1 Managing Learning Assets New Horizons Conference Virginia Community College System Darek Sady Blackboard Senior Consultant April 2006 Roanoke, VA

2 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

3 Managing Learning Assets The Blackboard Academic Suite provides an effective way to collect, share, and discover educational content. This presentation will demonstrate how to drag and drop content into Blackboard and organize files into personal, course, and institutional folders. It introduces many of Blackboard’s document management capabilities including content sharing and workflow, tracking, and searching.

4 Workshop Objectives and Agenda Adding Content – 2 methods –GUI Buttons –Web Folders Adding/Sharing Content in Courses –Content Areas –Tracking –Adding Content to a Course area Sharing Content Beyond Courses –Workflows –Searching

5 Common Content Problems

6 Content Mayhem –File management and storage confusion Content Multiplication –Editing déjà vu - same document in multiple locations – 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

7 Login Information Bb URL USERNAME PASSWORD* *case-sensitive

8 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.

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

10 Add Item Add a file through the Add Item button.

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

12 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.

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

14 Activity 1: Adding Content – 2 methods 1.Download sample content to desktop 2.Use the +Item and +Folder buttons to add 1 folder. Upload 2 items into your new folder Example: Folder Name: CIS110 Item 1: Course Syllabus Item 2: Course Orientation Guide 3.Repeat #1 (above), via the “Web Folder”

15 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.

16 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.

17 Tracking Tracking can be activated on any file in the Content System The Tracking log will display all “touches” to the document. The Tracking feature can be helpful to know who is looking at documents, what they have done with/to them, and when

18 Activity 2: Adding/Sharing Content in Courses 1.Activate Tracking on sample document 2.Navigate to a course content area 3.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 4.Update a Content System file using a Web Folder and verify the changes via your Learning System course 5.Check Tracking Log

19 Workflow Workflows may be used to share content between users such a Course Builder and Instructor Workflow types include: Share, Remind, Approve, Grade, Complete, and Review

20 Workflow: Sent Activities

21 Workflow: Received Activities

22 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.

23 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.

24 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.).

25 Discovering Content Content can only be reused if it has been shared and can be located by others. The Blackboard Content System provides tools to: –Search for files and folders stored on the system. –Bookmark files and folders that may be of frequent use. –Locate institution-approved high quality learning objects through the Learning Objects Catalog. These learning objects then can be used in your instruction.

26 Search When granted permissions to use another user’s content, users will need to conduct a search. Users may use either the basic search functions or the advanced search functions. The system will only return results based on permissions granted by the owner of the content. This is called a “smart search.” Users will only “see” what is intended for them to “see”.

27 Activity 3: Sharing Content Beyond Courses 1.Generate a workflow on a document and send it to another participant Workflows Sent Folder 2.Complete the sent workflow Workflows received folder 3.Make a document available for search Modify permissions Conduct Search

28 Resources and Materials

29 Tutorials

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