zBlackboard: Adding an Item

An Item is any type of file, text, image, or link that appears to students in a Content Area, Learning Module or Content Folder. Most commonly, these might be PDF files, Word documents, or PowerPoint presentations for students to view. Both the Create Item and Create File options can be used to add content--see the FAQ section below for additional information.

  1. Enter the course and ensure Edit Mode is On (The Edit Mode switch is in the upper right corner of the page)

 
  1. Enter the content area where the Item is to be placed by clicking on that area in the course menu
     
  2. Hover over the Build Content menu and select Item
build content create item highlighted
 
  1. Enter a Name for the item (required) and a Description (optional)
build content - new item
 
  1. Under Attachments, select either Browse Local Files, Browse Course Files or Browse Cloud Service to locate and add the file attachment(s).
add attachment
 
  1. Under Standard Options:
  • 6.1. Select Yes or No for Permit Users to View Content Item. In order for students to view/access the item, Yes must be selected.
     
  • 6.2. Select Yes or No for Track Number of Views.
     
  • 6.3. Select Date and Time Restrictions for when the Item ink will appear and how long it will be displayed. Dates and times may be selected using the calendar and clock icons.
standard options
 
  1. Click Submit when finished.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the difference between Creating an Item and Creating a File?
A1. While nearly the same outcome can be accomplished with either content type, Create File allows only a single file to be uploaded and linked; a description cannot be included. When Create Item is used, the Content Editor is displayed which offers various formatting options and the ability to add multiple file attachments. Below is an example of both types of content.

 

Q2. Any tips about naming files?
A2. For best results, use only letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens and underscores and avoid the use of special characters, such as ! @ # $ % ^ & * () + { } " <> ? /
It's also helpful to keep file names short and avoid modifying the file extension or including more than one file extension.

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