Linking/Embedding Media Content

Last week's blog post presented ideas for using Blackboard's Mashup tool as a means for embedding media content like photos, audio, and video from their original sources within your Blackboard courses.  Not all media available online has an option for being integrated via Blackboard's Mashup tool, but there are still ways to either link to or embed media content within a Blackboard course in order to reduce course size.  Learn more at Blackboard Help's page - Best Practice: Reduce Your Course Size.


LINK TO MEDIA CONTENT
Instructors can link to external content via either the (1) Web Link option or the (2) link icon within the content/text editor box.  

1. The Build Content drop-down menu available in any content area features a Web Link option.  Selecting this option will allow instructors to add a title and URL and - optionally - a description or attachment(s).  By default the link will open in a new tab.  A web link will appear in Blackboard with a globe as the icon, followed by the name you entered.  Clicking on the name (as shown in the image below) will open the web site in a new tab.


Check out Purdue University's video tutorial for a visual overview:


2. The other method to link to an external site is to do so within the content/text editor box.  Anywhere the content editor is available (items, assignments, discussion boards, blogs, journals, etc.), an instructor can highlight text and then click the chain link icon to actively link it (shown in the image below).  You will be given options on the pop-up window when you click the chain link icon.  On the Target drop-down, be sure to select Open in a New Window (_blank) so that the user will remain in Blackboard and the link will open in a new tab.

These two methods for adding web links provide a means for linking to content on another website.  A text link that can be clicked to access other content will be made available.  

Another option is to embed media into your Blackboard course so that the actual media appears within the Blackboard course (rather than having to open a link in a new tab), similar to the way it appears when using the Mashup tool.


EMBED MEDIA CONTENT
To embed media from an external website, you will need to access the embed code from that site, which is usually available by clicking a "Share" or "Embed" link.  Once you copy the embed code, it can be pasted into any content/text editor box within Blackboard by clicking on the HTML icon (highlighted below).  

For a complete list of steps for embedding Web 2.0 content, as well as brief descriptions of various types of Web 2.0 content that can be embedded into a Blackboard course or website, visit Blackboard Help's page - Best Practice: Web 2.0 Tools.


Contact the ICC Teaching and Learning Center to learn more about embedding media content to help reduce course size.  Visit our blog again next week to learn more about Video Everywhere, a means for embedding your own YouTube videos into Blackboard.