There are two kinds of course shortcut links defined in this article:

• A course link to Echo360, which is simply a shortcut to an existing established Course Content link to an Echo360 section; these types of links allow for Gradebook integration as they use the Content link which allows for grading.
• A tool link to Echo360 which functions as the MAIN link into an Echo360 section; these types of links do not allow for Gradebook exports from Echo360 but they also do not require an established Course Content link. These also require that your administrator has created a Course Tool placement for the Echo360 tool.

You can use whichever method is appropriate for your institution and teaching processes.

Please Remember: The instructions below are provided as a GUIDE to your Blackboard configuration. See the Blackboard documentation or contact your Blackboard support representative for assistance if necessary.

Adding a Content Link to Course Navigation

Some students may find it more convenient to access linked Echo360 content if the link to it is more obvious. Creating a "link to the link" directly in the Course navigation list may help users engage with the Echo360 course content more readily.

Note that the steps to create the Echo360 link in the Content area must have already been completed. The below steps simply provide a left-navigation shortcut to the same link.

To configure a left-navigation link to Echo360 course content

1. Log into Blackboard and navigate to the course where you want to add the left-navigation link.
2. Click the Plus sign (+) located above the Course navigation list, and select Course Link from the menu.
   
3. From the Add Course Link dialog box, select Browse next to the Location text box.
   

   A popup box appears showing all of the course links available to select, as shown in the below figure.

   
4. Expand the Content folder if necessary, then select the Echo360 link to the main section page (class list) created using the instructions for Adding an Echo360 Tool Link to Blackboard Courses. 
5. Edit the Name of the course link if necessary (this is the text that will appear for the link in the left navigation). The name of the Content link is used by default.
6. Enable the Available to Users checkbox. This makes the link available to students.
   
7. Click Submit.

The link you created now appears in the left navigation for the course, as shown in the figure below. This allows users to navigate directly to Echo360 from the Course home page.

Creating a Course Tool Link to Echo360 in Blackboard

Some institutions do not need to use the Course Content linking method to provide access to Echo360, either because they do not need the Gradebook integration (which requires a Course Content Tool that allows grading) or because they use the Course Content area for other things and do not want their link to Echo360 to reside there.

In this case, the Blackboard/Echo360 Administrator can create a Course Tool placement for the Echo360 LTI tool provider. Instructors can then use this Course Tool to provide a left-navigation link to Echo360 for students.

Note that the Course Tool link to Echo360 will still need to be mapped to the proper Echo360 section, as described in the procedures at the bottom of this page.

To configure a Course Tool to Echo360 in the left-navigation

1. Log into Blackboard and navigate to the course where you want to add the left-navigation link.
2. Click the Plus sign (+) located above the Course navigation list, and select Tool link as identified in the below figure.
   
3. In the Add Tool Link dialog box that appears, enter a Name for the link. Be sure the name you provide clearly identifies this as the link that students are to use to view the Echo360 classes and course recordings.
4. Use the Type drop-down list to select the Echo360 Course Tool created by your Administrator.
   
5. Enable the Available to Users checkbox. This makes the link available to students. Alternately you can leave this checkbox blank for now, then use the Show Link option AFTER you map the link to Echo360.
   
6. Click Submit.

The link is created and established in the left navigation of this course. The next step is to MAP this link to an Echo360 section, providing access to the Echo360 course recordings and other materials. Brief instructions for mapping are below.

Completing the Blackboard Link into Echo360

You (Admin or Instructor) must click the Course Tool link and configure it using the below instructions. BE ADVISED that until the target Echo360 section is selected, students will see a message indicating that the section has not yet been activated.

Below are quick instructions for configuring the link into Echo360.  If you need more detailed instructions, see Linking LMS Courses to Echo360 Sections (Class List) or Linking LMS Courses to Individual Classes/Classrooms. 

Don't see the selection lists shown below? If your institution is configured for Simplified Provisioning, your Echo360 section MAY be created for you on pass-through. See Simplified Course Provisioning Options for Instructors as well as Instructor How To's for Simplified Course Provisioning.

Linking your Blackboard Course to an Echo360 section

1. Click the link to Echo360 you just created.
2. Use the drop-down list(s) to select the Echo360 section you want to link to. You may have only a Section drop-down list to choose from, or you may have Term, Course, and Section lists as shown below.
   
3. Select Link to the Section Home to link students directly to the section class list.
   
4. Click LINK CONTENT to complete the configuration.

Once you link through, you are automatically enrolled as an instructor in the target section. Students, when they pass through the established link, are automatically enrolled into the target section as students. The same goes for Teaching Assistants who are added to the section with that role.