This information applies only to the Original experience.

Channels

Channels bring in real-time information from outside of the system for display through Channel modules. News headlines, weather reports, sports scores, and similar data are the most common data included in channels. Channels are usually RSS feeds from other websites.

Blackboard Learn provides a means for posting channel information only through portal modules. To arrange for channel content, please contact a channel provider.

The Manage Channels page provides a list of channels that have been added to the system, as well as a description for each. Multiple Channels may be given the same title, so the description may be used to differentiate between them.

Supported formats

Blackboard Learn supports the following formats and versions:

  • RSS 1.0
  • RSS 0.9x
  • Atom 1.0

Manage channels

  1. On the Administrator Panel, under Communities, select Tabs and Modules.
  2. Select Channels. The following table describes the available tasks.
Manage Channel Tasks
To Select
Create a channel Create Channel
Modify a channel Edit for a channel in the list.
Remove a channel Remove for a channel in the list.

Create or edit a channel

  1. On the Administrator Panel, under Communities, select Tabs and Modules.
  2. Select Channels.
  3. To create a channel, select Create Channel. To edit a channel, select Edit in the menu for the channel. The following table describes the available fields.
  4. Select Submit.
Channel Options
Option Description
Edit Channel
Title [r] Provide a title for the channel.
Description Provide a description for the channel.
Image Source Provide the source for an image to place in the module.
Feed Link Provide the web link to the channel.
Data Source [r] Provide the link to the data feed. This value must point to a valid .rss XML feed file.
Update Frequency Select how often the channel is updated.
Last Updated Appears in edit mode only. The date the channel was last updated appears.
Refresh Cache on Submit Appears in edit mode only. Select this check box to refresh the cache immediately after selecting Submit. If this box is not checked, the next refresh will occur at the next scheduled refresh interval.