Northern Illinois University
Teaching with Blackboard
Faculty Development and Instructional Design Center

Numerous options exist for storing and deploying course content in Blackboard.  A few Content Areas exist in the Course Menu by default, but faculty members can create additional content areas and provide unique names for their content areas.

After selecting the content area, the content to be added may be selected from the Build Content menu.

1. Create
   • Item: A general piece of content, such as a file, image, text, or link to which a description and other items may be attached.
   • File: An HTML file that can be used in the course. These files can be viewed as a page within the course or as a separate piece of content in a separate browser window.
   • Audio: Link to an audio file stored locally on a faculty member's computer or within the Content Collection.
   • Image: Link to an image file stored locally on a faculty member's computer or within the Content Collection.
   • Video: Link to a video file stored locally on a faculty member's computer or within the Content Collection.
   • Web Link: Link to an outside Web site or resource.
   • Learning Module: A set of content that includes a structured path for progressing through the items.
   • Lesson Plan: A Lesson Plan is special content type that combines information about the lesson itself with the curriculum resources used to teach it.
   • Syllabus: Content item that enables a faculty member to build an electronic Course Syllabus by walking through a series of steps.
   • Course Link: A shortcut to an item, tool, or area in a Blackboard Course.
   • Content Package (SCORM): These are shareable Content Objects gathered together into a compressed, zipped file, which can be unpackaged and played through a content player
2. New Page
   • Content Folder: An organizational element that contains Content Items. Folders allow content to be structured with a hierarchy or categories.   
   • Module Page: A page containing dynamic personalized content modules that help users keep track of tasks, Tests, assignments, and new content added to the course.
   • Blank Page: Add a Blank Page and customize it to fit your Course.
3. Mashups
   • Flickr Photo: A Mashup that includes a link to a site for viewing and sharing photographic images.
   • Slideshare Presentation: A Mashup that includes a link to a site for viewing and sharing slide presentations and documents.
   • Youtube Video: A Mashup that includes a link to a site for viewing and sharing online videos.
   • xpLor Content: A Mashup that allows faculty to share and collaborate on learning objects with colleagues at local institutions or across the globe .
   • MEDIAL: A Mashup that includes a link to a local on-campus website for viewing and sharing online videos securely.

Last updated: 9/26/2017