Blackboard Learn 9.1 - Administering Blackboard Learn - Behind the

474 Pages·2010·2.17 MB·English

by  Blackboard, Inc.

AboutCustomizingtheUserInterface>
About Customizing the User Interface
BlackboardLearnincludesseveraltabsaspartoftheportal.Followingarethebasictabs
includedwithBlackboardLearn:
MyOrganization:Thistabactsasagatewaytotheportalandprovidesuserswith
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contentfromwithinandoutsidetheBlackboardLearnenvironment.
Courses:Anonlineareadedicatedtolearning.Fromthistab,usersaccesstheWeb
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sitesfortheirCourses.
System Admin:OnlyaccessiblebyuserswithAdministratorprivileges.
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Ifthecommunityengagementcapabilitieshavebeenlicensed,advancedtabsandtheability
tocreatenewtabswillbealsoavailable.Thefollowingaretheadvancedtabsandtab
templates:
Community:Anonlineareadedicatedtoclubs,Departments,andotheractivities.
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Services:TypicallyusedtoconnectuserstootherOrganizationalofferings.
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TheWeb:AtabthatcanbesettoaccessaURLanddisplaythecontentwithinthe
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tab.Bydefaultthistabishidden.
Moduletab:Administratorscancreateadditionaltabsthatincludemodulessimilar
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totheMyOrganizationtab.
Tool tab:Administratorscancreateadditionaltabsthatpointtoatoolwithin
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BlackboardLearn.
Linktab:AdministratorscancreateadditionaltabsthatpointtoaURL.
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©2010BlackboardInc.ProprietaryandConfidential.U.S.PatentNo.6,988,138.AdditionalPatentsPending.
DesignatingaLocalSupportContact>HowtoDesignateaLocalSupportContact
Designating a Local Support Contact
AdministratorsprovideasupportcontactforInstructorsandStudentsfromtheDesignate
LocalSupportContactpage.TheemailaddressprovidedbytheAdministratorwillbelinkedto
theSupportbuttoninCourseandDepartments.InstructorsandStudentswillsubmitquestions
andrequeststhroughthisbutton.
Howto Designate a LocalSupportContact
1. OntheAdministratorPanel,underHelp,clickLocal SupportContact.
2. ProvideanEmail Address.ThisaddresswillbetheOrganizationsupportcontact
forInstructorsandStudents.TheSupportbuttoninCourseandDepartmentswill
belinkedtothisaddress.
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©2010BlackboardInc.ProprietaryandConfidential.U.S.PatentNo.6,988,138.AdditionalPatentsPending.
ManagingDefaultTabContent>HowtoManageDefaultContent
Managing Default Tab Content
Themodulesarelistedwithcheckboxesintwocolumns:DISPLAYEDandREQUIRED.
Displayedmoduleswillbeavailabletousersandrequiredmoduleswillalwaysappearto
users.Userscandeterminewhetherornotthedisplayedmodulesappearontheirviewofthe
tab.Requiredmoduleswillalwaysappeartousers.
Howto Manage DefaultContent
1. OntheAdministratorPanel,underCommunities,clickTabsandModules.
2. ClickTabs.
3. Inthecontextualmenufortheappropriatetab,clickDefaultContent.The
followingtabledescribestheavailabletasks.
To... click...
assigna thecheckboxintheDisplayedcolumnformodulesthatshould
moduleto appearonthetab.Acheckmarkintheboxindicatesthatthe
appearon modulewillappearonthetab.Selectthecheckboxagainto
thetab removeamodulefromthetab.
requirea thecheckboxintheRequiredcolumnformodulesthatshould
moduleto appearonthetab.Acheckmarkintheboxindicatesthatthe
appearon modulewillalwaysappearonthetab.Selectthecheckboxagainto
thetab setmodulestonotrequired.
organize DefaultLayoutintheinstructionsatthetopofthepage.TheDefault
module Layoutpagewillappear.
placement
andstyleon
thetab
4. ClickSubmit.
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EditingDefaultTabLayouts>HowtoEdittheDefaultLayout
Editing Default Tab Layouts
ThestyleanddepartmentofmodulesonatabisconfiguredfromtheDefaultLayoutpage.The
Administratorcancreateadditionalmodulethemestochangethestyleofmodulesfromthe
CustomizeModuleThemepage.
Howto Editthe DefaultLayout
1. OntheAdministratorPanel,underCommunities,clickTabsandModule.
2. ClickTabs.
3. Inthecontextualmenufortheappropriatetab,clickDefaultLayout.Thefollowing
tabledescribestheavailablefields.
Field Description
SetColumnWidths
Column Selectthewidthofeachcolumninthetab.TousetheDefaultvalues,
Widths selectDefault.TheMenuColumnmaybespecifiedinpixelsor
percentages.ThedefaultvaluefortheMenuColumnis150pixels.The
PixelsandPercentagesoptionspecifiestheMenuColumninpixels
andtheothercolumnsinpercentages.Tospecifythemenucolumnin
percentages,selectPercentagesandtypethenumericvalueforeach
column’swidth.Thetotalvalueofallpercentagesmustbeequaltoor
lessthan100%.
