Microsoft Word's Not a Native Web Format

While Microsoft Word is ubiquitous, it’s still not a native web format. In other words, it’s not a file format that is opened by a web browser without a plug-in or without having the application on the recipient’s computer. Further, Microsoft Word 2007 files are often misinterpreted by Blackboard (and other applications) as zip (or compressed) files. The moral of the story is when possible use “native” web formats in Learning Modules and elsewhere in Blackboard rather than using Microsoft Word files (.doc or .docx). The best options are to use .html files (web pages) and PDF (portable document format) files. For images use files saved in either the .gif (line art) or .jpeg/.jpg (photographic image) format.

You can convert Microsoft Word files to .html in several ways. The best options are to cut and paste into Blackboard’s HTML Creator tool or to use a product like SoftChalk.

Preparing for Change

If you’re concerned about the possibility of a change in your LMS (from one version to the next or from one vendor to another), here's what I would suggest. As you create or modify your course materials, use SoftChalk (content pages, inline quizzes, pop-up glossary/definitions, sidebars, crossword puzzles and more), Respondus (assessments), or StudyMate (educational games). Each of these applications enable you to easily import content into any of the more common LMS products.

As an example, SoftChalk is an easy to use web page authoring system (operates very much like Microsoft Word). It enables you to "package" content (e.g. multiple web/html pages) which can then be imported into Blackboard CE or Angel or Desire2Learn. Once imported, you can unzip the packages file and organize the pages to offer course content. SoftChalk enables you to add features to a web page that you normally could not include without programming skills. SoftChalk requires no programming skills.

There's online training available for SoftChalk (http://www.softchalk.com/lb_demo.html) and JCCC has a site license which enables our faculty to install the software on any home or office computer as long as you're employed by the college (available at https://acsdb.jccc.net/softwaretracker/ with your JCCC log-in, the same site that gives JCCC faculty access to Respondus and StudyMate). Further, your ETC Designer (JCCC faculty members only) can assist you as needed.

So, if you’re concerned about LMS changes in the future, move your content to SoftChalk, Respondus and StudyMate. You’ll be able to easily improve the design of your course materials and prepare for any eventuality.

Editing a Chat Log

Once you enable the Chat tool and chat logging, you may want to make the log available to students. You can simply enable it but a typical Chat room log may be confusing to read. By editing the log and posting it (for instance under a Discussion topic), you gain the ability to:

• Clear the log after each session and preserve only particular sessions.
• Edit the log as necessary and remove personal information added by students that should not have been shared online or delete student flaming (angry exchanges) or delete other inappropriate entries or language.
• Trim the log of multiple entry and exits notations, and so on.

Here’s a way to edit and post the edited log.

Using FireFox:

1. On the Teach tab, select the Chat tool.
2. Click the ActionLink next to the desired room and select "View log."
3. Right-click anywhere on the log itself.
4. Choose "This Frame" and then choose "open in new window" or "open in new tab."
5. Use the File -->Save Page As... command, choose a location to save to, and indicate a filename.
6. From the “Save as type” drop-down list select "Web Page, HTML Only."
7. You now have an editable text/html document that can be edited and then posted.

Using Internet Explorer:

1. On the Teach tab, select the Chat tool.
2. Click the ActionLink next to the desired room and select "View log."
3. Right-click anywhere on the log itself.
4. Choose “Select All” and then Edit --> Copy from the Browser menu bar (or Ctrl+C).
5. Open Notepad, select the Edit --> Paste command (Ctrl+P) to add the text to the new Notepad document.
6. Save the document using a filename you select (e.g. chatlog2-13-2007.txt).
7. You now have an editable text/html document that can be edited and then posted.

With the new document open you can use Notepad or an HTML editor to clean it up. When done, you can:

• Upload the file to the course and attach it to a Discussions posting or a Mail message.
• Upload the file and link to it from within the course, e.g. learning module, folder, or home page.

For details on how to turn on Chat room logging, check out yesterday’s tip at http://ce-annotations.blogspot.com/search/label/chat%20log.