Creating course content

Owned by Aideen Gibson, created
Last updated: Feb 27, 2024
6 min read

The Course Content page is the default page that opens when you enter a course. Here, you can begin to create Learning Modules or Folders in which to organize your content, copy content from a previous course, upload files from your computer or Cloud Storage, etc. 

When you add or create new content always ensure that all of your students can access it as easily as possible. The built in Ally (Ultra Accessibility Checker) can help you with this.

 

Add new content

Within the Course Content window, hover your mouse where you wish to add new content and select the (purple) + icon.

When you click + Create option, the Course Content Items will appear in a panel on the right hand side:

Content types and containers in Course Content

 

Types of course content

Four content types that you will use frequently - Learning Modules, Folders, Documents and Links - are explained below. Learning modules and folders are containers for documents, file attachments, tests, assignments, multimedia, and links to websites, discussions, and journals. Detailed information about Assignments can be found in the Blackboard Assignments support pages.

Learning modules

Learning modules are used as containers to organise collections of content (folders, documents, videos, etc). Within a learning module students navigate the order of the contents using the forward/ backward arrows in sequence. Alternatively, students can explore the content in a learning module in any order and at their own pace. If required, you can force the items to display sequentially where the first item must be viewed before the second can be launched.

Learning modules provide the option to add an image to enhance the visual appearance of the container.

Create a learning module

From the Course Content Items, select Learning Module.  The panel will now display the create Learning Module screen.

screenshot of Learning Module create panel

  1. At the top of the panel add the name of your Learning Module

  2. Change the setting “Hidden from students” at this point or later from the course content

  3. Add a Description – this text will appear on the Learning Module in the course content

  4. Add Image – if you decide not to add an image a Learning Module icon will appear

  1. Check the box to turn on Forced Sequence (optional)

  2. Save

You can create new items within the learning module by selecting the plus button that appears over blank areas in the module. Items created will appear in the location that you created them in.

 

Folders

You can a use folder as a container to organise collections of content (folders, documents, videos, etc). You can create two levels of folders in which to organize your content. Using folders reduces the need to scroll and enables students to find content more easily. Students can explore the content in a folder in any order they chose.

Create a folder

From the Course Content Items, select Folder.  The panel will now display the create Folder screen.

  1. At the top of the panel add the name of your Folder

  2. Change the setting “Hidden from students” at this point or later from the course content

  3. Add a Description – this text will appear on the folder in the course content

  4. Save

The new Folder will appear wherever you clicked the add content icon.

Although a learning module can contain a folder, folders cannot contain learning modules!

 

Documents

You can create a Blackboard document (also known as a Page) and add text, audio, video, files, and images.

Create a document

From the Course Content Items, select New Document. The following screen appear:

 

Here you can:

Add content - start typing text, add images, upload files, etc

Add HTML - embed external learning, e.g. Menti, Sway, Forms, etc

Upload from Computer/ Upload from cloud storage

  1. You can select documents to upload from your local drive (desktop) or cloud storage (OneDrive, Google, etc).

  2. You also have the option to add files within the text field provided with the 'Add Content' choice above by clicking on the paper clip in the editor to upload from your computer or the plus icon to upload from cloud storage.

  3. These files then display in-line and allow a whole week of content to be nicely created in a single document for ease of use for students.

  4. These an be expanded or collapsed using the arrow to the right hand side of the document title.

 

A (web) link can be to an external website or content outside of your Ultra course, e.g. a website or reading list. You can also link to content in the same module, e.g. a Learning Module or Folder.

From the Course Content Items, select Link. The New Web Link page will open.

There are two tabs in the top menu: Create Web Link and Create Course Link. A web link creates a link to an external website. The course link allows you to link to content elsewhere in the same course/ module, e.g. from an assessment brief to an assessment submission point.

To create a web link:

  • Add a name for your link, e.g. BBC website

  • Choose ‘Visible to students’

  • Add the URL to the Link URL field e.g. https://www.bbc.co.uk/

  • Add a description (optional)

  • Press Save

To create a Course Link:

Select the Create Course Link tab from the top menu.

  1. Search for an item on the course you wish to link to. You can use a keyword and/or category (Document, Assessments, SCORM, File, LTI or Journal) to search for the item you wish to link to. The search results will appear in the right-hand side panel.

  2. Select the item you wish to link to. Find the item you wish to link to from the list of search results, and select it using the radio buttons. You will then reveal the options to give this link a Display Name and a Description.

  3. Save.

Links will display in Course Content, with the usual edit options:

  • Visible/Not Visible to students

  • Edit

  • Delete

  • Download (if the course link is to a document)

The Visible to students option displays the following warning:

“Changes to the visibility or release conditions apply to the linked item and all associated course links”.

 

Check content accessibility

When you add or create new content, use Student Preview to see how it appears to your student. Check your documents and other files using the built in Ally (Ultra Accessibility Checker).

Each time you create or add new content, use Ally to ensure your content is as accessible as possible, ensuring inclusivity and meaningful engagement for all learners.

Ally scans resources and provides advice on how to increase the accessibility of documents. It offers explanations about potential issues and offers quick fixes to address them, making your content more accessible.

The Ally accessibility indicator (or score) appears to the right of each content item. The score displays as a dial in different colours ranging from red (low 0%-30%) through to green (perfect 100%).

The Ally accessibility indicator takes some time to appear after you upload or create content.

To open instructor feedback, select the Accessibility indicator. Follow the steps in front of you to go step-by-step. Select All issues to see every issue in the file and decide what issues to fix first. Once fixed the document can be easily replaced within the VLE.

Detailed information about Ally can be found in the Blackboard Ally support pages.

Centre for Digital Learning Enhancement
ulster.ac.uk/learningengancement/cdle