Create Web Links

Create Web Links in a Blackboard Course

The Web Link tool in Blackboard makes it easy to share online resources with your students in your face-to-face, hybrid, and online courses.

1. Log into Blackboard

Log into Blackboard Learn through learn.kent.edu or through Flashline.
 

2. Enter your course

Click on the name of your course to access it.
 

3. Navigate to a content area or folder

Navigate to the content area or folder in which you want to post the web link.
 

4. Create web link

In the Action Bar across the top of the page, select Build Content.  Then click Web Link from the drop-down menu.

 

Note: If the Action Bar does not appear at the top of the page, make sure that Edit Mode is turned ON (toggle button in the upper right corner).

 

5. Name the link

In the Web Link Information section, type a name for the file.  This is the name that will be displayed to your students (rather than the URL).
 

6. Enter the URL

Type in or copy/paste the web link into the URL field.

 

7. Enter a description

In the Description section, type a description for the web link in the content editor box.  This is a good way to preview and contextualize the content to which you are linking.

8. Attach files (optional)

In the Attachments section, use the Browse My Computer button to attach files (optional).  A dialog box will pop up.  Locate and select the file(s) to attach.

 

9. Set web link options

In the Web Link Options section, make sure the Open in New Window option is set to Yes.  This will give students a better user experience and eliminate most technical issues.

 

10. Select options

In the Standard Options section, set your file options as desired.

 

Permit Users to View this Content: This is your show/hide option.  If you select Yes, the file will be available for students to view and download; if you select No, the file will be hidden from students.  Note: If you enable the Date/Time Restrictions, make sure to set this option to Yes, or else it will override the date/time settings (and the file will not become available).

Track Number of Views: Set this option to Yes to turn on Statistics Tracking for this file.  When enabled, you can run a report to see which students clicked on the link to the file.

Select Date and Time Restrictions: You can make a file available to students for a given date/time range.  The Display After date/time is when the file will appear and the Display Until date/time is when the file will disappear.  To make the file permanently available, leave these boxes unselected.
 

11. Submit

When you are finished setting the options, click the Submit button.

Students can now click on the web link name to view the online resource.

 

Edit, Copy, Move, or Delete a File

To edit, copy, move, or delete a file, click the Action Link (drop-down arrow) next to the file name and select the desired option from the drop-down menu.

Updated June 2019 by Katie Baer, M.Ed., Instructional Designer