WebKF2 Migration Information

Integrate WebKF with Blackboard in 4 easy steps.

There are only a few Blackboard features you must know when you use WebKF2 with Blackboard. We encourage you to play with other useful Blackboard features, but the list below assumes you using WebKF as you normally would. 

Refer to the New WebKF Formula for more information

Using WebKF2 with Blackboard

2009 WebKF2 Procedure:

Request, setup and use WebKF2 as you normally would and link it inside of Blackboard for extra course management features. You may request a consult for any further questions on the items below.

• Want to know a "touch" more, see our Blackboard Starter Kit in the OISE Blackboard Junction.
• Want to know even more than a touch, see our Blackboard Self-Help Index.
• Need WebKF2 information, see the EC Online Teaching & Learning WebKF Toolbox.

The Double Login Dilemma!

Remember that Blackboard uses your UTORid username and password (not your OISEnet username/password). BUT, you will still require your WebKF2 login information since you need to login to WebKF when inside Blackboard. This double login is a temporary measure for 2009, we apologize for the inconvenience!

To make the double login easier for your students, it is a good idea to use their UTORid as their WebKF username.  Your students will not have 2 different usernames this way, and will make it easier for them to login with the same information.

Only 4 Blackboard Features Required for Use with WebKF2

Remember, your Blackboard course is automatically created via official registration information from ROSI.  You just need your UTORid username & password to access it.

1- Link to the WebKF page: This will associate your WebKF component with your Blackboard course.

2- Class List: Blackboard automatically generates your class list.  Use this to create your WebKF usernames.

3- Instruction page:  Give your students some guidelines or instructions for using WebKF.

4- Make Course Available:  Blackboard requires faculty to flip the "on" switch for your course.

The first step to integrate your Web Knowledge Forum into the Blackboard course is to create a link to the WebKF login page.  In Blackboard you can link to any website, but if you are teaching with WebKF, you will want to make an new menu item which will act as a shortcut to the login page.

Copy URL

To begin, copy the URL to your course's WebKF login page.  You can do this by copying the entire URL from the email sent to you, or from your Internet browser.  Be sure to have highlighted the entire URL website address before you select "copy".  Copy can also be performed using the top "Edit" menu, or "Ctrl-C".

The URL should be something like "http://aqonline.oise.utoronto.ca/webkf/xxxxxxx.html"

Next, login to Blackboard.

My Course -> Control Panel -> Manage Course Menu -> External Link

You want to create a new button or link from the main course menu in Blackboard.  To do this, select the course from the "My Page" in Blackboard and then click on "Control Panel".  Under the Course Options section, click on "Manage Course Menu" and then "External Link".

You should have a heading Add New Area.  In the Name section type "WebKF login page".  In the URL section, page the entire URL web address of the login page for your WebKF course.

Name: "WebKF login page"

URL: Paste your WebKF URL address

Open in a new window: Check off this setting

All of the other options are usually left at the default setting, and do not need to be changed:

Allow Guest access, Allow Observer access -  unchecked

Available for Student/Participant users - checked

Make sure to click the Submit button to save your changes, and then click the OK button.

Your course will now have a new quick link to the WebKF login page like this:

You also have the option of changing the order that the left menu links are displayed.  Click on Control Panel in Blackboard and select the Manage Course Menu option. You can change numbers displayed for each menu item to modify the display order, or remove items altogether if you will not be using specific categories.

The next thing you will want to do in Blackboard is to get your class list so you can create your WebKF user list.

This is done by selecting "Control Panel" from the left menu and then "UT Manage Groups" under the Course Tools section.  On the right hand side of the UT Manage Groups page, click on the "View/Download Selected Roster" button as show below:

My Course -> Control Panel -> UT Manage Groups -> View/Download Roster

You can choose to display the information on your screen by clicking the "Preview" button, or you can save the information in an Excel/CSV file by clicking the "Download" button.

With this official roster you can gather a list of student names, email addresses and UTORids.  You can use this list to contact your students and inform them of the WebKF username you create for them. 

When creating your WebKF usernames, you may want to use the student's UTORid username listed in Blackboard to make it easier so your students only need to remember one username.

If your students are already familiar with WebKF, this section is optional.

Students who are new to WebKF will require some instruction on how to use the system and any other custom instructions you may have.  Traditionally you might email the instructions to your students, but they would have to save or print the instructions if they want to refer back to them.  We suggest making an instruction section in Blackboard for your students to reference.   This gives your students a permanent place to always find your information.

We recommend that you add your instructions in the "Course Information" section of your Blackboard course, but you are free to include this information in any location you feel is appropriate for your course.

My Course -> Control Panel -> Course Information -> Folder

Name the new folder "WebKF".

Click Submit at the bottom and then OK.

Next, you want to add the instructions. 
Create a new item by clicking on the WebKF folder, and selecting Item:

This is a good location to enter any instructions that you normally would email to your students about how they use WebKF for your course.  Remember to click "Submit" at the bottom of the page to save your changes.

You can add additional items with further instructions specific to your course if you wish. 

If you are teaching a Distance Education course, and your students require complete online instruction, some suggested items you might want to include are:

WebKF2 Login Checklist: http://online.oise.utoronto.ca/webkf/LoginChecklist.html

WebKF2 Help Request Form: http://www.oise.utoronto.ca/kfsupport/kfticket.html

WebKF2 Support Manuals:
Students:  English : En Français
Instructors: English : En Français

Additional WebKF information can be found at the Education Commons Online Teaching & Learning WebKF toolbox.

By default, courses will remain unavailable to your students until you choose to activate it.  If your students are indicating that your course is not listed for them, it is probably because you have not made it available yet.

To make your course available for your students to access, click on the "Control Panel" -> "Settings" -> "Course Availability".  Click "Yes" beside "Make Course Available", and click the submit button. 

The suggested time to make your course available is 1 day before the first class.  This is useful so that you can work on your course before releasing it to your students.  This is just a suggestion - you are free to make your course available and un-available to your students at any time.