Guest Access

Guest Access

Guests are defined by Blackboard, Inc. as users in a course who do not directly participate in its activities. By default, Guest Access is turned off. Once the instructor turns on guest settings at various levels within the course, guests will have the ability to access the course and those areas and files within the course that the instructor has enabled.

 

Instructors will need to address turning on guest access at three levels of the course:

  1. Turning on guest access at the course level...
  2. Making selected areas of the course visible to guests...
  3. Providing guests access to download course files...

Warning: It is important that you do not open access to guests if your Blackboard course contains materials with copyrights.

 

1. Turning on Guest Access at the Course level

From the "Guest and Observer Access" page (found via the "Control Panel" under "Customization"), click the "Yes" radio button to "Allow Guest Access" to your course.

2. Making selected areas of the course visible to guests

On the "Tool Availability" page (found via the "Control Panel" under "Customization") click the checkbox in the "Visible to Guests" column to select which of the tools and areas you would like to allow guests to access.

NOTE: At this point, guests in your course will be able to see those areas of the course you have made available to them. However, they will not have access to download course files.
 

3. Providing Guests Access to Download Files.

Instructors can provide access to course files for guests who have an Qatar User ID and password by first enrolling individuals as a guests in the course followed by setting permissions on files so that guests are permitted to download and view them.

 

1. Enroll each individual as a Guest in the course.

Note: Individuals must have a Qatar ID and password

    1. Expand "Users and Groups" in the Control Panel and select "Users."
    2. Click the "Find Users to Enroll" button at the top of the page just under the "Users" heading.

       
    3. Enter user information in the field provided and select "Guest" from the "Role" dropdown menu. Make sure "Yes" is selected for "Enrollment Availability." Then click "Submit."



       

NOTE: A confirmation message will appear at the top of the window and the user will appear in the Users listing with the role of "Guest."

 

2. Set permissions on files.

Instructors can provide guest access to all course files or you can provide guest access to individual files.

 

To set permissions to allow guests access to all course files:
  1. From the "Control Panel," expand "Files" and click on the course title to enter your course files screen.
  2. Click the double-down arrows next to the course title to expand the menu options.
     

     
  3. Select "Permissions" from the menu. A "Manage Permissions" window will appear.
  4. Add a "Guest" user type to the course files so that those individuals with the role of "Guest" can access the course files.
    1. Click the "Add Course User List" button.
    2. Select "Guest" located under "Select Roles" and then select the "Permissions" you are granting guests. The default is set to "Read" which will allow guests access to download files. This is the recommended setting. Then click "Submit".
    3. A confirmation message will appear at the top of the page. Note that you now have a "Guest" user type in the listing. Click "OK". Guest users will now have access to download and view all course files.

 

To set permissions on an individual file:
  1. From the "Control Panel," expand "Files" and click on the course title to enter your course files screen.
  2. Click the double-down arrows next to one of the course files to expand the menu options.

     
  3. Select "Permissions" from the menu. A "Manage Permissions" window will appear.
  4. Add a "Guest" user type so that those individuals with the role of "Guest" can access the file.
    1. Click the "Add Course User List" button.
    2. Select "Guest" located under "Select Roles" and then select the "Permissions" you are granting guests. The default is set to "Read" which will allow guests access to download files. This is the recommended setting. Then click "Submit".
    3. A confirmation message will appear at the top of the page. Note that you now have a "Guest" user type in the listing. Click "OK". Guest users will now have access to download and view the individual course file once you post it in a content area that Guests can access.

 

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