Linking to Tools in a Course Area

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1 Linking to Tools in a Course Area Sometimes a specific course tool is a natural complement to the material featured in a content area. In this case, it makes sense to add a tool link to any page where it is needed. Tools button accessed from the action bar To create a link to a tool within a content area, click on the Tools button on the action bar near the top of the page and select the desired type of tool from the list. You will need to provide: o o o Link Information: Name the link and provide a description. Attachments (where applicable): Select a file from your computer or Content Collection to include in the linked item. Options: Make the item visible, track the number of views, and set dates when it will be available. UNM Learn provides a handful of course tools that are only accessed via the Tools menu on the action bar and do not appear in the Course Tools list in the Control Panel. For more instructions pertaining to more commonly used course tools, please see the section on Course Tools. Specialty tools include the following.

2 Tools Area Add a link to the Tools Area to give students easy access to all the available course tools in a single location. Note that it is possible to pick and choose which tools will be featured in the Tools Area after it is created. Click on the new link to display the Tools Area, and click the Hide Link button next to any tool to limit access to that tool. Student Tools Area Create Stream Provide a streaming video for students to watch online. Note that the simplest way for students to access the video stream is to click the link reflecting the video s file name itself. Clicking on the larger title link opens a playlist-oriented interface that requires further configuration on the instructor s part to stream the selected video(s). Create Media File Manager The Media File Manager is a storage space for instructors to manage multiple media files.

3 Create Progressive Download A Progressive Download is a video or other document that can be viewed before the entire document has downloaded. This only works for certain file formats. Progressive Download is the easiest way to display video lectures to students without forcing students to download individual video files. Additionally, with the use of the Media File Manager, it is possible to create video playlists (e.g. if you have multiple videos for one chapter lecture). Functional Progressive Download Create Podcast Instructors can upload podcasts for students to view. Reusing Content Learn offers several methods for reusing course content. Access the following functions at the bottom of the Control Panel, under Packages and Utilities. Course Copy The Course Copy utility allows the instructor to create an exact copy of the course. It can also copy only selected materials. The copied material can be used to populate an empty course or added into an existing course that features some content already.

4 Select Copy Type: Select Copy Course Materials into an Existing Course. Select Copy Options: First, specify the destination course ID (click Browse to see a list of courses for which you have this privilege). Using the checkboxes that follow, select which course materials you want to include in the copy. Note that time-sensitive and section-specific items will be copied as-is, meaning Announcements, Calendar, Discussion Boards, etc. may be better recreated from scratch. File Attachments: It is recommended to copy both links and content when it comes to file attachments appearing in the course to be copied. Use the Calculate Size button to see how large the resulting package will be. There is a size limit of 5GB per package. Course Copy Form Exporting and Archiving Courses Export Course creates a package of course content that can later be imported into the same course or a different course. Archive Course creates a permanent record of a course including all the content and user interactions available at the time the archive is created. Export Common Cartridge creates a package that can be shared across learning management systems.

5 Export/Archive Course Buttons Export To Export a course, click on the Export/Archive Course link under Packages and Utilities in the Control Panel. Then click on the Export Package button in the action bar near the top of the page. You must specify several details on the Export Course page. being exported. File Attachments: Choose between copying only the links to files or the links and new copies of every attached file within the course. Use the Calculate Size button to ensure that the package does not exceed the size limit of 5GB. Select Course Materials: Select the materials to be included in the export package. Submit: After you click Submit, an will be sent upon completion of the export. The exported file will then appear on the Export/Archive Course page, and can be downloaded from there. Note that the course import package that results from this operation will not include user enrollments or records, such as discussion board posts or assessment attempts. Archive To Archive a course, click on the Export/Archive Course link under Packages and Utilities in the Control Panel. Then click on the Archive button near the top of the Export/Archive Course page. You must specify several details on the Archive Course page. being archived. File Attachments: Choose between copying only the links to files or the links and new copies of every attached file within the course. Use the Calculate Size button to ensure that the package does not exceed the size limit of 5GB. Select Course Materials: Select the materials to be included in the archive package. Submit: After you click Submit, an will be sent upon completion of the export. The archive file will then appear on the Export/Archive Course page, and can be downloaded from there.

6 Export Common Cartridge Export Common Cartridge creates a package that can be shared across learning management systems. To export a common cartridge, click on Export/Archive Course under Packages and Utilities in the Control Panel. Then click on the Export Common Cartridge button near the top right of the Export/Archive Course page. You must specify several details on the Export Course page. being exported. Select Common Cartridge Version: Specify the Common Cartridge version that is compatible with the system that will import the package. It is necessary to know, therefore, with whom the package will be shared, and what version of Common Cartridge is being used on their system. UNM Learn is compatible with versions 1.0 and 1.1. Submit: After you click Submit, an will be sent upon completion of the export. The exported file will then appear on the Export/Archive Course page, and can be downloaded from there. Importing Course Cartridges Course Cartridges are pre-packaged instructional materials most often produced by textbook publishers. The first step to include a course cartridge in your course is to obtain an instructor download key for the cartridge from the textbook publisher. After that, click on Import Course Cartridge under Packages and Utilities in the Control Panel to import a course cartridge. Type the Course Cartridge Download Key in the text box (you cannot import course cartridge content without a download key), and click Submit to add the course cartridge to the materials in your course. For further instructions on the use of course cartridges, please visit the Blackboard Learn website: Importing Course Cartridges 1. Importing Course Packages and Common Cartridges When you export a course as discussed earlier, the product is a.zip file called a course import package. To import a course package, click on Import Package/View Logs under Packages and Utilities in the Control Panel. Then, click Import Package. You must specify several details on the Import Package page. being exported. Select a Package: Click Browse My Computer and to locate the previously downloaded course package.zip file. Select Course Materials: Select the materials to be imported from the package. Submit: After you click Submit, an will be sent to you upon completion of the import. An import log file will now appear on the Import Package/View Logs. Note that Common Cartridges in format 1.0 and 1.1 can also be imported using the steps described above. 1 dges