FAQs About Blackboard CE 8 Digital Content

Does an e-Pack have to be used with a textbook?
No, many instructors are using e-Packs independently of a textbook or as supplementary content for their course. It is important to evaluate the e-Pack you are considering to determine if its contents meet your needs. See the product description for each e-Pack or request a copy or demo to get an idea of its contents.

Does it cost an instructor anything to evaluate or adopt digital content?
No, instructors can review or use digital content at no cost, just like an examination or desk copy.

Do instructors need to purchase an Access Code?
No, instructors do not need Access Codes in order to use an e-Pack as a designer. Instructors are able to use the Student View tab to see what students will experience.

How do I find a Blackboard CE 8 e-Pack?
To see if your textbook has an e-Pack, go to the Digital Content search page and do not input too much information. The Blackboard CE 8 search engine is very precise and does not suggest or guess at what you are looking for.
Simply input the author's last name, or the exact title of the textbook,
or the discipline.

Digital Content info page

What steps do I follow to ensure successful e-Pack adoption?

  1. Please fill out the Faculty Assistant form and tell Open Campus staff that you will be using a new e-Pack for your upcoming course. Assistance can be provided if you require training.
  2. Contact your publisher sales representative to find out about textbooks and possible Access Codes for students.
  3. Contact your IDS about which textbooks are to be ordered through the bookstore. Confirm the bookstore has the textbook/Access Codes one week prior to the course start date.
  4. Prepare your course. Browse through your course becoming familiar with it. Customize your course to include your syllabus, course outline, calendar, announcements, discussion topics, quiz dates, assignments, and other information.
  5. Students are able to access your course at 12:01 a.m. on the start date of your course.

How much do students pay for an Access Code?
The price of the Access Code, if there is one, can be included in the price of the textbook, or can be sold separately in the bookstore.

Is Blackboard CE 8 compliant with Section 508 guidelines for accessibility?
Blackboard CE 8 is committed to the accessibility of our e-learning platforms. The Blackboard CE 8 User Community includes an increasing number of individuals with sensory, physical, or learning disabilities who rely on
adaptive technologies as a gateway to information and education. Accommodation of learners of all needs helps increase the availability of
high-quality educational experiences.

Blackboard CE 8's e-learning systems are World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Priority 1 compliant and adhere to Section 508 of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Are e-Packs compliant with Section 508 guidelines for accessibility?
The Content Alliances group at Blackboard CE 8 is actively working with all of our partners to ensure that the content they develop for use in Blackboard also addresses compliance with each of the components of the Section 508 guidelines. If you have questions about the compliance of a specific e-Pack, please contact Blackboard.com.

Who owns the copyright on e-Packs?
An e-Pack arrives pre-loaded with copyrighted publisher content.

Can I delete or reorder the publisher's content in the e-Pack?
Yes. Blackboard CE 8 e-Packs are customizable and publishers expect that instructors who adopt e-Packs will add, delete and reorder the content so that it meets individual teaching and learning needs.

Must I retain the publisher's copyright notice on every page of
the e-Pack?
The publisher's copyright notice must be retained provided that publisher's content appears on that specific page. However, as an instructor it is possible to insert notes and comments reflecting your own opinion about that content.

What if I add my own original content to an e-Pack?
An instructors who adopts an e-Pack and incorporates or uploads original content into an e-Pack will retain the intellectual property rights to
that content.