Blackboard’s Content Collection

Logging into Blackboard

 The URL for Blackboard is: http://bb.siue.edu. Users MUST begin the login process from that entry point: they cannot bypass that page and go straight to the login page itself. The Username is: your SIUE e-ID (i.e. jdoe); and the Password is the same one used to access your SIUE e-mail. Students can activate their e-ID online at http://www.siue.edu/e-ID/ or by stopping by either the FTC or OIT Customer Support Center (DH 0210). An SIUE ID must be presented. Passwords may also be changed on the e-ID web site.

Content & Files (Content Collection) Tab

Blackboard’s Content Collection offers a central repository for all of your instructional materials. When you create your course, you can create links to the material that sits within the Content Collection and link that content to multiple courses. For instance, if you are teaching two sections of a single course, both could link to a single syllabus. You can update the materials in the Content Collection, and all changes you make there will be reflected in all the pages in all of the courses which are linking to those materials. Using our earlier example, if you need to change the syllabus you are using in two sections of the same course, you change it once in the Content Collection, and that change is reflected in the syllabus in each class.

In the left frame of the Content Collection screen, you see the broader areas through which you can navigate to locate the appropriate the areas of the Content Collection to which you have been granted access (based upon your user ID).

My Content is where you will place your own personal course materials. You have the ability to add and organize folders in this area to best fit your needs. It is recommended that you take some time initially to think through how best to organize your content through a system of folders and subfolders, down to individual files in order to facilitate your finding them. Institution Content will be defined by the Blackboard Administrator at a later date.     Learning Objects may be added, cataloged and searched.

The Tools dialog box affords the opportunity to search for files which you own, and/or for files owned by someone else where that owner has set the permissions to grant access to you to read, write, delete, and/or manage a file. You will need to use this feature to locate shared content on the Content Collection. In order to search, you will need to know something about the content you are seeking such as the name of the file itself, the document type, etc. Note that upon successfully completing a search, you are provided with the opportunity to save that search for future use.

The right frame of the screen will show you the details of the directory tree in the Content Collection folders as well as the search criteria and search results screens.

You can use the tool bar to manage your content within the Content Collection. You have the following options:

• Use to establish a folder in My Network Place on your PC to connect directly to the Content Collection. This allows you to drag and drop content from your PC into the Content Collection. It also allows you to edit a file from within the Content Collection: any changes you make in the Content Collection will be reflected across all courses linking to that file. You should be at the top of your directory tree (users/youruserid/) when you create the folder. This folder need only be created ONCE on each machine from which you will be working on your course(s).
• Use to add a single file from your PC to the appropriate directory.
• Use to add a folder to your directory tree structure.
• Use to add a link to the Content Collection.
• Select a file from within the Content Collection by clicking in the box in front of that file, and then select the appropriate option from among the following to copy, move, or remove that file from the Content Collection.

• Select a file (by clicking on the box in front of a file), and then select from among the options in the drop down box at the end of the tool bar to e-mail a file, or to download items. Click on to proceed with the steps necessary to complete the process you have selected.

Adding Files to the Content Collection

Updating files within the Content Collection can be done in several ways.

Adding Individual Files, Folders, or Links

If you are simply adding a single file, folder, or link to the Content Collection, you may find the Content Collection toolbar to be your fastest option.

• Click on to add a single file from your PC to the appropriate folder. Use the Browse button to browse to the location where that file resides on your PC, review the other options, then click .
• Use to add a folder to your directory tree structure. Give the folder a name, review the other options, then click .
• Use to add a link to the Content Collection. Give the link a name, enter the full URL, review the other options, then click .

Adding Multiple Files or Folders

The most expedient way to add multiple files and/or full folders into the Content Collection is through the use of the , which creates a Web Folder in My Network Places on your PC, and opens a new window showing your files and folders on the Content Collection.

Steps for setting up that Web Folder can vary depending upon the browser you are using.

