Public access to a course site

Here are some steps to follow if you want your course site available to the public.

1. Set up your course web site.
   
   
   1. Enable public access to the course site - Go to Control Panel > Settings > Guest Access > Allow Access: Yes. This is an overall setting. If it is not enabled, no other settings matter.
      
   2. Enable tools - Go to Control Panel > Manage Tools > Enable Blackboard Tools > check the Allow Guest box for each item. We don't use observers. They are used in K-/2 schools so that parents can observe their children's school work. Some areas, such as Communications does not have the Allow Guest Access box. Access to these areas is limited to members of your course site and this cannot be changed.
      
   3. Enable menu items - Go to Control Panel > Manage Course Menu. Click on the Modify button for each menu item that is available to students. Check the Allow Guest Access box to make that menu item visible to guests.
      
   
   
   
2. Obtain the address to your site.
   
   
   1. Get the "shortcut" - Click on the Logout button. Then click on the All Courses tab. Search for and locate the listing for your course site. There should be a Preview button for it. Right-click on the preview button and select the "Copy Shortcut" item.
      
   2. (Optional) Create a short alias for access to your course site - Go to snipurl.com and create an account, if you don't have one, by going to MYSNIPURL and then NEW USER. Follow the instructions. This is a free account. Remember your username and password so you can retrieve usage statistics later.
      
   3. Provide access - Create links to your site or send out the link.
      
   4. Test access - Using a different computer, and without accessing Blackboard, see whether you can use the link to get to your site as a guest.