Illinois Compass 2g, Creating content items

Content items are general pieces of content added to a course to which items may be attached.

A content item can contain text, audio, movies, files, images, and Mashups. If text is added, it can be formatted using the Text Editor functions.

NOTE: A Mashup can be defined as combining elements from two or more sources. When you view a YouTube video in an Illinois Compass course as part of the course content, you are experiencing a Mashup. Mashups can also include Kaltura media, Flickr® photos, and SlideShare presentations.

How to create an item in a course area

1. Open a course area, such as a content area, learning module, lesson plan, or folder.
2. Ensure Edit Mode is ON.
3. On the Action Bar, point to Build Content to access the drop-down list. 
4. Select Item from the Create column.
5. On the Create Item page, type the item's name and optionally, select a color for the name. Be sure to select a color that will have enough contrast in relation to the page's background color so it can be easily read.
6. Type instructions or a description in the Text box. Format the text using the Text Editor functions, if needed.
7. Determine the Options.
   1. Select Yes to Permit Users to View this Content.
   2. Select Yes or No for Track Number of Views.
   3. Use the Display After and Display Until date and time fields to limit availability of the content. Select the Display After and Display Until check boxes in order to enable the date and time selections. Display restrictions do not affect the content, only the appearance of the content.
8. Click Submit.
   

How to create an item in course files

Within course files, new items can be created using the Text Editor. These items are called HTML Objects.

HTML Objects are created in course files using the Create HTML Object function on the Action Bar. With the Text Editor, add files, images, and multimedia to an HTML Object. Any files added to the HTML Object are saved in Course Files in the same folder as the HTML Object. The new HTML Object can be linked to one or more locations in the course.

1. Click the Course Files folder where the HTML Object will be created.
2. On the Action Bar, click Create HTML Object.
3. On the Create HTML Object page, type a Name. This becomes the file's name in Course Files.
4. In the Text Editor, type the content. Use the Text Editor functions to format the text and add files, images, and multimedia, if needed. Any files added from a local drive as attachments are automatically uploaded to Course Files.
5. Click Submit.

Note: The system automatically adds the .html extension to the HTML Object file name.

How to attach a file to an item

Files added to a content item are shown as links under the title text of the content item and before any content or text added using the Text Editor. Multiple files can be added to a content item. Files can originate from a local drive and from course files.

Follow the steps below to attach a file to an Item from the Create Item page:

1. Under Attachments, click Browse My Computer or Browse Course Files. Select the file.
2. Type a name for the file in the Link Title box. This name appears to users. They click this link to open the attached file. Note: If no Link Title is added, users see the file name in the course.
3. Select an option in the File Action drop-down list, if available and necessary. Actions include:
   1. Create a link to this file - Select this option to attach the file to the Item. A link is automatically inserted below the document title to access the file.
   2. Display Media File within the page - Select this option if the linked file is a media file, such as an audio file, that will appear on the page. Fill in the Embedded Media Information to set the placement and controls for the media player.
4. Determine the Options.
   1. Select Yes to Permit Users to View this Content.
   2. Select Yes or No for Track Number of Views.
   3. Use the Display After and Display Until date and time fields to limit availability of the content. Select the Display After and Display Until check boxes in order to enable the date and time selections. Display restrictions do not affect the content, only the appearance of the content.
5. Click Submit.
   

Blackboard can recognize additional file types and associated applications, if a MIME extension is added. Contact your System Administrator for more information about adding MIME extensions.

If available, other types of files can be added using the third row of functions in the Text Editor.

How to embed image files

Instructors can embed images in content by using the Attach Image function in the Text Editor.

The following file types are supported: .gif, .jif, .jpg, jpeg, .tiff, .wmf, .png.

1. Access the course area where an image will be embedded in a content item. An image can be embedded in a content item in any course area where the third row of Text Editor functions appear, such as content areas, learning modules, lesson plans, folders, discussion forums and threads, journal and blog entries, and wiki pages.
2. Point to Build Content and select Item for Content Areas, Learning Modules, Lesson Plans, and folders.
3. On the Create Item page, type a Name for the Item.
4. Optionally, select the color of the Name. Be sure to select a color that will have enough contrast in relation to the page's background color so it can be easily read.
5. In the Text box, add a description or instruction. Optionally, format the text using the functions in the Text Editor.
6. In the Text Editor, position the mouse pointer and click where the image should appear.
7. Click the Attach Image function in the third row of the Text Editor functions.
8. On the Insert Image page, click Browse My Computer, Browse Course Files, or Source URL and locate the image. A source URL links the image to another server.
9. Optionally, in the Image Options box, type Alt Text. Alternate text appears when a user moves the mouse over the link and it is read by screen readers. It is important for accessibility.
10. Optionally, type the image width and height in pixels. This can be adjusted later, if necessary.
11. To create a link from the image to a file outside of the local system, type the URL in Image Target URL. Use the http:// protocol (http://compass.illinois.edu, for example).
12. Select Yes for Launch in New Window. This is necessary only if a URL has been added in the Image Target URL box. When the image is clicked, a new window or tab opens and the user can view the page added to the image. The window or tab can be closed and the user remains in the course area.
13. Use the Border drop-down list to select a border for the image. This option determines the thickness of the border around the image.  If None is selected, there will be no border around the image.
14. Click Submit. The image is added to the Content Item and appears on the page.