Third-Party Content Tools

Now that Flip (formerly Flipgrid) was officially discontinued by Microsoft on July 1, 2024, faculty can choose to use either Panopto or Padlet as a Flip alternative.

Padlet resources:

• For instructors, this article explains how to set up a Padlet.
• For students, this article explains how to post a video to Padlet.

Panopto resources:

For instructors, this article explains how to set up a video assignment.
For instructors, this article explains how to set up a video discussion.
For students, this article explains how to participate in a video assignment.
For students, this article explains how to participate in a video discussion.

Please contact your eLearning Liaisons should you need assistance using Padlet or Panopto as alternatives to Flip.
 

You have the option to embed a Google Doc or include a link to it.

Embedding a Google Doc in Blackboard

1.    You can access any of your Google Docs files, either by clicking on it in your Google Drive, or by signing into Google Docs and selecting the file there.

A.    To access the file in your Google Drive, go to https://drive.google.com in a web browser. If you're not signed in to your Google account, sign in, and then click the file to open it.

B.    To open the file from Google Docs, go to https://docs.google.com in a web browser, sign in to your Google account if you aren't logged in, and then click the file to open it. 

2.    In the left-right corner of your Google Document, click on File, then Share, and Publish to Web.
3.    In the new window, click on the Embed tab and click on the Publish button.
4.    Copy the embed code and navigate back to the Blackboard course where you want to embed the Google Doc.
5.    Go to your course's Content tab and click the plus icon (+) to access content options.
6.    From the content list, select Create.
7.    The Create Item layer opens. Click on Document.
8.    Enter a title for the document, by default the document is tilted New Document [date]. Click enter to save the title.
9.    Click on the Add HTML button to access the HTML text editor.
10.    Paste the embed code from the Google document into the HTML text editor.
11.    Move your cursor to the beginning of the embed code and after <iframe enter the following: width=100% height=”1000px”

 
NOTE: This will change the default size of the document's embedded code to a large scale.

12.    Once ready, click Save.
13.    The Google Doc is now embedded in the Document as a full-size document.

NOTE: The Google Doc embedded in your course does not automatically update when changes are made to the Google Doc. If you plan on making changes to the Google Doc after embedding it in your course, it is recommended that the link to the Google Doc be posted in the course, rather than embedding it.

Add a Google Doc as a Link

1.    You can access any of your Google Docs files, either by clicking it in your Google Drive, or by signing in to Google Docs and clicking the file there.

A.    To access the file in your Google Drive, go to https://drive.google.com in a web browser. If you're not signed in to your Google account, sign in, and then click the file to open it.

B.    To open the file from Google Docs, go to https://docs.google.com in a web browser, sign in to your Google account if you aren't logged in, and then click the file to open it.

2.    In the top right corner of your Google file, click on the Share button to access the Share settings.

 3.    Under General Access, click the drop-down menu to change the permissions to Anyone with the link. This permission means that anyone who you send the URL link to (or who gets the link from anyone else) can view the document. 

4.    Select a permission level from the second drop-down menu.

A.    Choose Editor if you want to give full editing access to the people you share with.
B.    Choose Viewer if you just want the people you share with to be able to see, but not modify or delete, the document.
C.    Choose Commenter if you don't want the person or people you share with to make changes to the file, but you want them to be able to view and leave comments. 

NOTE: Click the gear at the upper-right corner to set more advanced settings, including whether you want to allow editors to change permissions and share with others, and/or allow viewers and commenters to download, print, and copy the document.

5.    Click on the copy link button to copy the link to your clipboard and navigate back to the Blackboard course where you want to embed the Google Doc.
6.    Go to your course's Content tab and click the plus icon (+) to access content options.
7.    From the content list, select Create.
8.    The Create Item layer opens. Click on Link to open the New Link layer.
9.    Provide a display name for the link and type or copy/paste the desired URL for the Google Docs. Add a quick description if desired.

NOTE: We recommend opening the link in a new window.

10.    Make the link visible to students and click Save.
 

Setting Up McGraw-Hill Connect

Blackboard allows you to connect third-party applications to help assist you in teaching your course. These applications often include web-based assignments and assessments that assist students in connecting to their coursework for the semester. 

1. Go to your course's Content tab and click the plus icon (+) to access content options.
2. From the content list, select Content Market.

