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How to contribute to a Journal in Blackboard

Quick guide for students

A journal is a type of Discussion topic to which users can add either private or public entries.

Access a journal discussion entry
Create a journal discussion entry
Post a comment to a journal entry
Edit a draft journal comment or entry

To access a journal discussion entry

Note: A green asterisk next to the Discussions icon on the Course Tools menu indicates new message(s) have been posted since your last session.

Click on the Discussion icon on the Course Tools menu.
If you are presented with a list of journal topics, click on one of the topics to view the message(s).
If a journal is private you will only be able to access your journal.
If the journal is public it displays a list of the journals of all students in the section who have added entries to their journals:

To read another student's journal, click the name of the Student.
To return to your journal, click My Journal at the top of the list.

Click on the Comments button to read any comments posted about a journal entry. (If this option is available.)

Note: If Discussions are not available in the Course Tools menu, navigate to the required journal discussion from your section Home Page.

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To create a journal discussion entry

Click My Journal at the top of the list of names.
Click Create New Entry to add an entry to the journal.
Enter the Subject of your message.
Enter the Message.
To attach a file(s) to your message, click Add Attachments and the Content Browser window appears.

If you have already uploaded a file to your My Files select the file and click OK.
If you need to upload a file, click on My Computer which gives you access to all files on your computer, select a file and click Open. The file will automatically be uploaded into My Files and attached.

Click Preview if you want to preview your message before posting it.
To post the message click Post. If you are not ready to post the message but want to save it, click Save as Draft.
You will be returned to the topic page.

Note: Try to limit the size of your uploaded files to 1 MB or less if possible. To avoid any possible issues with uploading files to Blackboard please refrain from using any of the following characters (or spaces) in your file name:
~ ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) + /\ : ? < > | ; " = , - Æ

Tip: Key your message in Word and then paste the text into the discussion. This saves online time or losing your message if your online session times out while composing.

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To post a comment to a journal entry

Click on the Comments button.
Enter your comment in the Create Comment text box.
Click Preview if you want to preview your message before posting it.
To post the message click Post Comment. If you are not ready to post the message but want to save it, click Save as Draft.
You will be returned to the topic page.

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To edit a draft journal comment or entry

Click on View Drafts to the right of the window. The drafted messages will open in a new window.
Click on the name of the drafted message you wish to edit and make your changes.
Do one of the following:
- If you are not ready to post the message but want to save it, click Save
- To post the message click Post Now.
You will be returned to the topic page.

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