Blackboard Vista: Using Selective Release

PDF version of this document: SelectiveRelease.pdf [684 KB].

Selective Release enables you to control the release of items in your section. You can either hide the item from all of the students or set up criteria to selectively release items on a specific date, based on quiz results or to specific students. You can use the Selective Release tool from either the Build or Teach tabs.

Step 1: Access Selective Release Screen

  1. From the “Home Page”, in either the “Designer Tools” or “Instructor Tools” area, select Selective Release. The Selective Release screen is displayed.

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Step 2: Hide Items

  1. For the item you want to hide, click Hide Item. The item is hidden.
    NOTE: When you hide an item, all instances of the item are hidden; when you show an item, all instances of the item are shown.

Step 3: Verify Items Hidden

  1. In the "Course Tools" area, click the Course Content link. The item you specified to hide is noted as Hidden.
  2. Click the Student View tab (not illustrated). The item is not visible to students.
    NOTE: To show items, display the Selective Release screen and click Show Item.

Step 4: Use Criteria

  1. From the “Home Page”, in either the “Designer Tools” or “Instructor Tools” area, click Selective Release. The Selective Release screen is displayed (not illustrated).
  2. For the item you want to create criteria for, click Set Release Criteria. The Set Release Criteria screen is displayed.

Step 5: Use Date Criteria

  1. Click Add Date Criteria. The Add Date Criteria window is displayed.

Step 6: Specify Dates

  1. In the “Available Starting” area, select a start date and time to release the file or item.
  2. In the “Available Until” area, select an end date and time that items will be available to students.
  3. Click Save. The Set Release Criteria screen is displayed.

Step 7: Save Date Release Criteria

  1. Click Save. The Selective Release Map screen is displayed.

Step 8: Check the Link

  1. In the “Course Tools” area, click the Course Content link. The Home page screen is displayed (not illustrated).
  2. The item is noted as “Conditional”.
    NOTE: Students will not see the “Conditional” wording.

Step 9: Use Member Criteria

  1. From the “Home Page”, in either the “Designer Tools” or “Instructor Tools” area, click Selective Release. The Selective Release screen is displayed (not illustrated).
  2. Click Add Member Criteria. The Add Member Criteria window is displayed.

Step 10: Select the Members

  1. In the “User ID” area, select the expression you want to use. We have kept the default of "Equals."
  2. In the table, select the users you want to have access to the item.
  3. Click Save. The Set Release Criteria screen is displayed.

Step 11: Save the Member Criteria

  1. Click Save. The Selective Release Map screen is displayed.
  2. In the “Course Tools” area, click the Course Content link. The Home Page screen is displayed (not illustrated).
  3. The item is noted as “Conditional” (not illustrated) .
    NOTE: Students will not see the “Conditional” wording.

Step 12: Use Group Criteria

  1. From the “Home Page”, in either the “Designer Tools” or “Instructor Tools” area, click Selective Release. The Selective Release screen is displayed (not illustrated).
  2. Click Add Group Criteria. The Add Group Criteria window is displayed.

Step 13: Select the Groups

  1. In the “Group Name ” area, select the expression you want to use. We have kept the default of "Equals."
  2. In the table, select the group or groups you want to release the material to.
  3. Click Save. The Set Release Criteria screen is displayed.

Step 14: Save the Group Criteria

  1. Click Save. The Selective Release Map screen is displayed.
  2. In the “Course Tools” area, click the Course Content link. The Home Page screen is displayed (not illustrated).
  3. The item is noted as “Conditional” (not illustrated) .
    NOTE: Students will not see the “Conditional” wording.

Step 15: Use Grade Book Criteria

  1. From the “Home Page ”, in either the “Designer Tools” or “Instructor Tools” area, click Selective Release. The Selective Release screen is displayed (not illustrated).
  2. Click Add Grade Book Criteria. The Add Grade Book Criteria window is displayed.

Step 16: Select the Grade Book Criteria

  1. In the “Criteria” drop-down list, select the numeric column you want to base the release on.
  2. In the "Condition" column, select the mathematical equation you want to use.
  3. In the "Value" column, type to numerical value to base the release on.
    NOTE: In this example, students will only see the content if their Midterm grade is less than or equal to 70.
  4. Click Save. The Set Release Criteria screen is displayed.

Step 17: Save the Grade Book Criteria

  1. Click Save. The Selective Release Map screen is displayed.
  2. In the “Course Tools” area, click the Course Content link. The Home Page screen is displayed (not illustrated).
  3. The item is noted as “Conditional” (not illustrated) .
    NOTE: Students will not see the “Conditional” wording.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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