 
3. Scroll down until you locate McGraw Hill Connect.

 
4. Select McGraw Hill Connect and click on the Begin button to start the registering and pairing process.

5. You will be redirected to the McGraw Hill Connect Registration page. Create an Account or sign in to an existing account to proceed with the registering and pairing process.

 
6. Once you have completed all the necessary steps for setting up your course product, the link for the product will appear in your course's Content tab.

NOTE: If you need further, in-depth information or training regarding setting up and configuring your McGraw Hill course product, please contact your McGraw-Hill sales representative.

Setting Up a Pearson Product

1. Go to your course's Content tab and click the plus icon (+) to access content options.
2. From the content list, select Content Market.

 
3. Scroll down until you locate Pearson LTI 1.3.

 
4. Select Pearson LTI 1.3 and click on the Open Pearson button to start the registering and pairing process.
5. You will be redirected to the Pearson LTI 1.3 Registration page. Create an Account or link to an existing account to proceed with the registering and pairing process.

 
6. Once you have completed all the necessary steps for setting up your course product, the link for the product will appear in your course's Content tab.

NOTE: If you need further, in-depth information or training regarding setting up and configuring your Pearson course product, please contact your Pearson sales representative.
 

To take advantage of the automatic enrollment, the class notebook must be set up using the built-in Notebook option in the Content Market section of your Blackboard Ultra course. Class Notebook spaces that have been set up outside of Blackboard will require students to be added manually by the instructor.

1. Navigate to your course Content page, click the Add content icon and select Content Market.

 
2. Select OneNote Class Notebook (Ultra) by clicking its Add content icon.

 
3. A OneNote Class Notebook content item should now be visible on the course Content page. Click the 3-dot menu on the right side of the item and select Edit.

 
4. Change the name of the Notebook to something appropriate. Check the box to Create gradebook entry for this item if desired and set the grading options.

5. Click Save when finished.

6. Select the OneNote Class Notebook link that you just created and click the Sign into OneNote button with your university email address and password. You will be prompted to use DUO to access your account.

 
7. Enter a name for your class and click Next. This will be the name of your class notebook.

 
8. Here is what will be included with your Notebook. Click the Next button.

 
9. If you are co-teaching the course with another instructor, type or paste that instructor’s name (separate multiple instructor names using a semicolon) to add them to the class notebook. Click the Next button.

 
10. Select the “Automatically add students from your LMS as they access this notebook” checkbox and click the Next button.

 
11. Choose and/or add the sections that will be added to each student’s private notebook and click the Next button.

12. Confirm the setup of your Teacher’s notebook and Student’s notebook using the visual preview. Use the Back button to make any changes and then click the Create button.

 
13. To view your class notebook, click the link that you created on your course content page and select Open your Class Notebook.
 

Grammarly's browser extension compatibility varies between browsers and operating systems. This article focuses on using Blackboard Ultra course view with the Chrome browser and Grammarly. 

The Grammarly browser extension in Chrome is supported for Blackboard Ultra Course view. 

1.    Download and install the Grammarly Chrome Browser Extension from the Grammarly website. Please visit Grammarly's support site for additional help if needed.
2.    Once installed, verify that the Grammarly browser extension is turned on in Chrome by clicking the extension icon (puzzle piece), then Manage Extensions.

 
 
3.    Find Grammarly, then click the toggle to change it from gray to blue. If it is already blue, then it is turned on.

 
 
4.    Reload your Blackboard page and begin typing in a textbox to utilize the Grammarly extension.
 

Additional articles related to Zoom can be accessed in the Zoom category within the knowledge base articles available in the service portal.

You can schedule your Zoom office hours in your Blackboard Ultra course in the Details & Actions menu by selecting the “Books & Tools” page.

1. Navigate to your Blackboard Ultra course.
2. In the details & Actions menu select “Books & Tools”.

 
3. In the “Books & Course Tools” layer that opens select “Zoom Meeting”.

 
4. The Zoom Meeting tool will open. This is where you can “Schedule” your course meetings.

 
Once you have scheduled a meeting your students will be able to select the “Books & Tools” page in the Details & Actions menu to access the “Zoom Meeting” tool where they will see your list of meetings for access.
 

Note: you can also add a direct link to your Zoom office hours in the content area. Click the purple plus sign, select Content Market, and then find Zoom at the bottom of the page. Click the plus sign in the Zoom Meeting (LTI 1.3) box to add a direct link. You can also edit the direct link to rename it to match the Zoom meeting name, Monday Office Hours, for example.