Step-By-Step
Configuring Guest Access
(Text version)

1. Instructors and TAs can configure their Blackboard course site to be accessible by guests. Guests do not have user accounts in the Blackboard database and do not have usernames or passwords.

2. There are five different settings in Blackboard that will control guest access:

• Log into the Blackboard course site as usual.
  
• Go to Control Panel / Settings / Course Availability. This displays the Course Availability form. Selecting the "Yes" radio button allows the course site to be accessed by someone other than the instructor or TA. Selecting the "No" radio button causes the course site to be accessible by only the instructor or TA. After selecting the proper radio button click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. A receipt will be displayed telling you that the accessibility function has been updated.
• This setting is usually set to "Yes" by the Blackboard administrator when the instructor requests the course site for a particular semester and is set to "No" by the Blackboard Administrator at the end of the semester when the student accounts are removed.
  
• Go to Control Panel / Settings / Categorize Course. This displays the Categorize Course form.
• In order for guests to access the course site, they must first be able to find it in the Blackboard Catalog. Use the dropdown box to place the course site into the proper semester and departmental category in the Blackboard Catalog. After finding the correct category / subcategory select it and click on the "Add" button. If an incorrect category currently exists you can remove it by clicking on the "Remove" button. When finished click on the "OK" button at the bottom of the page.
• Course sites are usually categorized by the Blackboard Administrator when the instructor requests the course site for a particular semester and removed from the catalog by the Blackboard Administrator at the end of the semester when the student accounts are removed.
  
• Go to Control Panel / Guest Access. This displays the Guest Access page.
• Selecting the "Yes" radio button allows the course site to be accessed by guests based on other settings. Selecting the "No" radio button causes the course site to be accessible by instructors, TAs and other users having an account on the course site. After selecting the proper radio button click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. A receipt will be displayed telling you that the accessibility function has been updated.
  
• Go to Control Panel / Manage Tools / Enable Blackboard Tools. This displays the Enable Blackboard Tools page.
• On the far right is a column of checkboxes labeled "Allow Guest".
• If you want guests to be able to access the Announcements button, checkmark the announcements checkbox under "Allow Guest".
• If you want guests to be able to access any of the Content Area buttons, checkmark the content checkbox under "Allow Guest".
• If you want guests to be able to access any of the Instructor / TA information, checkmark the staff information checkbox under "Allow Guest".
• Finally, click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. A receipt will be displayed telling you that the Tools have been updated.
• Even thought there is a checkbox, the Manual cannot be accessed by guests.
  
• Go to Control Panel / Manage Course Menu. This displays the Manage Course Menu page.
• Guest access can be controlled for each menu item. Click on the "Modify" button to the right of any menu item. This displays the Update form for that button. (For instance, Course Information). Checkmarking the "Allow guest Access" checkbox will allow guests access to the content posted behind that button. If you make and changes, click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. A receipt will be displayed telling you that the menu item has been updated.
• Note that Guests may not access the Communication, Tools or Discussion Board Area buttons.

3. Once this configuration is complete, Guests can access your course site by:

• Open up Microsoft Explorer or Netscape Navigator browser and go to http://blackboard.tufts.edu
• Click on the "Course Catalog" button on the left side of the display. This will display the Blackboard Catalog page.
• Use the links provided to locate the course you want to access.
• If the course site is accessible to guest a "Preview" button will be located to the right of the course name. Click on the "Preview" button. This will display all of the guest accessible content.
• Guests cannot participate in discussions, chat rooms, view grades, participate in groups, send e-mail or access a digital dropbox.
  

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