SetHeader
Header Selectamoduletouseasaheaderforthetab.Ifthetabshouldnothave
footer,selectNoHeader.
SettheTopmostModule
Selectthemodulestobelocatedandpinnedtothetopofeachcolumn.Pinned
moduleswillappeartoallusers.
SetContentLayout
Orderthemodulesusingtheupanddownarrows.RemovemodulesusingtheX
icon.Modulesmarkedwithasterisksarerequiredandcannotberemoved.
SetFooter
Footer Selectamoduletouseasfooterforthetab.Ifthetabshouldnothave
footer,selectNoFooter.
SetModuleTheme
Select Selectoneofthethemesfordisplayingmodulesonthetab.Additional
Theme themescanbecreatedthroughtheCustomizeModuleThemefeature.
4. ClickSubmit.
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©2010BlackboardInc.ProprietaryandConfidential.U.S.PatentNo.6,988,138.AdditionalPatentsPending.
CreatingModuleTabs>HowtoCreateaModuleTab
Creating Module Tabs
ModulesaredistinctpacketsofinformationwithdatageneratedfromwithinBlackboardLearn
andfromoutsidesources.ModuletabsaddedbytheAdministratorfunctionmuchthesame
wayastheMyOrganizationtab.Multiplemoduletabscanbecreatedwithcontentforspecific
OrganizationConstituencies.TheServicestab,Communitytab,andCoursestabalso
functionasmoduletabs.
AnyModuleTabmaybecreatedwitheitheroneortwocolumnsofmodules,inadditiontothe
menucolumn.Onceatabiscreated,thenumberofcolumnscannotbechanged.
Howto Create a Module Tab
Followthesestepstocreateamoduletab.
1. OntheAdministratorPanel,underCommunities,clickTabsandModules.
2. ClickTabs.
3. ClickCreateModuleTab.Thefollowingtabledescribestheavailablefields.
Field Description
Title Thetitleofthetabcanbechangedbyeditingthetextthatappearsin
thisfield.ThetitlewillappearastheTabnameintheheaderframe.
Reference Provideanameforthetabthatcanbeeasilyreferenced.
Name
Allow ThisfieldappearsonlywhenchangingthepropertiesfortheMy
usersto OrganizationTaboraModuletabcreatedbytheAdministrator.
personalize SelectingYesallowsuserstoorganizethemodulesonthetaband
thetab personalizethestyleofthemodules.
Numberof Selecteither1or2tosetthenumberofcolumnsofmodules.
Columns
System SelecteithertheYesoptionortheNooption.IfYesisselected,the
Availability tabwillbeviewablebyusers.(TheSystemAdminTabisalways
availabletotheAdministrator.)
4. ClickSubmit.
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CreatingToolTabs>HowtoCreateaToolTab
Creating Tool Tabs
TooltabsgiveaccesstoaspecifictoolwithinBlackboardLearn.Multipletooltabscanbe
createdtoallowspecificOrganizationConstituenciesaccesstospecifictools.Forexample,
userswithanOrganizationConstituencyofStudentcouldbegivenaccesstoatabthat
displayedtheMyResultstool.Thistabwouldmostlikelynotbemadeavailabletouserswith
anOrganizationConstituencyofAlumni.
Howto Create a ToolTab
1. OntheAdministratorPanel,underCommunities,clickTabsandModules.
2. ClickTabs.
3. ClickCreateTool Tab.Thefollowingtabledescribestheavailablefields.
Field Description
GeneralProperties
Title[r] ProvideatitlefortheTooltab.ThetitlewillappearastheTab
nameintheheaderframe.
Reference Provideanameforthetabthatcanbeeasilyreferenced.
Name
Tool[r] SelectaToolfromthedrop-downlist.Thetoolselectedwillbe
availablethroughthetab.
Availability
System SelectYestomakethetabavailabletousers.
Availability
4. ClickSubmit.
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CreatingLinkTabs>HowtoCreateaLinkTab
Creating Link Tabs
LinktabsdisplaycontentfromanoutsideWebpageinaBlackboardLearntab.Linktabscan
givedirectaccesstootherOrganizationalWebsitesforspecificOrganizationConstituencies
orallowuserstoaccesstheWebsiteofaneducationpartner.
Howto Create a Link Tab
FollowthesestepstoopentheAddLinkTabpage.
1. OntheAdministratorPanel,underCommunities,clickTabsandModules.
2. ClickTabs.
3. ClickCreateLinkTab.Thefollowingtabledescribestheavailablefields.
Field Description
GeneralProperties
Title[r] ProvideatitlefortheLinktab.ThetitlewillappearastheTabnamein
theheaderframe.
Reference Provideanameforthetabthatcanbeeasilyreferenced.
Name
External ProvidethefullURLforaWebpage.ThismustbethefullURL.For
Link[r] example:http://www.blackboard.com,notwww.blackboard.com
orblackboard.com.TheWebpagewillbeaccessiblethroughthe
tab.
Availability
System SelectYestomakethetabavailabletousers.
