Add Files, Images, Audio, and Video

Add files, images, audio, and video

On the Course Content page, you can browse for files in cloud storage or on your computer. In some cases, students select the file name to download and open it. If allowed by the browser, some media files open in a new window or tab. Students are notified in their activity streams when you add content.

In most browsers, you can select where the files that you open in courses are downloaded. For example, in Chrome, navigate to Settings > Advanced > Downloads. You can select the location for file downloads and choose if you want the browser to ask each time. In Safari, you have the same capabilities. Navigate to Preferences > General > File download location. You can perform an internet search to learn about file download choices in other browsers.

Supported file types include DOC, DOCX, HTM, HTML, MP4, MPG, PDF, PPT, PPTX, XLS, XLSX, RTF, TXT, ZIP, and most image types.

Upload files. Select the plus sign wherever you want to upload files. In the menu, select Upload to browse for files on your computer. The files appear in the content list.

Open a file's menu to edit the file name, align with goals, replace the file, or add a description. You can also expand or create a folder or learning module and then upload files.

If your institution uses Blackboard Ally, you can use the tool to be sure your course content is accessible to every student. Accessibility score indicators and alternative formats appear next to files. Learn more about Ally later in this topic.

Add files from cloud storage. If you already have files stored in the cloud, such as in OneDrive^® and Google Drive™, you can add them to your course. You may choose multiple files from cloud storage to add to your Course Content page in one action. The files you add are copies. If you make a change to a file in cloud storage, you need to upload a new copy in your course.

More on cloud storage

Add files from the Content Collection. If you already have files stored in the Content Collection, you can add to them in your course.

Copying and pasting links from the URL bar to Images, PDFs, or other Files in the content collection won't function properly. These URLs are temporary and break later.

More on adding files from the Content Collection

Control what students see. All content is hidden from students until you decide to show it. Each item displays if it's visible or hidden from students. Select the visibility to change it.

With your keyboard, tab to the visibility list and press Enter to open the menu. Use Alt/Option + the up and down arrows to select an option.

Add goals and standards. You and your institution can use goals to measure student achievement across programs and curriculums. After you successfully upload a file to your course, you can align one or multiple goals. Open the menu in the file's row and select Edit. In the panel, select Align with goals to search for available goals to align with the file.

Students can't see the goals you align with a file.

Reorder, edit, and delete content easily. Point to an item to reveal the Move icon and drag the item to a new location in the content list. Open the menu and select Edit or Delete. For example, in the panel, you can change a file's name, type a description that appears with the file on the Course Content page, or replace the file.

With your keyboard, you can move an item to a new location, move an item into an expanded folder, and move a folder into another expanded folder.

1. Tab to an item's move icon.
2. Press Enter to activate move mode.
3. Use the arrow keys to choose a location.
4. Press Enter to drop the item in the new location.

Zip files

On the Course Content page, you can upload a compressed package of files, also called a ZIP file. Students select the ZIP file to download it to their computers and unzip it to access the contents. In the menu, select Upload to browse for the file on your computer.

Insert media in the editor

You can use the Insert/Edit Media from Web option to insert media and enterprise Office365 files directly into the editor. The editor automatically embeds the content so it appears with other content you include. Students can view the content, such as a video, within the same window—no need to navigate to the media's site.

You can embed content from these sites:

• VidGrid
• Panopto™
• FlipGrid
• SlideShare
• Prezi
• VoiceThread
• Khan Academy
• Kaltura
• SoundCloud
• Spotify®
• Genial.ly
• NearPod
• Quizlet
• EdPuzzle
• H5P
• Vimeo®
• YouTube™
• Office365

1. In the editor, select Add Content > Insert/Edit Media from Web.
2. Paste the source URL from the site.
3. Add alternative text that describes the item for people who use screen readers or may not be able to load the content.
4. Select Insert. The item automatically embeds in the editor.

Insert YouTube video

Use the Insert YouTube Video option to browse and add YouTube videos directly in the editor. No need to leave your course to find a link! You can choose to display the video as a link or to embed the video so it appears alongside the other content you include. Students can watch the video within the same window—no need to navigate to YouTube.

More on inserting YouTube videos

Insert a feedback recording in the editor

You can embed audio and video recordings of your feedback in the editor as you grade attempts. The recording option appears in the feedback editor for most graded items in your course. Students watch or listen to your feedback alongside any text you include.

This function isn't supported on all browsers. For the best experience, use Chrome or Firefox.

More on adding audio/video feedback

Insert Content Market files

Your institution controls which tools are available.

The Content Market is your gateway to valuable learning materials from trusted content providers. You can also access tools and links your administrator has made available across your institution.

You can add content from the Content Market directly to the editor in your course's assignments, tests, and documents. In the editor, select Insert content > Insert/Edit LTI Item.

Select a tool to launch and browse for content to add. Or, select the plus sign on the Institution Tool's card to add the entire tool in the editor. When you add a tool or a piece of content to the editor, it appears as a link.

More on the Content Market

Add files from the Content Collection

You can use the Content Collection to organize, share, and reuse files in your courses and those files shared institution-wide. You can add files from the Content Collection right on the Course Content page. Select the plus sign wherever you want to add files. In the menu, select Content Collection to browse the files available to you and add them to your course.

You can also find the Content Collection in the Import Content panel. Select Content Collection to browse the files available to you and add them to your course. To speed up the process, you can select multiple files to add at one time.

Select Browse Content Collection to get started. You're brought to the Content Collection system, where you can find files stored here from your other courses. You'll also have access to files your institution has added and shared. Use the browse functions to explore.

The first time you open the Content Collection in your Ultra course, you can open it in the current window or in a new window. Select the option that works best for you. You can change the setting later. Select the Browser Settings icon at the top of the window.

When you find a file you want to add to your course, select the check box next to the file name. You can continue to browse and select files. The system shows how many files you've selected at the bottom of the window. Ready to add? Select Submit to review your list of selected items.

If you want to browse the Content Collection but not add a file to your course, you can access the Content Collection on the Tools page. You can also add links to items in the Content Collection.

Review the list

You can review the list of selected files before you import into your course. Review the Item Name, Date Modified, and Size to confirm that these are the correct files. Forgot something? You can add more items to the list. Select Back to Content Collection to continue browsing.

To remove or edit a file from the list, open the menu for the item. Select Delete if you no longer want to copy the file to your course. Select Edit to change the file's name or description.

Select Save to add the content to your course. The files are hidden to students by default so you can continue building course content.

How Content Collection files behave

When you add a file from the Content Collection to your Ultra course, the file in your course maintains a link to the original location. Keep these characteristics in mind when adding Content Collection files to your course:

• File permissions in the Content Collection don't impact whether a student can view a file in your course. You control visibility settings for these files the same way as all other content in your course.
• If a file you added to your course is updated or overwritten in the Content Collection, the file in your course reflects that change as well.
• If a file you added to your course is deleted in the Content Collection, the file is no longer accessible in your course. The file still appears in the Course Content page, but an error appears when a user opens it. You can access the 360° View before you delete Content Collection files to understand the impact.
• When you delete a course file that you added from the Content Collection, the file remains in the Content Collection. The only file removed is the one within your course.