Working with Course Files

Once you have added content such as a syllabus, readings, and assignments, they can be viewed by students. Use this tutorial to prepare yourself in case a student has questions about viewing documents and working on assignments in Blackboard.

Contents:
Viewing and Downloading Course Files
Viewing and Printing PowerPoints
Submitting Assignments

Viewing and Downloading Course Files

Browse through the various content sections to find course material (Syllabus, Course Documents, and Assignments). Please note that you cannot work on documents directly in Blackboard. Instead, the files must be saved on a hard drive or other storage device.

• You can view documents by clicking on the document link. If your web browser has the capability of rendering the type of file, it will display within the browser window. If not, a download pop-up will appear. Pick either:
  • Open with to view the file once or print. You may choose which program the file will be opened in by selecting one from the drop down menu.
  • Save to store it on your computer for later use or editing.
  • Cancel to go back to Blackboard without viewing the file.

• To download a document, right-click on a file link (or Ctrl-click for Apple) to get an additional menu.
  • When the menu opens, select Save Link As... and pick your preferred location.

• If you are using a computer on the UWB campus, make sure you save on your networked drive rather than on the computer's drive. This will make your file accessible from any computer on the campus network. Also, see the short tutorial on viewing and downloading files for more information.

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Viewing and Printing PowerPoints

To quickly view or print a PowerPoint handout, follow these instructions:

• Right-click (or Ctrl-click for Apple) on the PowerPoint link.

• Select one of the following options:
  • Open in New Window to view or print the file only once. It will be stored in a temporary location and deleted after you close it.
  • Save Link As... to save the PowerPoint on the computer or other portable media. This will allow you to view or print it more than once.
• To print, have the PowerPoint open and select Print from the File menu on the top.

• Configure the settings as:
  • Select the correct printer under Printer.
  • Under Settings, choose between printing All Slides, Custom Slides or Current Slide (current slide will be last slide selected).
  • Choose which format you would like your slides to print as: Full Page Slides, Notes Pages, Outline or various types of Handouts.
  • If you are printing multiple copies of the powerpoint, choose between printing them Collated (in order as groups) or Uncollated (all copies of each page in order).
  • You may switch between color and grayscale at Color/grayscale. Consider grayscale if you want to save on the more expensive color ink.
• Click Print at the top of the page.

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Submitting Assignments

Once you have finished an assignment, you may turn it in via Blackboard. If you do choose to submit work this way, talk with your instructor to make sure that he or she will accept files via Blackboard. See Submitting Assignments for more information and tutorials.

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