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Discussion: Can the itech tools be used within Blackboard?Reported This is a featured thread

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jriswold
jriswold
Can the itech tools be used within Blackboard?
Feb 29 2008, 1:23 PM EST | Post edited: Feb 29 2008, 1:23 PM EST
Can we embed stuff with these tools into our Blackboard lessons, or do we have to make them external links? I would love to create soundtracks or theme songs for each lesson and maybe have a video introduction to a topic. Do you find this valuable?    
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brocansky
brocansky
1. RE: Can the itech tools be used within Blackboard?
Feb 29 2008, 5:41 PM EST | Post edited: Feb 29 2008, 5:41 PM EST
It depends on the tool. yes, you can integrate audio into Blackboard. The easiest way is to create an mp3 file and import it using the "add audio" button in the html toolbar in Blackboard. Video is a little trickier to embed but, yes, you can do it. The challenges are keeping your file sizes manageable.

I encourage you to keep your eyes on future offerings of Audio Development and sign up. You'll learn how to create a podcast which is stored on Sierra College's new iTunes U site. Podcasts can include audio AND video files!

Michelle 1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
jriswold
jriswold
2. RE: Can the itech tools be used within Blackboard?
Feb 29 2008, 7:15 PM EST | Post edited: Feb 29 2008, 7:15 PM EST
That sounds good. I was playing around this morning and was able to link from Blackboard to a video on youtube. The challange is finding quality stuff on youtube that I can use. Do you find this valuable?    

ritub.pant8
3. RE: Can the itech tools be used within Blackboard?
Dec 18 2008, 12:52 AM EST | Post edited: Dec 18 2008, 12:52 AM EST
<a href="http://www.google.com">website</a> Do you find this valuable?    
brocansky
brocansky
4. RE: Can the itech tools be used within Blackboard?
Dec 18 2008, 10:48 AM EST | Post edited: Dec 18 2008, 10:48 AM EST
"Can we embed stuff with these tools into our Blackboard lessons, or do we have to make them external links? I would love to create soundtracks or theme songs for each lesson and maybe have a video introduction to a topic."
Hi Janet,

Many of the tools can be embedded but it really depends which ones you are referring to.

The best way to answer your question is to consider what you want to achieve. If your goal is to record a soundtrack and embed it in Blackboard - easy! You can record an audio file using Audacity, export it into a condensed audio format called an mp3 and upload this into Blackboard. It will "stream" on a page right there in Blackboard. I do this every week for my online students. It greatly increases my "presence" in their learning experience and engages more learning styles which are both critical to online success. However - remember, when you present audio files in an online class, we are required by law to make them accessible to all students regardless of disability. For this reason, it's advisable that you begin with a script and then post the script in text *and* in audio. This process is easy and you can learn how to do it in the iTech Lab workshop titled "Creating an Audio Podcast" this spring semester.

If you want to create a video, I encourage you to check out Animoto. It's simply the EASIEST way to create catchy videos that can be uploaded into Blackboard or you could link out to them after you've uploaded them onto YouTube. The choice is yours. We will be including an Animoto workshop on each of the Friday Frenzy dates this spring at 12:00: Feb 6th, March 6th and April 3rd.

For workshop details, please see the iTech Lab Workshop page and remember to sign up through LearnerWeb.

Michelle Do you find this valuable?    
jriswold
jriswold
5. RE: Can the itech tools be used within Blackboard?
Dec 18 2008, 11:37 AM EST | Post edited: Dec 18 2008, 11:37 AM EST
Thanks for the information! Since I originally asked the question, I have attended a couple of your workshops and have a better feel for what tools I would like to use and how. I am most excited about using "Ning" instead of the stodgy discussion board on Blackboard. I also hope to get down to the lab and record my lectures so students can have the option of listening instead or in addition to reading them. Attending your workshops has given me confidence to make my course more friendly and student focused. Thanks! Do you find this valuable?    
brocansky
brocansky
6. RE: Can the itech tools be used within Blackboard?
Dec 18 2008, 12:26 PM EST | Post edited: Dec 18 2008, 12:26 PM EST
"That sounds good. I was playing around this morning and was able to link from Blackboard to a video on youtube. The challange is finding quality stuff on youtube that I can use. "
You can also embed videos from YouTube into Blackboard pretty easily. Look for the "embed" code on the video's page in YouTube. Copy that code to your computer's cllpboard. Then, in Blackboard, add a new item and toggle to the html view of the text box. To do this you must click on the carrot icon that looks like this <>. Once you're in the html view, paste the embed code in and then click submit at the bottom. The video will appear on the page in Blackboard.

There is a flex workshop offered on "Teaching with YouTube" in the iTech Lab by Michelle Macfarlane. It is currently full and I'm not sure how long the wait list is.

hope that helps,
Michelle Do you find this valuable?