Creating and managing announcements in Blackboard

Quick guide for Instructors

The Announcements tool allows you to create and post important notices for a unit.

Create an announcement
Edit an announcement
Preview an announcement
Delete an announcement

Create an announcement

1. Click on the Teach tab.

2. Click on Announcements in the Course Tools menu.

3. Click on the Create Announcement button.

4. Type in a Title.

5. Type in a Message.

6. Select the Recipients by clicking on the box next to the appropriate user type (e.g. Student).

7. Select the Date and Time the announcement should start to be displayed. Note: It is a good idea to set this time for a few minutes ahead so you have opportunity to check the announcement and make changes before it is released.

8. To set the announcement to appear for an unlimited time, click on the circle next to this option.

9. To set an end date, click on the circle next to this option and select the Date and Time the announcement should stop being displayed.

10. To set the announcement to pop-up when members enter the unit, click on the box next to Also deliver as pop-up message.

11. Click Send. The announcement will be sent automatically when the start date and time are reached.

12. A status of sent or ready will appear under the announcement title in the main window of the announcements tool.

Note: You and your students will see the announcement pop-up the first time you/they enter the unit site after it has been posted, provided you (and your students) have pop-up windows enabled. Otherwise, you/they will only be able to see the announcement by clicking on the Announcements tool in the Course Tools menu. To enable pop-ups, see the Enable pop-up windows guide for PC users or Mac users. You might like to recommend to your students that they enable pop-up windows on their computers so they can see your announcements.

It is not possible to post an announcement to selected groups in a unit. If an announcement is only relevant to some students, you will need to make this clear in the announcement's heading.

Edit an announcement

Note: Only announcements that have not yet been sent can be edited.

1. Click on the Teach tab.

2. Click on Announcements in the Course Tools menu.

3. Click on the ActionLinks icon next to the announcement title and select Edit .

Preview an announcement

1. Click on the Teach tab.

2. Click on Announcements in the Course Tools menu.

3. Click on the ActionLinks icon next to the announcement title and select Preview .

Delete an announcement

1. Click on the Teach tab.

2. Click on Announcements in the Course Tools menu.

3. Click on the ActionLinks icon next to the announcement title and select Delete .

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