In Internet Explorer:

1. From the Content Collection tab, click on . This will create a Blackboard folder on your hard drive under My Network Places.
2. Click on the Windows Start button. Click on My Computer. Click on the Folders button in the Windows task bar.
3. Click on the button within the folder window. You will see your web folder on Blackboard (…onbb.siue.edu)
4. Double click on that folder to open it. If need be, navigate within that folder to the appropriate subfolder which will serve as the final destination for the file you are about to add.
5. From My Computer, navigate to the location of the file or folder on your PC (hard drive, floppy drive, zip drive, CD, etc.) which you wish to add to the Content Collection. Click on the middle Windows button to reduce the size of the screen. Click on the file or folder on your PC and drag and drop it into the open Web Folder in Blackboard.

In Netscape, Safari, Firefox and all Macintosh browsers:

1. From the Content Collection Tab, click on the Modify link next to your personal user folder.

Click on the Properties link on the Modify Folder screen. Copy the URL listed under Folder Information.

1. Click on the Windows Start button. Click on My Computer. Click on the Folders button in the Windows task bar.
2. Click on the button within the folder window.
3. Double click on Add Network Place. The Add a Network Place Wizard will open. When prompted, click on Choose Another Network Location.
4. Paste the URL copied in step 2 above into the Internet or network address box.
5. Click Next. You will be prompted to enter your User ID and password. A name will be suggested (youruserid on bb.siue.edu). Accept that suggestion. Select Finish. The web folder will open and will now appear in My Network Places.
6. If need be, navigate within that folder to the appropriate subfolder which will serve as the final destination for the file you are about to add.
7. From My Computer, navigate to the location of the file or folder on your PC (hard drive, floppy drive, zip drive, CD, etc.) which you wish to add to the Content Collection. Click on the middle Windows button to reduce the size of the screen Click on the file or folder on your PC and drag and drop it into the open Web Folder in Blackboard.

Editing Files in the Content Collection

Once you have followed the steps outlined above to create a Web Folder in Blackboard, editing files is accomplished most expediently through the Web Folder. Accessing that Web Folder can be done in a number of ways:

• If you just finished creating a Web Folder, simply navigate to the file you wish to update in the new window (https://bb.siue.edu/bbcswebdav/users/...) that opened.
• If you previously created a Web Folder and a shortcut on your Desktop to the Web Folder, simply click on that shortcut. When the new window opens (https://bb.siue.edu/bbcswebdav/users/...), navigate to the file you wish to update. If you are not already logged into Blackboard, you will need to enter your user Id and Password in order to connect to your Web Folder.
• If you already created a Web Folder, but did not create a shortcut to it on your Desktop, navigate to My Computer and then My Network Places and open the folder labeled …on bb.siue.edu. When the new window opens (https://bb.siue.edu/bbcswebdav/users/...), navigate to the file you wish to update. If you are not already logged into Blackboard, you will need to enter your user Id and Password in order to connect to your Web Folder.
• If you are already logged into Blackboard, click on the Content Collection tab. Navigate to the folder which contains the document you wish to update. Do NOT navigate down to the file itself. At the folder level, click on the Modify link next to the folder containing the file(s) you wish to update. A Modify Folder screen will open. Click on the Open Web Folder link.

Double clicking on a file in the Web Folder will open it in the program in which it was created (i.e. Word). If the application does not automatically open, open the application (i.e.Word) on your PC and then double click on the document again. Make your changes. Save the document. The content is changed in the Content Collection and automatically updated in each course linking to it.

Setting Permissions

You may modify the permissions for any given file in the Content Collection, granting permission to others to read, write, modify and/or manage the file.

Click on the Modify link next to the file for which you wish to modify permissions.

A Modify screen with the document name will open. Click on the Permissions link.

A Manage Permission: screen will open.

• Click on the button to add selected individuals OR
• use the drop down box to select from a broader group of users to add and click on .

Add User

If you selected the option, an Add User screen will open. Add the User ID(s) (i.e. jdoe) of those to whom you wish to grant access to the file, and then click on the box in front of the type(s) of permission you wish to grant. Click on the button then .

Add Course User List

If you a) selected the option, b) selected the appropriate group from the drop down box, and c) clicked on the button, the corresponding Add screen for that group will open. Select the appropriate members to be included and the type of permission you wish to grant. Click on the button then .