Creating a New Journal
This lesson will demonstrate how to create a new course blog.
Accessing the Journal Link
![Image of the course menu with the Journals optioon outined](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/002/051/791/original/36b7623a-817a-4664-aee9-ff31881a9821.png)
To access the Blog tool, click on the Journals link in the course menu
Creating a Journal
You will now see a screen labeled Journals. To create a journal, click on the Create Journal button at the top of the screen.
Setting up the Journal Information
![Image of the section labeled Journal Information with the following annotations: 1.Name: Type in a name for the Journal here.2.Instructions: In the text editor, type a description and instructions for your students for the journal assignment.](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/002/051/795/original/626438ec-1787-496e-b1af-3f05dab90b1b.png)
You will now see a screen labeled Create Journal. The section labeled Journal Information allows instructors to edit the journal name and instructions.
- Name: Type in a name for the Journal here.
- Instructions: In the text editor, type a description and instructions for your students for the journal assignment.
Setting up the Journal Availability
![Image of Journal Availability with Yes or No options](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/002/051/788/original/bf3e6769-e2cc-47ec-a3e2-fdd3e8768879.png)
Journal Availability allows instructors to make the journal visible to students. Select Yes to permit students to view the journal.
Setting up the Journal Time and Date Restrictions
![Image of Journal Time and Date Restrictions with date selectors for a beginning and ending availability date.](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/002/051/790/original/842aa5d6-7235-42be-9315-0268f5da9aba.png)
Journal Date and Time Restrictions allows instructors to limit the availability of the journal to a specific time period. To restrict the journal availability, use the date and time selectors to select a Display After and Display Until date.
Setting up the Journal Settings
![Image of Journal Settings with the following annotations: 1.Index Entries: This option allows users to change how the entries are organized. Select Monthly to organize journal entries on a monthly basis or select Weekly to organize journals on a weekly basis.2.Allow Users To Edit and Delete Entries: Check the checkbox for this option to allow students to edit and delete their journal entries. It is recommended to disable this option.3.Allow Users To Delete Comments: Check the checkbox for this option to allow students to delete their posted comments. It is recommended to disable this option.4.Permit Course Users to View Journal: Check this option to allow students to view their peers' journals. To keep journals private between the student and instructor, uncheck this option.](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/002/051/793/original/f2f3c3df-24af-4d0e-a76b-facc400d9569.png)
Journal Settings allows instructors to modify the indexing of blog entries and modify user permissions for editing and deleting content:
- Index Entries: This option allows users to change how the entries are organized. Select Monthly to organize journal entries on a monthly basis or select Weekly to organize journals on a weekly basis.
- Allow Users To Edit and Delete Entries: Check the checkbox for this option to allow students to edit and delete their journal entries. It is recommended to disable this option.
- Allow Users To Delete Comments: Check the checkbox for this option to allow students to delete their posted comments. It is recommended to disable this option.
- Permit Course Users to View Journal: Check this option to allow students to view their peers' journals. To keep journals private between the student and instructor, uncheck this option.
Setting up the Journal Grading Settings
![Image of Grade Settings with the following annotations: 1.Grade Journal: No grading: Select this option to create an ungraded journal.2.Grade Journal: Grade: Points Possible: To grade the journal, select this option and enter the number of points possible. Selecting this option will expand the section below:3.Show participants in "Needs Grading" status (!) after every N entries: Check this option to report students' participation as Needs Grading in the Grade Center after the student has posted a specified number of times.4.Due Date: To enable a due date, use the time and date selectors to select a due date. The due date will then appear in the student's calendar and To Do modules, and items submitted past this date will be marked as Late.5.Associated Rubrics: Click on the Add Rubric button to add a rubric to use for grading the journal assignment.6. When finished, click the Submit button at the bottom of the page to create the journal](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/002/051/786/original/00c3dfa6-bfa0-4adf-bf29-045d6d57684d.png)
Grade Settings allows you to enable grading options for the journal. Enabling Grading Options allows instructors to grade students within Blackboard and this option creates a Grade Center Column that corresponds with the journal.
- Grade Journal: No grading: Select this option to create an ungraded journal.
- Grade Journal: Grade: Points Possible: To grade the journal, select this option and enter the number of points possible. Selecting this option will expand the section below:
- Show participants in "Needs Grading" status (!) after every N entries: Check this option to report students' participation as Needs Grading in the Grade Center after the student has posted a specified number of times.
- Due Date: To enable a due date, use the time and date selectors to select a due date. The due date will then appear in the student's calendar and To Do modules, and items submitted past this date will be marked as Late.
- Associated Rubrics: Click on the Add Rubric button to add a rubric to use for grading the journal assignment.
- When finished, click the Submit button at the bottom of the page to create the journal.
Journals in Activity Stream
When a new journal is entered, it will Appear in the Activity Stream.
Instructors and students can manage their Activity Stream Notifications to choose which Journal activities will view in Activity Stream.