Blackboard Course Sites
Course web sites contain the specific course content and tools for a given course. Each course on the Blackboard server has a common layout that consists of the following:

• navigation path
• button bar
• content frame

The navigation path allows students and instructors to return to any page accessed between the main course page and the current page.  The button bar links students to the available content areas and tools.  The content frame displays web pages accessed through the buttons or navigation path.

Components of a Course Site
The table below includes information on the components of a course site.  Please note that the area buttons in a specific course may look different (i.e., color and shape) than those found below.  Additionally, not all area buttons will appear in every course.

Area	Description
Announcements	Instructors will post important course information and announcements in this area. The view tabs available at the top of the announcements area allow students to view today's, past week, or older announcements.  Students cannot post announcements, only faculty are able to do so.
Course Information	The course information area should include descriptive materials about the course. Materials usually posted here include: syllabus and course objectives.  Material in this area can be date/time restricted.  Instructors can choose to have the material released for a given amount time (hours or days).
Faculty Information	The faculty information area should provide background and contact information on the course instructor.  It is recommended that students print this information in the event that the course web site is not available.  The printed copy will allow the students to contact the instructor offline (e.g. email or phone).
Course Content	This area should contain the bulk of the course material.  Materials usually include lecture notes, handouts, lesson aids, course exercises, and assignments.  Material in this area can be date/time restricted.  Instructors can choose to have the material released for a given amount time (hours or days).
Communication	All course participants (instructor and students) communicate through the Communication area.  The Communication area allows course participants to: Send and receive Email Read and post messages to the Discussion Board Enter Virtual Classroom View student Roster View Group pages
External Link	Faculty populate the external links area with hyperlinks that will connect students to web sites and external learning materials. This area can be used to guide students on virtual field trips to web sites containing relevant information, research, reports, and data.
Student Tools	This area includes numerous student-focused tools. The tools include: Digital Drop Box, Edit your Homepage, Personal Information, Calendar, Check Grade, Manual, Tasks, Electric Blackboard, Address Book, and Manual.
Resources	Clicking this button accesses the Blackboard Resource Center located on Blackboard Inc.'s web site.  The Resource Center is a customizable web site of educational resources.
Course Map	The course map is the site map for the course web site.  It allows for easier course web site navigation.  The course map connects to an expandable and collapsible collection of course content bookmarks.
Home	This button will take the users (instructors and students) to the Tri-State University homepage.
Help	Clicking the help button will direct instructors and students to the Blackboard support page.
Logout	Clicking this button will instantly log a user (instructor or student) off of the Blackboard server.