Blackboard: Uploading and embedding audio files into your Blackboard course

Introduction

This guide shows you how to upload and embed MP3 audio files  in your course, so that the content can be accessed by students in any Internet browser, and on any device.

To ensure that your files play correctly you will need to ensure that they are in the MP3 file format.

If your files are in a different format e.g. WMA then you should be able to convert them to MP3 using popular media players such as iTunes and VLC Player (accessible via https://appsanywhere.reading.ac.uk).

See our guide on audio and video file formats for more information.

Upload your files

In your Blackboard courses, go into the content area where you want your files to reside. There are two options you can use to make your audio file available.

1. Create Item and embed the audio

Helpful tip!
The main advantage of this method is that it allows you to add accompanying text before or after the audio file

Item with embedded MP3 file

Click on Build Content > Item.

Build Content Menu, Create Item selected.

On the Create Item page, enter a title.

If you only see one row of the editing toolbar, click here to expand it to three rows.

Scanned image of the top row of the tool bar with the Expand Toolbar icon highlighted.

Click on the Insert Media icon.

Screen shot of Toolbar with upload button circled

A new, smaller window opens.

From the Add Content list, select a tool to locate your file.

screen shot of Upload options window

Then Browse to locate your file.  Select your file in your tool of choice.

Helpful tip!
If you simply Browse for the file, Blackboard should recognise the filetype of the file you are uploading, and change the Type field accordingly.

 

The audio file will display as shown in the editing screen.

Screen shot of audio file, which has been uploaded to the Content Editor. It has a play button and volume controls

There is no need to use the preview option the audio will appear as it will on the page.  You can play the audio file here to check it is the correct file.

If you wish to change the size of the audio player, right click on the player and select Media.  The Insert/Edit Media pop-up window will appear.  Change the player size here:

screen shot of video/audio edit page

Press Save when done.

You can of course add text before or after the audio file, and attach a transcript of the audio.

Press Submit when all your editing is complete to return to the content area and view your new item.

2. Create Audio

Click on Build Content > Audio.

Build Content - Audio

Provide a title, then Browse to locate the audio file.

Choose the options you want. Notice that you can attach a transcript of the audio file.

audio file options

When done, press Submit.

The file displays to students as shown below.

Audio file

 

 


Page last updated on November 5, 2020 by taralehane