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Blog Tool in Online@UT
How to Create Blogs and Journals
Blogs for Students should be created by the instructor. The instructor determines writing permissions for the blogs.
- Group blog - blog entries can be viewed by a selected individuals or a group of students. The instructor can further specify the writing permissions for blog group members. The instructor also specifies whether non-members of the blog can view the blog content.
- Private Journal –In a private journal, blog members are unable to view each other's entries, but the instructor can view all entries in the blog.
How can students access their blogs?
The instructor creates blogs in a Content Area (i.e. Course Documents, Assignments, etc.). Students should select that Content Area in the course menu.
Quick Steps: To create a blog in a Content Area
- Select Control Panel.
- Select a Content Area where you want to create a blog.
- Select "Blog" from the drop-down menu in the top right corner, then select "Go" button.
- Type a name for the blog and a short description.
- Select members of the blog. Important: To make the content of the blog visible only to the members of the blog, you will have to create an Adaptive Release rule for the blog based on membership.
- Select other options for the blog.
- Select Gradebook options and text direction. Select "OK".
To make the content of the blog visible only to the members of the blog:
- Select a Content Area where you created a blog.
- Select "Manage" button next to the blog for which you want to set an adaptive release rule based on membership.
- Select Adaptive Release link.
- Under Membership, select a group that should have access to the content of the blog.
- Press "Submit" button.
Step-by-Step:
Step 1: Select Control Panel.
Step 2: Select a Content Area where you want to create a blog.
Step 3: Select “Blog” from the drop-down menu in the top right corner, then select “Go” button.
Step 4: Complete Blog Information.
Name and Description - type a name for the blog and a short description.
Make the blog available - leave Yes selected if you want the blog link to be accessed by students.
Select the blog type: Select Group Blogs if you want all blog members and the instructor to view blog entries. Select Private Journal if you want students to view only their entries. The instructor can view all students' entries.
Enable an RSS feed? This option is disabled by the Blackboard administrators.
Select the value to use to reference users in the blog
Choose how a person who contributes to the blog should be identified in the blog: by user name, person name, person name and users name, or given (first) name.
Text direction for blog content If you are building your blog in a language that is read right-to-left, such as Arabic, you can set the primary text direction. If no option is selected, all text in the blog will be displayed left-to-right by default.
Step 5: Specify Member Settings?
Select students and/or course groups that may create and edit content in the blog. Click on a name and then on the right arrow to place the name in the Selected Members box.
Allow students to permanently delete blog entries - click on the check box if you want to allow blog members to do so.
Allow members to export their blog entries - click on the check box if you want to allow students who are members of the blog to save blog entries as web pages.
Allow members of the blog to View Comments / Write Comments / Delete Comments - check relevant boxes.
Set date and time restrictions for editing the blog Use the date ranges to specify when students are allowed to edit pages. By default there are no date restrictions placed on editing.
Step 6: Specify Non-Member Settings
Allow non-members to view the blog - select the box if you want students who are not blog members to view the blog entries and comments.
Use the date ranges to specify when such students are allowed to view the blog.
Allow non-members of the blog to: View Comments / Write Comments / Delete Comments Select options if you want students who are not members of the blog to write and edit their comments in the blog. These options are disabled if non-members are not allowed to access the blog.
Step 7: Create a Grade Book entry for this blog.
We recommend selecting this option only if you create one blog for the class.