Step-By-Step
Creating a Folder
(Text version)

1. By default, Blackboard contains 4 content areas called Course Information, Course Documents, Assignments and External Links. Content material posted to these 4 areas is accessed by clicking on any of the navigation buttons of the same name on the left side of the Blackboard course site. Instructors or TAs can rename these content areas (and thus the button names) as well as adding new content areas (and buttons) via the Control Panel / Manage Course Menu function.

2. The content areas can be further subdivided into folders. A folder is a placeholder for content. It does not itself contain content but rater provides a means of organizing course materials into logical units. To create a Folder as a sub-division of a content area:

• Log in to the Blackboard site as usual:
• Go to Control Panel. Under the heading "Content Areas" in the control panel, click on the content area you would like to add a folder. This will display the Root Level of the content area. Any content or folders that have been previously added to the area will be listed.
• Click on the "Add Folder" button at the top of the page.This will display the Add Folder form.
• You can use the dropdown box to select a folder name or you can type in a name for the folder in the box marked "or specify your own name".
• You can add a description of the folder in the box marked "Text".
  
• Under the sections marked "Options", decide if you want the folder to be visible to students. Leaving the default "Yes" radio button will make the folder visible to students. Selecting the "No" radio button will hide the folder (an any content you add to the folder) from students. You will always be able to see a hidden folder in the control panel.
• Under the section marked "Options", you can choose a certain date and time for the folder to become visible to students and/or a date and time to make the folder hidden from students. To make the folder visible to students at some time in the future, checkmark the "Display After" checkbox and use the dropdown boxes to select a date and time for the folder to become visible to students. If you want the folder to become hidden at some time in the future, checkmark the "Display Until" checkbox and use the dropdown boxes to select a date and time for the folder to become hidden from students. You will always be able to see a hidden folder in the control panel.
  
• Click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. A receipt will be displayed telling you that the folder has been up updated. Click on the "OK" button to return to the Root level of the content area. The folder should now be displayed.
• You can add as many folders as you like to the Root level of a content area.

3. Folders themselves can be further sub-divided by adding folders to the folder. To add a folder to a folder:

• Go to Control Panel. Under the heading "Content Areas" in the control panel, click on the content area that holds the folder you would like to add additional folder to. This will display the Root level of the content area. Note that at the top of the page is the name of the content area. Click on the folder name you want to add a new folder to. This will display the contents of the folder. Any content previously added to the folder will be listed. Note that the name of the folder is now listed at the top of the page.
• Click on the "Add Folder" button at the top of the page.This will display the Add Folder form.
• You can use the dropdown box to select a folder name or you can type in a name for the folder in the box marked "or specify your own name".
• You can add a description of the folder in the box marked "Text".
  
• Under the sections marked "Options", decide if you want the folder to be visible to students. Leaving the default "Yes" radio button will make the folder visible to students. Selecting the "No" radio button will hide the folder (an any content you add to the folder) from students. You will always be able to see a hidden folder in the control panel.
• Under the section marked "Options", you can choose a certain date and time for the folder to become visible to students and/or a date and time to make the folder hidden from students. To make the folder visible to students at some time in the future, checkmark the "Display After" checkbox and use the dropdown boxes to select a date and time for the folder to become visible to students. If you want the folder to become hidden at some time in the future, checkmark the "Display Until" checkbox and use the dropdown boxes to select a date and time for the folder to become hidden from students. You will always be able to see a hidden folder in the control panel.
• Click on the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. A receipt will be displayed telling you that the folder has been up updated. Click on the "OK" button to return to the original folder level. The new folder should now be displayed.
• You can add as many folders as you like to existing folders.

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