Blogs, Wikis and Journals
Video Tutorials | Written Tutorials
Written Tutorials
Instructors can also have students create blogs and journals to allow for the sharing of thoughts and ideas. These are only viewable within the specific Blackboard course site.
Blogs, wikis and journals are wonderful pedagogical tools for selfâreflection and getting students to interact with one another. Within the context of Blackboard, blogs are a way for students to share their thoughts. They may also comment on one another’s thoughts. You can create a separate blog for each individual or one for the entire course. Wikis are a page, or set of pages, that can be collaboratively edited by the instructor and by the students enrolled in the class. Journals are a little different in that they serve a more selfreflective purpose. The interaction is primarily between the student and the instructor, though you do have the option to make journal entries public to the course if you and the student agree to do so.
Blogs, wikis and journals are not automatically available to students. You must first create a blog or journal. To set up the blog or journaling option, select either Blogs or Journals under the Course Tools menu within the Control Panel. The process is the same for blogs, wikis and journals.
Setting Up a Course Blog, Wiki or Journal
1. In the control panel, under Course Tools, select Blogs, Journals or Wikis.
2. On the following page select the Create Blog button at the top.
Select all the appropriate options for your blog:
Making Blogs, Wikis and Journals Accessible to Students
You can give your students access to their blogs, wikis and journals one of two ways:
1. by placing a link to them in an appropriate content area (e.g., Assignments, Course Documents) or
2. by creating a separate tool link within your Course Menu specifically for blogs/wikis/journals.
Adding Blogs, Wikis and Journals to a Content Area
Select the Add Interactive Tool button and select either “Blog”, "Wiki" or “Journal” from the drop down menu.
On the next page, choose to link to the Blogs page or a specific blog, alternatively you can also create a new blog from this page.
Then click Next.
Adding Blogs, Wikis and Journals to the Course Menu
If you’d rather have a direct link to the Blog on the course menu, roll over the “+” icon over your Course Menu and select Create Tool Link.
1. Name your menu item
2. Select from the drop down what type of tool you want to link to.
3. Check the Available to Users checkbox.
4. Press Submit when you’ve finished.
Video Tutorials
Creating Wikis
Creating a Blog Entry