course menu by clicking on the Add symbol on the Course Menu

Customize course entry by setting a new course entry point (e.g. Announcements, Discussions, Groups, Tools):

1. Access your course
2. On the Control Panel, click on Customization and then select Style
3. Scroll down to the Select Course Entry Point section and select your entry point form the dropdown
4. Click on Submit

Combine multiple course sections into one shell (if applicable):

1. Access the course from which you want to move users
2. On the Control Panel, click on Packages and Utilities and then select Course Copy
3. Select Copy Course Materials into an Existing Course from the Select Copy Options dropdown
4. Click on Browse and, in the pop-up window that appears, select the Destination Course then click on the Submit button in the lower right-hand corner of the pop-up window
NOTE: The Destination Course is the course to which the enrollments will be copied
5. Place a checkmark next to Tasks
6. Place a checkmark next to Include Enrollments in the Copy
7. Click Submit
NOTE: You will receive an email notification when the enrollments copy is complete

Make the course available:

1. Access the course you want to make available
2. On the Control Panel, click on Customization and then select Properties
3. Under Set Availability, select Yes to Make Course Available
4. Click Submit

Tip #88: Announcing the 2011 Blackboard Exemplary Course Program

Tip: The Blackboard Exemplary Course Program aims to help faculty use e-Learning technology more effectively by identifying and disseminating best practices for designing engaging online courses.

Using a rubric, instructors and course designers are able to evaluate how well their own course conforms to best practices for Course Design, Interaction & Collaboration, Assessment and Learner Support.

Consider participating in the 2011 Exemplary Course Program by submitting a course of your own or volunteering to be a reviewer or both!

There are many benefits to participating in the Exemplary Course Program:

• Learn course design best practices to improve the engagement, collaboration, assessment and learner support within your own courses
• Develop a fresh perspective by seeing how other instructors and designers from your discipline or area of interest are developing their courses
• Apply lessons learned from the Exemplary Course Rubric to your own courses or those you are helping to develop
• Receive detailed feedback on your own course development on the best practices you are employing or areas in which it can be improved
Gain professional development experience and recognition for your accomplishments and participation in the program

This is a valuable learning experience for even the most seasoned instructor or designer.

To learn more about the 2011 Exemplary Course Program, visit http://www.blackboard.com/ecp where you will find information on how to:

• Volunteer to be a reviewer
• Download the Exemplary Course Rubric and explore best practices
• Learn about how to participate in the 2011 Exemplary Course Program

We encourage you to consider participating in the Exemplary Course Program. If you have questions, please send an email to: ecp@blackboard.com