Navigation Buttons
Blackboard courses for semester classes are automatically created with a limited course menu. Various options for building your course menu are found here: https://blackboard.ku.edu/blank. If you copy a course, the left menu buttons will be copied as well.
Navigation buttons can be created, renamed, reordered or removed to aid student navigation within a Blackboard course. The buttons you add to the Course Menu appear on the left side of a course website. This frame holds buttons or text links to areas within a course and is visible on each page within the course. Instructors can customize the Course Menu to set the content and tools that are visable to students.
For more information about Navigation Buttons, select from the following:
Frequently Used Left Navigation Menu Items
All new Blackboard courses are created with limited menu buttons. The chart below lists some of the most frequently used buttons and how they can be used. The left navigational menu is completely customizable should you want to rename, add or delete any links.
| Announcements | Tool Link | + → Tool Link → Announcements This area is the landing page for most courses and contains communications from the instructor. |
| Instructor Information | Tool Link | + → Tool Link → Contacts This area includes contact information for the instructor (phone number, office hours, office location, etc.). |
| Syllabus | Content Area | + → Content Area An area specifically to post the syllabus for the course. |
| Assignments | Content Area | + → Content Area This area contains activities and content for the course. |
| Course Documents | Content Area | + → Content Area This area may contain materials for the course. |
| Discussion Board | Tool Link | + → Tool Link → Discussion Board This is a short cut to the discussion board area. |
| My Grades | Tool Link | + → Tool Link → My Grades This is a short cut for students to view their grades. |
| Send Email | Tool Link | + → Tool Link → Email This allows students to email instructors and students in the course. |
| Instructors: BbHelp | Web Link | + → Web Link → http://blackboard.ku.edu/instructors-bb-help This directs the instructor to a website designed to help set up a course in Blackboard. |
| Students: BbHelp | Web Link | + → Web Link → http://blackboard.ku.edu/students-bb-help This directs students to a website designed to help students become familiar with Blackboard. |
| Support | Web Link | + → Web Link → http://teaching.technology.ku.edu/support-1 This directs users to a page listing KU faculty support groups with contact information. |
| Student Tools | Tool Link | + → Tool Link → Tools Area This brings students to a page listing course tools they can access in Blackboard. |
| Research Help | Web Link | + → Web Link → http://lib.ku.edu/ This directs students to KU library materials and resources. |
Create a New Navigation Button
- Make sure Edit Mode is ON
- Click the plus (+) symbol above the left navigation buttons
- Select Content Area or Tool Link
- Type the name of the button. If this is a Tool Link, select the Type from the pulldown menu.
- Click the box: Available to Users
- Click Submit
Rename a Navigation Button
- Make sure Edit Mode is ON
- Click the arrow on the right edge of the button
- Select Rename Link
- Modify the name
- Click the green check mark icon on the right
Reorder Navigation Buttons
- Make sure Edit Mode is ON
- Move the mouse pointer to the arrows icon at the left of a button
- Press and hold the left mouse button to drag the button to desired location
- Release the mouse button when finished
Remove a Navigation Button
- Make sure Edit Mode is ON
- Click the arrow on the right edge of button
- Select Delete. You will see a caution message.
- Click OK
Source: Blackboard Help »
