Adding Content to Your myLesley Course (Original Course View)

Modified on Fri, Dec 13 at 2:45 PM

This article refers to the Original Course View. If you are in an Ultra course, please refer to the Blackboard Ultra Course View Faculty Quick Start Guide.

Within myLesley, there are many options for adding content to your course, including modifying the course menu, adding content to your course, and making course tools available. The following tutorials will orient you to customizing your course site and making materials available for students.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Creating a Content Area
Creating Content in a Course Area
Working with the Text/Content Editor
Editing and Managing Course Areas and Content
Managing Release Dates (Setting Date/Time Restrictions)

Creating a Content Area

Content Areas are places in your course where you post course content, such as items, uploaded documents, assignments, and more.To begin, click the Add Menu Item button at the top left corner of the course menu.

This will open a menu. Select Content Area.

Give your content area a name and check the box to make it visible to your students. Click Submit to save your changes.

By default, your new menu item will be added to the bottom of the course menu. To move or reorder items in the course menu, hover your mouse over the item until an arrow appears on the left side. Drag the item anywhere on the menu to reorder it.

See Modifying Your myLesley Course Menu for more information on managing your course menu.

Creating Content in a Course Area

Once you have built a course area you may create content within it, including folders, items, uploaded documents, assignments, and more.

Locate the content area in your course menu and click to open.

At the top of the page, select Build Content.

Select the type of content you wish to add.

Creating an Item

An item is used to present a combination of content including text, attachments, embedded media, links, and more. To create an item, go to Build Content and select Item.

Give your item a name and use the text/content editor to add text, links, images, video, etc. See Using the myLesley Text/Content Editor for more information.

mylesley content editor

In the Standard Options section, select the viewing options. Use the Date and Time restrictions to set dates in which items may be visible for your students. Please note that the content will always be visible for the instructor.

Click Submit at the bottom of the page to save changes.

Creating a Web Link

A web link is a link to an external website. To create one, go to Build Content and select Web Link.

Enter a name for the link and the URL.

Add a description (optional) containing information on the link.

In Web Link Options, set the link to open in a new window. This will prevent the link from opening within Blackboard, which may cause navigation issues.

Click Submit at the bottom of the page to save changes.

You may also add a web link directly within an item. See Using the myLesley Text/Content Editor for instructions.

Adding Documents and Files

You may choose to add a document or file directly in the course area. However, you will not be able to add a description within the link, so you will want to be sure to create a meaningful title. To begin, go to Build Content and select File.

Give your file a name and select Browse my Computer to upload a file.

Locate and select your file to attach it.

In File Options, set your file to open in a new window.

Click Submit at the bottom of the page to save changes.

Please note that if you have already uploaded the document once it is already "living" in your Course Files. If you need to have the document in more than one place in the course, you may link to it. See the Attach Files from Course Files tutorial video for more information.

Adding Video (Kaltura)

To create video content in your course, we recommend creating an Item and using the Kaltura Mashup Tool. The Kaltura Mashup tool allows you to add video content anywhere in your myLesley course, such as an item, an Assignment, Discussion Board post, blog post, etc. For more information and detailed instructions, refer to the Using the Kaltura Mashup Tool support article.

Adding Assignments

Assignments allow students to view instructions and submit their work in one location. Once an assignment is created, a column is automatically added to the Grade Center where the instructor can review submissions, assign grades, and provide feedback. See Creating and Managing myLesley Assignments for detailed instructions.

Adding Tests and Surveys

myLesley supports a large number of test formats including multiple choice, essay, short answer, calculated numeric, and more, all which may be taken online. You may also wish to collect anonymous student feedback using the Survey feature. See Creating and Managing Tests, Surveys and Pools in myLesley for detailed instructions.

Adding a Folder

You may wish to add folders to organize your content. To begin, go to Build Content and select Content Folder.

Give your folder a name and description (optional).

Click Submit at the bottom of the page to save changes.

Adding a Tool Link

You may wish to create a link to an existing tool in your course (ex Discussion Board, Blog, Journal, etc.). Providing links next to relevant course materials can create a seamless experience for students.

To begin, navigate to your content area and click on the Tools link a the top of the page. Then select the Tool you wish to link to. You may click More Tools to show additional course tools.

screen shot of Tool link

Follow the on-screen prompts to add a link to your desired tool.

Watch the How to Add a Link to your Course tutorial video for more information.

Adding Other Types of Content

See Types of Course Content for more information on adding different types of content, including learning modules, course link, and more.

Working with the Text/Content Editor

The content editor allows you to add and format text, insert hyperlinks and tables, and add files to your myLesley content. The content area appears anywhere you can input text, including an item, the discussion board, blog, wiki, etc.

mylesley content editor

See Using the myLesley Text/Content Editor for information on navigating and using the content editor or watch the Use the Content Editor Tutorial Video.

Editing and Managing Course Areas and Content

Once you build course areas and add content, you can then manage them by changing settings, copying or moving the item, and rearranging your content. See Edit and Manage Content for more information

Managing Release Dates (Setting Date/Time Restrictions)

You may control the dates that your content is available for your students, including modules, folders, items, assignments, and more.

Locate the item you wish to edit and hover your mouse over it until the chevron appears. Click the chevron to open a menu.

Click Edit.

Scroll down to the Standard Options Section.

Make sure that the Permit Users to View this Content section is toggled to Yes.

Click on the checkbox located to the left of the Display After prompt.

Enter the release date and time that you would like the content to be made available to students.

Click Submit at the bottom of the page to save changes. This will hide the content from students until the date and time you’ve selected.

If you have students with special accommodations in your course, you can use Adaptive Release to set multiple release dates for content or use the Text Availability Exceptions to allow extra time on tests. See Managing Student Accommodations in myLesley for more information.