The Add Items feature allows you to add content to your course site. Files can be uploaded in their original format (such as .doc or .ppt documents) and when students click on the link created, the files are downloaded to the student's computer (may open in browser depending on the browser and the computer setup). HTML or web supported graphic files (such as .jpg's or .gif's) can also be added, which can be viewed directly within the Blackboard page.

Note: Because Blackboard is cross platform (works on Macs and PCs) all files should have a file extension (such as .doc or .html), which designates its file type. To prevent conflicts, file names should contain no spaces or special characters except the underscore (_) and only one period before the file extension (ex: HomeWorkOne.doc).

From the Control Panel:

1. Click on desired Content Areas (Course Materials, Assignments, Syllabus, Books).
2. Click the Add Item icon.
3. Choose a Name from the drop down menu or enter your own name for the document in the Name field.
4. Enter a description into the Text field.
5. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the Submit button

Special Action Choices:

• Create a link to this file - Use this default option to create a link to a document or download.
• Display media file within the page - Use this option when working with graphic images or media files you want to display within the page.
• Unpackage this file - Use this option when uploading .zip (or compressed) files. This is typically used with PowerPoint presentations saved as HTML or collections of linked web pages.

Options Section:

• Do you want to make the content visible? - Visible means that your students can see the document. Typically, documents are made "invisible" when you don't want students to access them yet. You can change this at any time.
• Do you want to add offline content? - This is used when your course has a companion CD-ROM.
• Do you want to track number of views? - This option lets you track how often individual users view the document.
• Do you want to add metadata? - This option indicates if metadata will be used. Metadata is data about the added item, such as ownership, resource format, and copyright information.
• Choose date restrictions - This option lets you set the dates that the document will be visible and invisible. This automates the "make contents visible" option.

More Information

Q: What kinds of documents can I upload to Blackboard?

A: Uploading just means putting your document up onto the Blackboard server or any Internet server. You can upload just about any file type to Blackboard, however the type of document that you upload affects how your students can view it. If you upload documents that were created and saved in specific software programs (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.), your students will have to have that particular software installed on their computer to view the documents.

For example, if you upload a PowerPoint document (as a .ppt or .pps), your students will have to download the file and then open it in PowerPoint or the PowerPoint viewer. However, if you save your files as HTML and then upload them to Blackboard, the students can view the documents directly on screen from within Blackboard.

Q: Why should I save and upload my files as HMTL?

A: Uploading HTML documents to Blackboard allows your students to directly access the information from within the Blackboard page. This is preferable for course information and documents, such as assignment instructions and timelines, which students may need to check often. There may also be times where you want to upload files for download, such as templates or forms that need to be modified or copied or longer documents that students will want to print. In those cases, leaving the document in its original form (.doc, .xls) would be preferable.

Q: What should I put in the Name of Link to File field?

A: If the file is for downloading, type something like "Click to download." If the file is in a web format and will be viewed on screen, type something like "Click to view." This lets the student know what will happen when they click the link. Remember, whatever you type in this field becomes the actual link that students will click on.

Q: How should I save my graphics?

A: The most universally supported file formats on the Web are .gif and .jpg format. In general, use .gif format for graphics that have few colors, graphics that contain text or type, or graphics that have large areas of a single color. Use .jpg format for graphics that have many colors and lots of fine detail, such as photos. It is NOT recommended to use bitmapped graphics with Blackboard. These files are very large and can affect your course performance, as they are slow to load, especially for modem users. Many scanners default to .bmp files, so make sure you check this if you are scanning photos or images.

It is also important to remember that Blackboard will upload all graphics in their original size. Make sure that you have sized and saved your graphics in an appropriate size for your course site. There are recommended sizes shown in the Page Editors when uploading course banners and staff photos.

Q: What kind of media files are supported by Blackboard?

A: The following media files can be viewed within Blackboard.
Graphics: GIF and JPEG
Video: MPEG, Quicktime, AVI
Audio: WAV and AIFF
Animation: Flash, Shockwave
Note: students will need the appropriate software and plug-ins to view the media files.

Q: How fast (or slow) will my files be downloaded?

A: When developing your course materials, remember that the students may be connecting to the Internet via a dial-up modem. Files should be kept small enough so users with slower connections will still be able to access the files in a reasonable amount of time. If you cannot keep the file size down, an alternative is to use the text field in the Add Item area to provide the student with information describing what the file is, how large it is, and why it is important that they view it. Often, simply letting a student know that the download may take longer than usual will diffuse any frustration associated with the long process.

Keep in mind that download time will vary based on Internet traffic and connection speed.