With the addition of the new file system into Blackboard, it’s become much easier to organize files within courses. We’ll be focusing on the single course license given to most instructors, how the system works, how to organize and upload files and how to link those files into your main Blackboard site.
The file system is basically the uploaded content/files that make up a certain course. All the images, course readings, audio files, etc. are all considered files that can be uploaded onto your Blackboard course site. If you click on the “Files” link under the Control Panel, you’ll be presented with three green buttons: Upload, Create HTML Object and Create Folder. For organizational purposes, it’s prudent to create folders for separate learning materials and upload files into those folders. For example, if I’m teaching a linguistics course and I want one class session to focus on semiology and the works of Derrida and Foucault, I’d create a folder titled “LING PoMo” and upload the Derrida and Foucault readings into that folder. Whatever system works for you, use it.
In order to upload files, you click the “Upload” button and then choose “Upload Files” or “Upload Package.” The “Upload Package” option is for zipped files which are then automatically unzipped with the preexisting file structure still intact – this is helpful if you have a lot of readings and don’t want to upload all of them one at a time. After hitting “Upload,” Blackboard gives you the option of browsing your computer’s hard drive for the files or simply dragging the files from your computer’s folder. After the specific files are selected, hit “Submit.”
In order to finally link the uploaded files to your Blackboard course site, simply click the Content area where you want the files to appear. Once you’re in this content area, click “Build Content” and choose “File.” You now have the option to upload something from your computer or upload something from the “Files” section. This ensures that if the particular content isn’t on a particular computer, that content will stay uploaded in the Blackboard main site, making it accessible from anywhere.
The Files directory allows you to set visibility and editing permissions conveniently based on the user’s role. Also note that if you delete a file form the content area it does not delete it from the Files directory. The best way to maintain file versions is to create a copy of that document in the directory, make changes, then from within the content area link to the updated file.
For more details please view our related FAQ!