The options chosen on the Course Tools page control the initial tools that are available in new courses. Blackboard Learning System has a robust set of tools and the flexibility to add new tools to the platform. A filter at the top of the Course Tools page sets the list of tools displayed to show Blackboard Learning System tools and tools added through System Extensions.
While courses are created with these options defined according to the defaults, the Instructor or the Administrator can change these options for each Course at any time.
Follow these steps to open the Course Tools page.
Step 1 Click Settings from the Courses section of the System Control Panel.
Step 2 Click Course Tools from the Settings page.
Note: System Extension Tools cannot be added to Blackboard Learning System – Basic Edition.
The table below details the functions available from the Course Tools page.
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To . . . |
click . . . |
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change the list of tools displayed |
The drop-down arrow in the Filter field and select a list of tools. The options available are: · Blackboard Tools. The tool set provided by Blackboard Learning System. This includes communication tools, information sharing tools, and calendar event and task tracking tools. · System Extension Tools. Tools that have been integrated into the Blackboard Learning System through a System Extension. · All Tools. Tools provided by the Blackboard Learning System and tools that have been integrated through a System Extension. |
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enable a tool by default |
Click the check box in the Enabled column for each tool that should be available in each new course by default. |
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allow Guest access to a tool by default |
Click the check box in the Allow Guest column for each tool that should be accessible by Guests in each new course by default. Tools that cannot be accessed by Guests are marked “n/a”. |
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allow Observer access to a tool by default |
Click the check box in the Allow Observer column for each tool that should be accessible by Observers in each new course by default. Tools that cannot be accessed by Observers are marked “n/a”. |
If Announcements are disabled, any Announcements that Instructors have previously created will be visible in their courses, but those Instructors will not be able to delete these Announcements, because this tool will no longer be available.