Availability
4. ClickSubmit.
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ManagingTabs >HowtoManageTabs
Managing Tabs
ThetabsareorganizedthroughtheTabspage.TabscontainlinkstoCoursesand
Departments,modulesofcontent,usertools,andexternallinkstoadditionalservicesand
content.
PrivilegescanbeappliedtoeachOrganizationConstituencysothat,forexample,userswith
anOrganizationConstituencyofAlumnicouldhaveaccesstoacompletelydifferentsetof
tabsthanuserswithanOrganizationConstituencyofStafforFaculty.Thisiscontrolledfrom
theTabGroupspage.Formoreinformation,seeManagingTabGroups.
Note Whenassigningtheavailabilityoftabstouserconstituencies,itisimportanttocheck
thateachuserconstituencyhasaccesstoatleastoneavailabletabinthesystem.
Note Theadvancedfeaturesonthispage,suchasaddingaTab,areonlyavailabletothose
systemsthathavelicensedthecommunityengagementcapabilities.
Howto Manage Tabs
1. OntheAdministratorPanel,underCommunities,clickTabsandModules.
2. ClickTabs.Thefollowingtabledescribestheavailabletasks.
WARNING! TabscannotbeaddedtoTabGroupsfromthispage.Tabscanbe
addedtoTabGroupsthroughtheTabGroupspage.Formoreinformation,see
ManagingTabGroups.
To... click...
createa CreateModuleTabintheactionbar.TheAddModuleTabpagewill
ModuleTab appear.
createa CreateToolTabintheactionbar.TheAddToolTabpagewill
ToolTab appear.
createa CreateLinkTabintheactionbar.TheAddLinkTabpagewill
LinkTab appear.
editatab Editforatabinthelist.FortheMyOrganization,Courses,
Community,Servicestab,andanyModuletabscreatedbythe
Administrator,aEditTabpagewillappear.Forallothertabs,
clickingEditwillimmediatelyopentheTabPropertiespage.
previewa SelectPreviewTabinthecontextualmenuforthetab.Selectan
tabbased OrganizationConstituencyfromthelistandclickPreview.Anew
onuser browserwindowopenswiththetabsasthoseuserswillseethem.
constituency
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SettingTabProperties>HowtoSetTabProperties
Setting Tab Properties
TheTabPropertiespageissimilarforeachTab.Fromthispage,thenameofthetabcanbe
changed,andtheOrganizationConstituenciesthatcanaccesstheTabaredefined.
Howto SetTab Properties
1. OntheAdministratorPanel,underCommunities,clickTabsandModules.
2. ClickTabs.
3. Inthecontextualmenuforthetab,clickEdit.
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ManagingTabGroups>HowtoCreateaTabGroup
Managing Tab Groups
SystemAdministratorscancreateTabGroupscontainingoneormoresecondarytabs.The
nameoftheTabGroupappearsasthetoplevelTabandthesecondaryTabsappearwhenthe
TabGroupisactivated.TabGroupsandTabscanbereorderedontheTabGroupspageusing
draganddrop.TheappearanceofTabGroupsandTabscanbepreviewedbyconstituencyor
byselectingauser.UsethisoptiontopreviewthelayoutofTabGroupsandTabsforusers
withmultipleorganizationconstituencies.
ATabGroupisdisplayedtousersonlywhenitcontainsatleastoneTabthatisavailableto
Users.FormoreinformationaboutsettingTabavailability,seeSettingTabProperties.
Howto Create a Tab Group
1. OntheAdministratorPanel,underCommunities,clickTabsandModules.
2. ClickTabGroups.
3. ClickCreateTabGroup.
4. ProvideaTitleandaReferenceNamefortheTabGroup.
5. UnderAvailability,clickYestomaketheTabGroupvisibletousers.
6. ClickEveryonetomaketheTabGroupavailabletoallusers.
-or-
ClickSelectedConstituencies.ClickaConstituency,andthenclickthearrowto
movetheConstituencytotheSelectedItemsfield.
7. ChoosetheTabstoincludeintheTabGroupbyselectingtheTabsandthenthe
arrowbuttontomovetheTabtotheSelectedItemsfield.
8. ClickSubmit.
Howto Previewa Tab Group
1. OntheAdministratorPanel,underCommunities,clickTabsandModules.
2. ClickTabGroups.
3. ClickPreviewandselectByOrganizationConstituencyorByUser.
4. SelectaConstituencytopreview.
-or-
SelectauserbyclickingBrowseandselectingauserfromthelistintheseparate
window.ClickSubmit.TheselectedusernameappearsintheCopy
ConstituenciesFromfield.ClickGo.TheConstituenciesassignedtothatuser
appearintheSelectedItemsfield.
5. ClickPreview.TheTabGroupappearsinaseparatewindow.Closethewindow
whenfinishedpreviewing.
6. ClickOK.
Howto Edita Tab Group
1. OntheAdministratorPanel,underCommunities,clickTabsandModules.
2. ClickTabGroups.
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©2010BlackboardInc.ProprietaryandConfidential.U.S.PatentNo.6,988,138.AdditionalPatentsPending.