Step-By-Step
Adding Navigation Buttons
(Text version)

1. Instructors and TAs can configure their Blackboard course site menu by adding additional navigation buttons to the left side of the Blackboard display.

2. There are 4 different types of buttons available in Blackboard: Content Areas, Tool Areas, Course Links and External Links.

3. To add a new Content area button:

• Log into the Blackboard course site as usual.
• Go to Control Panel / Manage Course Menu. This displays the Manage Course Menu page.
• Click on the "Add Content Area" button at the top of the page. This displays the Add New Area form.
• Type a name for the button in the box marked "Area Name" or select a preset name from the dropdown box .
• Check the "Allow Guests" box if you want the content behind this button to be accessible to guests.
• Make sure the "Make available for Student/Participant users" box is checked so the button will be visible.
• Click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. A receipt will be displayed telling you that the new button has been added
• Content buttons are generally used as a navigation to different types of uploaded content. For instance, the Course Documents button is a content button. You can add items, folders, external links, course links, tests, surveys, learning units and assignments to a content area.

4. To add a new Tool Area button:

• Go to Control Panel / Manage Course Menu. This displays the Manage Course Menu page.
• Click on the "Add Tool Area" button at the top of the page. This displays the Add New Area form.
• Use the "Area Type" dropdown box to choose a particular type of tool area. Different tool areas provide different tools for student use. Accept the default name under "Area Name" or type in a different name.
• Make sure the "Make available for Student/Participant users" box is checked so the button will be visible.
• Click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. A receipt will be displayed telling you that the new button has been added
• Tool Area buttons are generally used as a navigation button to different types of interactive tools. Your tool area can be for announcements, calendar, collaboration (chat rooms), discussion boards, dropbox, e-mail, groups, roster, staff information, student home pages and grades.

5. To add a new Course Links button:

• Go to Control Panel / Manage Course Menu. This displays the Manage Course Menu page.
• Click on the "Add Course Link " button at the top of the page. This displays the Add New Area form.
• Type a name for the button in the box marked "Area Name" .
• Click on the "Browse" button. This displays a Course Map in a separate window. Select the radio button next to the course content you want the button to link to. Click on "Submit" in the Course Map box. The Course Map box will disappear and the path to the course content will be displayed in the box next to the "Browse" button.
• Check the "Allow Guests" box if you want the content behind this button to be accessible to guests.
• Make sure the "Make available for Student/Participant users" box is checked so the button will be visible.
• Click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. A receipt will be displayed telling you that the new button has been added
• Course Link buttons buttons are generally used as a navigation to different areas of the course site. It is a short-cut of sorts to content.

6. To add a new External Links button:

• Go to Control Panel / Manage Course Menu. This displays the Manage Course Menu page.
• Click on the "Add External Link " button at the top of the page. This displays the Add New Area form.
• Type a name for the button in the box marked "Area Name" .
• Fill in the box marked "Target" with a valid URL address.
• If you want the web page to open in a new window, checkmark the "Launch in a new window" checkbox. If the box is not checkmarked, the web page will open inside of the Blackboard content area.
• Check the "Allow Guests" box if you want the content behind this button to be accessible to guests.
• Make sure the "Make available for Student/Participant users" box is checked so the button will be visible.
• Click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. A receipt will be displayed telling you that the new button has been added
• External Link buttons buttons are generally used as a navigation to different web sites. It is in essence, a hot link.

If you have any questions or comments regarding this Step-By-Step procedure contact the Tufts Blackboard Administrator at: nhirsig@tufts.edu