Add a Website Link (Linking to Outside Websites)

Manage Links to Outside Websites

Overview

Links to outside websites may be added to Content Areas as External Links in Blackboard course site. Students click on the link and are taken directly to the linked website. As many students do not yet have experience using the Internet for research purposes, this feature allows you to provide them a list of approved reference sites. Adding external links can also be used to provide online “field trips” where you send your students to a particular business or organization to look around or participate in online activities.

Where to Manage Links to Outside Websites?

To add, modify, or delete links to outside websites, you need to go to the Content Area you want to manage the links. To do so,

1. Click on Control Panel link on the left side of the course site.
2. Click on the name of desired Content Area under Course Areas section.

How to Add Links to Outside Websites?

1. Go to the desired Content Area by following above steps.
2. Click on the Add  External Link icon to open the Add External Link page.
3. Complete the page. Note: The URL field is required. When entering a URL, always enter the full Web address including http://. For example, enter http://www.sdsu.edu, not www.sdsu.edu or sdsu.edu.
4. In the Options section, if you want the outside website to open in a new window, select Yes for the Launch Item in external window.
5. Click on the Submit button at the end of this page.

How to Modify or Delete Links to Outside Websites?

1. Go to the desired Content Area by following above steps.
2. Click on the Modify or Remove button next the link name to modify or delete an existing link.

Questions about Links to Outside Websites

1. Why would I want the outside website to open in a new window?

There are two main reasons you might want the web site to open in a new window: copyright concerns and ease of navigation. Opening a website within the framework of another is called framing and is frowned upon by copyright scholars. Many sites do not mind being framed. Educational institutions usually have more leeway than commercial organizations, but asking permission first is always a good idea. To be safe, choose to open the site in a new window. Opening a website in a new window also allows users to more easily move back and forth between sites without losing their place.

2. What would be the benefit of including links in the content areas instead of listing them all together in one section, like in Version 5.5?

The ability to add links anywhere in your course site allows you to create learning modules or simply connect pieces of course material. For example, you could have your students read an article about a certain company or organization, then have students visit the company’s website to gather additional information.