DAQ SK_09_2008

Student Guide to using Blogs in Blackboard

What is a Blog? A blog is a ‘web log’ and is likened to an online journal or diary.

Blackboard has a blog function available in its modules. The blog located in Blackboard is

available to only those users of Blackboard. More specifically, blogs used on your course

modules will only be seen by those people (students and tutors) registered on your module.

Blackboard Blogs Blackboard has three types of blog, the Course Blog, the Group Blog and the

Private Blog.

Course Blog If your tutor sets up the course blog in your Blackboard module everyone enrolled

on the module will be able to view it. All tutors on the Blackboard module can add

and edit content and they can choose whether or not to allow students to add or

edit comments.

Group Blog

If your tutor has set up Group Blog’s in your Blackboard module only those

members of the group blog will be allowed to view and edit content. Other

members in different group blogs will not be allowed access. Each member of the

group will normally be allowed to add and edit content in their group blog.

Private Blog

If your tutor has set up Private Blogs, this will be an individual blog that only you

and your tutor will have access

Blog Features A blog usually contain entries which can be anything; chunks of text, photos and links to

other websites and much more. In a blog the recent entry is displayed, and other entries are

displayed in reverse chronological order. Depending on the type of blog that your tutor has

set up, others may be able to comment on the blog entries. Your tutor should advise as ti

how they expect you should be using the blog in your course.

How to find the blog in Blackboard There are several places where you can get to the Course Blog and the Group Blogs.

Course Blog Your tutor may have put a direct link to the course blog on your Blackboard module main

menu. This can be called anything but your tutor will normally have informed you about how to

access the blog. The course blog can also be accessed by selecting Course Tools from the

Blackboard module main menu which links to the course blog.

DAQ SK_09_2008

Group & Private Blogs Your tutor may have put a direct link to your group blog on your Blackboard module main menu.

Within the group blog folder, there will be a list of names of Group blogs each with View links.

Click on the link to enter your relevant group blog.

How to use the blog The Blackboard blog tool is very simple to use. Usually your tutor will direct you as to what is

expected from using this facility, especially a group blog. Ask for guidance if you are not sure.

When you access a blog you are presented with it with a link to View. You can read the content

and navigate through the various blog entries and comments (if permission to do so). Figure 1

displays the main page of a blog site in Blackboard.

Figure 1: Blog

Overview of the Blog Panel toolbar:

Actions: To add a blog entry, you can click ‘new entry’. You can also print a blog entry with

comments

Filters: Choose to display 15, 25 or all blog entries.

Calendar: Allows you to navigate to blog entries by date

Archives: Lists blog entries by month

Recent Posts: recent posts are listed

Stats: Provides count on the number of view and entries

The main content of the blog appears here

The blog panel

Add Blog comments

DAQ SK_09_2008

Export site: Allows you to save your site as a website to your computer and/or storage media.

Privacy -This area tells you who can view, edit, or comment on your Blog. Always be sure to

check to see what the privacy level is for your Blog.

Add a blog entry Click on the new entry link in the blog toolbar; the following screen will appear:

More on page editor tools…

Link to content

Click the link icon to add a link to your content: A popup window will appear with several

choices; you can select your choice by clicking on the radio button adjacent to the option:

• Link to an existing entry: Creates a link to an existing blog entry you’ve already created within your

blog.

• Link to an external web site: Creates a link to an outside website,

Tip! Removing Links. To remove links, place your cursor on the text that has a link and

select the Unlink icon .

Enter blog entry title; a date will

be entered by default. It’s more

meaningful to add your own title

Click here and type you blog entry!

Remember to click Save!

Page Editor Toolbar

DAQ SK_09_2008

Uploading files to your page Files (i.e. Word/PDF) can be uploaded to your blog; this is similar to uploading files that you

may attach to your emails. This is a very useful utility and can save you time by not having to

retype text or copy and paste information to create very long blog entry.

To do this:

1. Highlight the text if you want the file to be uploaded from a ‘link text’ and click

the file upload icon

2. From the ‘Upload file’ pop up window, click the Browse button and locate the

file on your computer.

3. Select your file and then click Open

4. Click the Upload button

5. Now click the Insert button

6. Click Save. Test your link.

Uploading Images to your page

Images can be inserted into your web page. To do this:

1. Click on the Image icon

2. From the pop-up window select the appropriate option: you can ‘Upload an

image’ that you have located on your computer by or ‘Include an image from an

external web site’

3. Enter some description of the image. This is used by people using screen readers

and some browsers.

4. Click the Upload button. Once the image is on the page you can resize it by

selecting it and dragging the corner handles in. You can relocate it on the page by

dragging and dropping.

Comment in a blog

You may want to add a comment to a group blog or read comments made by others.

To read a comment on a blog entry, simply click on the Comments link below the blog

entry. To add a comment (if set up by your tutor); click on the Comments link to add your

comment:

For further guidance on how to use your blog, please seek help from your tutor.

Add your comment here and then click the Add Comment