eHelpThe Add Link feature allows you to place links to outside websites within any content areas of a Blackboard course site. Students click on the link and are taken directly to the linked website. As many students do not yet have experience using the Internet for research purposes, this feature allows you to provide them a list of approved reference sites. Adding URL’s can also be used to provide online “field trips” where you send your students to a particular business or organization to look around or participate in online activities.
Q: Why would I want the URL to open in a new window?
A: There are two main reasons you might want the web site to open in a new window: copyright concerns and ease of navigation. Opening a website within the framework of another is called framing and is frowned upon by copyright scholars. Many sites do not mind being framed. Educational institutions usually have more leeway than commercial organizations, but asking permission first is always a good idea. To be safe, choose to open the site in a new window. Opening a website in a new window also allows users to more easily move back and forth between sites without losing their place. Another consideration is personal preference; some people like having multiple windows open on their desktop while others do not.
Q: What would be the benefit of including links in the content areas instead of listing them all together in one section, like in Version 5.5?
A: The ability to add links anywhere in your course site allows you to create learning modules or simply connect pieces of course material. For example, you could have your students read an article about a certain company or organization, then have students visit the company’s website to gather additional information.
