BlackBoard Question of the Week

Q. I have uploaded an html file that has embedded image files. I want students to see the html file, but all the images files are listed separately in Blackboard. How can I set this up so my students just see the html file with the images embedded, and not listed separately?

A. You can do this in three steps:

1. Make a folder on your computer and put all the image files and the html file in the folder.
2. Zip (compress) the folder (on a Loyola PC, right-click on the folder and select Send To > Compressed (zipped) Folder).
3. Log into your Blackboard course and create a new item.
4. Attach the zip file and, under 2. Content > Special Action on the Add Item page, select Unpackage this file.
5. Select your html file as the entry point.

This will show only the zip file as a link, and students will see the html file when they click on it.

Q. I am having difficulty registering my i<clicker on Blackboard. After logging in, there is no link that takes me to a registration page. How do I fix this?

A. Before you can register, you need to go to the Blackboard course you are using the i>clicker for. Visit How Students Register i>clicker Remotes for detailed instructions.

Q. I have set up my Blackboard course and uploaded my syllabus and course documents, but I am hearing from students that they cannot see my course. What should I do?

A. At the beginning of each semester, it’s important to remember to make your course available — if you don’t, students cannot see your course on their Login page, even if they are registered for your course and their names appear on the roster. In order for students to see your course, you must manually make the course available in the Course Options settings in the Control Panel.

For instructions in both text and video on how to make your course available, visit Making Your Course Available .

Q. I have combined two sections of my History course. I want to be able to separate the sections in the Grade Center. How can I do this?

A. Many instructors combine sections of the same course but wish to maintain separation of each section within the Grade Center. This is possible through two actions: 1) first creating a Blackboard Group for each section (please refer to our online tutorial Creating Student Groups ); and then, 2) creating a Grade Center Smart View for each group.

Let’s say you have combined two sections and have created a Blackboard Group for each section, Group1 and Group 2. You can look at each group individually within the Grade Center by creating two Smart Views, one for each group. To create a Smart View, do the following:

1. In your Grade Center, click on the Manage option.

2. Select Smart Views from the drop-down list.

3. A Smart Views page will open in which you should click on Add Smart View.

4. In the Add Smart View page, give the Smart View a name in the Name box, e.g., Group 1.

5. In the Selection Criteria area, choose “Group” for Type of View; for Select Criteria, make sure your User Criteria is set to “Group,” your Condition is set to “Equal to” and you have highlighted “Group 1″ in the Value field.

6. The Filter results should be set to All Columns (this is the default).

7. Click on Submit.

8. You will be taken back to the Smart View page and you will now see that Group 1 has been created as a Smart View.

9. Follow these same steps to create a Smart View for Group 2 but make sure that the name for this group is unique, e.g., Group 2 and that you highlight Group 2 in the Value field in the Selection Criteria when creating the Smart View for Group 2.

10. When you are back in the Grade Center you will see both Group 1 and Group 2 listing as Smart Views under the dropdown list for Current View. If you select the Smart View Group 1 you will see only the students from the Group 1. Alternatively, if you select the Smart View Group 2 only the students from Group 2 will appear.