Digital Drop Box

The Digital Drop Box is a tool that allows Instructors and Students to exchange files. The Drop Box works by uploading a file from a disk or a computer to the Blackboard server.

Note: The Digital Drop Box is used to exchange materials between individual Students and the Instructor. Information that needs to be posted for all Students should be placed in the Course Documents area.

Digital dropbox does not correspond with the gradebook. If the instructor told the student to drop an assignment through digital dropbox, he/she should create an item in Gradebook. Then, he/she would need to open every single file in the dropbox and enter the grade manually into the Gradebook Spreadsheet. Alternatively, the instructors can take an advantage of the Add Assignment tool in the Content Area (instead of using Digital Dropbox) to allow students to upload assignments which will be placed into the Gradebook spreadsheet.

From the Control Panel

Click on Digital Drop Box in the Course Tools section.

To Add a File

Click on Add File.
Click on Browse then select a file you want to upload.
Fill in Title and Comments.

To Send a File

Click on Send File.
Select users in To: field.
Select a file in Select file or upload new file.
Fill in Title and Comments.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Submit button.

More Information

Q: Why should I even use the Digital Drop Box if there is a file exchange feature in the Content Area (Add Assignment)?

A: Although the Add Assignment tool is great for graded assignments, it will not allow for multiple assignments or assignments that do not require a grade. If you require your students to share files with you for review (not graded), then you may want to use the Digital Drop Box for that.

Q: Students have told me that they have submitted their file in the Digital Drop Box on time, but I cannot see it in my Digital Drop Box.

A: It is a common mistake for students to click on the Add File button instead of the Send File button. Although there is a warning message that the file will not be sent to the instructor, students can make this mistake.

Q: A student sent me a file I have read, but now when I look at it (same name) the file is different, why?

A: When a user uploads a file into the Digital Drop Box named "homework.doc" and then three days later updates it and uploads the file again "homework.doc", the file "homework.doc" will be saved over, removing the original file. You can see the new date and time stamp on the file, but you have lost the original. It would be a good idea to tell your students to name each version differently (ex: homework1_10.doc, homework1_13.doc).

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