Functions The table below includes information on the components of a Course that are added using the Course Menu. The names of the areas changed by the Instructor or the System Administrator. Ar e a
De s cr ipt ion
Content Area
Content Areas can contain a wide-range of content items including: Assessments, Assignments, Learning Modules, and multimedia files.
Tool Link
A Tool Link is added anywhere in the Course allowing access to a specific tool such as Blogs, Email, the Course Calendar, Announcements and more.
Course Link
Link to Course Objectives, Content Management, and Library e-Reserves .
External Links
External Links connect users to learning materials outside of the Blackboard Learn.
Module Page
Module pages are customizable pages that contain any number of interactive elements. These elements are tools such as a dictionary or calculator, or can report and display user specific information such as grades, alerts, and tasks.
Subheader
Adds a dividing line with text to the elements on the Course Menu that is dragged and dropped into place.
Divider
Adds a dividing line to the Course Menu that is dragged and dropped between elements
Functions The Control Panel is comprised of the following areas: Ar e a
Funct ion
Course Tools
Contains all the available tools that are added to a Course. Once added, these tools are administered from the Control Panel.
Course Links
When made available, provide links to other parts of the system such as Course Objectives and Content Management.
Evaluation
Provides tools for creating Assessments, Recording grades, and tracking user performance and activity.
Users and Groups
List , enroll, edit, and delete users from the Course. Create and administer formal groups of students to collaborate on work.
Customization
Change the properties of the Course such as its name and availability, Guest and Observer status, tool availability, and the appearance of the Course.
Packages and Utilities
Import, Export and Archive the Course, Copy all or part of the Course, copy selected files to Content Management when available.
Help
Offers support contacts and online documentation.
Manage Content Areas Once Content Areas for the Course have been created, content creation may begin. All content is added and edited within the Content Areas. Select a Content Area on the Course Menu to open the main Content Area page. All actions related to managing content are available from this page. This includes: o
Create Item - add any single Content Item
o
Build - add organizational elements such as folders, tools and links
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Evaluate - add tests, surveys and assignments
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Collaborate - add group and communication tools such as blogs, discussion boards and chat sessions
Content Areas Course Content Areas are used to organize all Course content materials. A link to each Content Area creates the first level of the Course Menu tree directory. Course developers create and manage Content Areas from the Course Menu. While the Instructor has almost complete control over the Content Areas through the Course Menu, the Administrator is able to set defaults and overrides that define the names and default availability of Course areas in each Course.
Adding a Content Area By default, a specific number of Content Areas appear in a Course. Instructors may decide to create additional Content Areas or edit existing Content Areas. For example, a Content Area for Assignments may be added and the name of the area may be changed to Homework. Follow the steps below to add a Content Area to the Course Menu: 1. Set Edit Mode to ON. 2. Select the Add button (+) on the Course Menu. 3. Click Create Content Area. 4. Type a Name for the Content Area. 5. Click the Available to Users check box to grant access to Students and other users in the Course. 6. Click Submit. The new Content Area appears on the Course Menu. If the Content Area contains no content, an icon of a dotted square appears. If the Content Area is unavailable to students, an icon of a square with a line through it appears.
Edit Content Areas Use the Contextual Menu to Edit, Delete, Show Icons Only or Show Icons and Text for the Content Area.