Creating and Managing myLesley Blogs, and Journals (Faculty)

Modified on Wed, 09 Jun 2021 at 11:15 AM

TABLE OF CONTENTS



Blog and Journal Comparison

MyLesley blogs and journals are only viewable to those in the course environment, however each tool is designed a bit differently. You may choose to create a class blog, individual blogs, or journals. The functionality of each tool is the same, the only difference is who can post, view, and comment. The chart below details the privacy options of each tool: 

Blog TypeWho can post?Who can view?
Who can comment?
Class Blogeveryone in the course

everyone in the course

everyone in the course

Individual Blogeveryone can post to their own blog

everyone in the course

everyone in the course

 Journaleveryone can post to their own journalprivate between individual and instructorprivate between individual and instructor



What is a Blog?

Blogs allow students to complete reflective, research or reporting assignments while practicing their communication skills. Unfamiliar with blogs? View this fun and quick video to learn more about blogs: Blogs Explained by CommonCraft. 



Creating a Blog

To create a blog for your course, select Tools from the Course Menu.




This will bring you into the Tools Area of your course. Select Blogs.




This will bring you into the Blogs area. Click Create Blog to create a new blog.



Enter a name for your blog and enter a description.


Select Yes to make your blog available. If you would like your blog viewable after a certain date or within a date range, set the Date and Time Restrictions.



Select whether you wish to create individual blogs (one blog per student) or a course blog (one blog for everyone to use). 

You may also select whether to allow anonymous entries and comments and whether you wish to allow students to edit or delete entries or comments.



Once you have finished, click Submit.


See 
Blogs for more information on the myLesley Blog tool. 




Linking to Your Blog

Once you have created a blog you will need to create a link for students to access the blog. You may create a link directly from the Course Menu or from within a Content Area.


To create a link to the blog directly from the Course Menu, click the Add Menu Item (+) button at the top of the course menu. 


Select Tool Link.


Enter a name for your link. In the Type area, select Blogs. Check the box to make the item available and click Submit.



Your link will be added to the Course Menu. Click the link to navigate to the Blogs area of your course. All of your blogs should be visible. You may also create a new blog from this page by clicking the Create Blog button.




To link to the blog from within a Content Area, navigate to the content area. Click the Tools button at the top of the page and select Blog.




Select whether you wish to link to the Blogs Page or link to a specific blog. Or, to create a new blog, click Create New Blog.



Click Submit.




Viewing Individual Student Blogs

By default, when you navigate to the individual blog you will see only your content. To locate your students' blogs, locate the Blog Details area on the right side of the blog page. Click the chevron under your name to expand the selection.



 

You should see a list of your students' blogs under your name. Click on a student's name to open their blog.





Commenting on Blogs

To comment on a blog entry, click the Comment button below the entry.




Enter your (text) comment and click Add to post your comment.



Creating and Editing a Blog Entry


You may create a blog entry, add an image, save your entry to edit later, and post comments on other blog entries. See Using myLesley Blogs and Journals for instructions or view the Blogs video tutorial tutorial below.



Editing and Managing Blogs

You can edit the basic properties of a blog topic, including the name, instructions, availability, and other custom settings. See Edit and Manage Blogs for more information. 


Grading Blogs

You can grade the quality of blog posts and the number of entries and comments. See Grading Blogs to learn more. 



Creating a Journal

The journals tool offers students the opportunity to reflect on course content and communicate privately with the instructor. You can use the tool to gauge understanding and guide students in their knowledge acquisition. Your comments can help students refine their writing and ideas. 

To create a journal for your course, select Tools from the Course Menu.



This will bring you into the Tools Area of your course. Select Journals.




This will bring you into the Journals area. Click Create Journal to create a new journal.



Enter a name for the journal and enter a description.



Select Yes to make the journal available. If you would like your journal viewable after a certain date or within a date range, set the Date and Time Restrictions.



Select whether to allow students to edit or delete entries or comments and whether to permit course users to view the journal.



Once you have finished, click Submit


View Blackboard Journals or watch the How To Create a Journal tutorial video for more information.




Linking to the Journal

Once you have created a journal you will need to create a link for students to access the journal. You may create a link directly from the Course Menu or from within a Content Area.


To create a link to the blog directly from the Course Menu, click the Add Menu Item (+) button at the top of the course menu.

 


Select Tool Link.



Enter a name for your link. In the Type area, select Journals. Check the box to make the item available and click Submit.



Your link will be added to the Course Menu. Click the link to navigate to the Journals area of your course. All of your journals should be visible. You may also create a new journal from this page by clicking the Create Journal button.



To link to the journal from within a Content Area, navigate to the content area. Click the Tools button at the top of the page and select Journal.



Select whether you wish to link to the Journals Page or link to a specific journal. Or, to create a new journal, click Create New Journal.



Click Submit.


See Create a Journal for more information.


Viewing Students’ Journals

By default, when you navigate to the journal you will see only your content. To locate your students' journals, locate the Journal Details area on the right side of the blog page. Click the chevron under your name to expand the selection.


 

You should see a list of your students' journals under your name. Click on a student's name to open their journal.



Commenting

To comment on a blog entry, click the Comment button below the entry.



Enter your (text) comment and click Add to post your comment.




Editing and Managing Journals

You can edit the basic properties of a journal, including the name, instructions, availability, and other custom settings. See Edit and Manage Journals for more information.



Grading Journals

You can grade the quality of blog posts and the number of entries and comments. See Grading Journals to learn more. 



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