Linking to an External Web Site from Blackboard

Return to tutorial list

Before you can add links to external web resources you will need to enter your course and click on Control Panel, located in the lower left of the screen.

External links can actually be used by any of the items found in the Content Areas.  That is, you can link to an external site from Course Information, Quizzes and tests, Course Documents, etc.  For this example, we will show you how to create a link to a site using the Course Documents Content Area.

To add an URL click on External Link.

You will need the exact URL address to create the link.  An easy way of doing this is to open a browser...

locate the site of interest and highlight the complete URL (including the http://) and copy.

Then in Blackboard, click on the External Link icon ...

and paste the URL in the appropriate line.  As always, whenever you add a link, file, item or folder, give it a unique name and provide a short description.

Files can be attached to the above information. Click Browse to select the file to attach and specify a name for the link to this file. This is the same process used to add an attachment to content.

For the most part, the Options have been discussed with regard to availability of content for students,  However, this time we need to address where the item will be launched.  It is advisable to launch external links in an external window.  If you select "No" for this item the new page will open in Blackboard.  This has the potential of confusing students and making navigation difficult.  A second reason for opening in a new or external window, is that this will differentiate outside content from your content.

Once you have made the appropriate selections, click on Submit.

Click on OK once you see the success message confirmation.

To check your link, click on the link.

Hopefully this link will open.  If not, you can always go back and modify your settings.

One final word:  Because you are not in control of outside content, make sure you double check your links every now and then to assure that the sites you are linking to are still active, and presenting the intended content.

Return to tutorial list