OVERVIEW: The content system in Blackboard is the file storage and management system for the support documentation, individual courses, and CityU faculty (course instructors, course managers, builders, and librarians). Instructors have access to two content areas - one for each course in which they are enrolled and one personal content area called My Content for frequently used files, such as profile picture, templates, Blackboard rubric, quiz, and survey ZIP files, etc. The Content System allows users to manage and update course or personal files from one location. While course content areas have no size limitations, space in My Content is limited to 500 MB. (**Please note - Blackboard file uploads are limited to 250 MB throughout the system, including My Content.) The following tutorial provides step-by-step instructions and best practices for using My Content and the Course Content file directories. This document includes the following tutorials: 1. Guidelines for My Content. 2. How to Add and Manage My Content. 3. How to Use My Content and Course Content within a Course. GUIDELINES FOR MY CONTENT: My Content is for storage of files (docx, pdf, ppt, ZIP, jpegs, etc.) that faculty use frequently in the courses they teach, but that are not part of the master course shell. Following are guidelines for using My Content as well as examples of files that might be stored in My Content: Photos often shared in discussion boards or in instructor profiles can be saved in My Content. Although it is recommended that faculty create their complete profile in their MyWorkspace for efficient copying into all courses they teach, instructors might choose to save their profile picture in the Personal Content system so it can be updated from one location easily. Frequently used templates or worksheets, such as course schedule outline, instructor policy documents, and other resources can be saved to My Content. Blackboard export files of rubrics, surveys, and tests (Blackboard exports are a ZIP file type) can be save to My Content for easy import into classes in which one is teaching. Export files can also be saved directly to My Content. The Content System should NOT be used for video files. Video files should be added to Kaltura or another video hosting and streaming service, so that students can view video content in place without having to download large media files. Learn more about Kaltura. My Content should NOT be used for essential course content. Content that is essential to a course should be saved in the course master shell, which will add the file to the course file directory so it is available to all students who take that course regardless of instructor or location. bbsupport@cityu.edu Page 1
HOW TO ADD AND MANAGE MY CONTENT: 1. To access My Content login to Blackboard and select Content Collection from the tab in the top right of your screen. 2. From the My Content page one can access and manage existing content or add new content. 3. Users can add files one at a time or use compressed files (.ZIP) to upload multiple files. a. To add one file, select Upload and then Upload Files. From the next screen select Choose File to locate the file to upload and select Open. Leave the options on the screen unchecked and click Submit to save the file. b. To add multiple files, create a compressed folder of the desired files on your computer. From Blackboard select Upload ZIP Package and then select Choose File from the following screen. Locate the compressed ZIP file and select Open. Leave the default settings and click Submit to upload and unzip the compressed file, adding your files to My Content. bbsupport@cityu.edu Page 2
4. Users can also create folders to organize their content by type (media, documents), topic, course, etc. To create a folder select Create Folder and then enter a descriptive name in the field that appears below the button. Click Submit to create the new folder. 5. Use the selection boxes beside files and the options along the top of the file list to manage or organize existing files. Files can be easily copied or moved to new folders, recycled (recycled files must be deleted to be completely removed, see below for details), emailed, or bookmarked using these options. 6. To update/overwrite a file hover over the file name and click on the grey arrow to access the contextual menu. bbsupport@cityu.edu Page 3
a. From the contextual menu select 360 View to check if the file is linked to current courses. If the file is linked to a current course, recycling the file may break existing links. From the 360 View screen scroll down to view the Links: This file is not linked to any courses: This file is linked to 2 courses b. To Overwrite a file (updating it any of the courses in which it is linked) select Overwrite File from the contextual menu. On the next screen select Choose File, browse your computer to locate the new file, and then click Submit. bbsupport@cityu.edu Page 4
7. To permanently delete a file from My Content, open the Recycle Bin folder, select the file to delete, and click Delete. Files that were mistakenly deleted can also be restored from this location. 8. Use the My Content link on the left to return to your main Content area. 9. Content can be viewed as a List or as Thumbnails (helpful for viewing image files) by selecting the preferred option from the upper right corner. View List: View Thumbnail: bbsupport@cityu.edu Page 5
HOW TO USE MY CONTENT AND COURSE CONTENT WITHIN A COURSE: 1. Now that you have content saved to the My Content area (under Content Collection), you can use this content in any of your courses. Please review the guidelines above before using files from My Content in the courses you teach. 2. When adding content to a course in Blackboard, instructors have the option to browse their computer or browse Content Collection. To use files saved in My Content select Browse Content Collection. 3. The content that is first displayed in the pop-up window are the Course Files. To access My Content select Browse from the top left and then My Content. 4. Browse your My Content to locate the desired file(s), check the selection box next to the file(s) and then click Submit to add the file(s) to the course. bbsupport@cityu.edu Page 6
5. The added file, while added to the course, is linked to the original file in My Content. Deleting the original file in My Content will break the link, making the file inaccessible from the course it was added to. Overwriting the file in My Content will update the linked file in the course. See How to Add and Manage My Content above for more information. bbsupport@cityu.edu Page 7