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Digital Drop Box

About The Digital Drop Box

The Digital Drop Box is a tool that the Instructor and Students can use to exchange files. The Digital Drop Box works by uploading a file from a disk or a computer to a depository. Files can be sent back and forth from the Instructors Drop Box to the Drop Box of other users in the course.

Individual Student access to the Drop Box is available from the Digital Drop Box area located in the Course menu on the course Web site.

Using the Student Drop Box

1. From within your course, click the Tools button

2. Click Digital Drop Box

3. Click on the Send File button, type in the title, click on Browse, and locate the file for upload

NOTE: The Add File button will only save the file in the Student Dropbox but will not send it to the Instructor.

a. If you wish to send a file that you have prevoiusly added, click on the Send File button and then select the previously uploaded file from the Select file: dropdown menu.

b. Click on the Submit

4. Click on the file once to highlight it, and then click on Open

5. The file name and path should appear in the Browse field, then click on Submit

NOTE: A Student cannot remove a file once it has been sent to the Instructor.

Only the Instructor can remove that file. This is to prevent a Student from removing and altering any sensitive materials such as a test or assignment sent to the Instructor. This ensures that the Instructor has a chance to view and grade the file.

Once an Instructor grades or reviews the file and returns it to the Student, the Remove button will reappear and allow the Student to delete that file from the Digital Drop Box.

NOTE: The Digital Drop Box is used as a means to send files directly to the Instructor. Use Send E-mail to send files to a fellow Student.

Keywords: digital drop box ID: 117 Created: Jul 23, 2003 / Modified: Sep 24, 2009

Why should I even use the Digital Drop Box if there is a file exchange feature in the Content Area (Add Assignment)?

Although the Add Assignment tool is great for graded assignments, it will not allow for multiple assignments or assignments that do not require a grade. If you require your students to share files with you for review (not graded), then you may want to use the Digital Drop Box for that.

Keywords: digital drop box ID: 118 Created: Jul 23, 2003 / Modified: Sep 24, 2009

Students have told me that they have submitted their file in the Digital Drop Box on time, but I cannot see it in my Digital Drop Box.

It is a common mistake for students to click on the Add File button instead of the Send File button. Although there is a warning message that the file will not be sent to the instructor, students can make this mistake.

Keywords: digital drop box add file send file ID: 119 Created: Jul 23, 2003 / Modified: Oct 13, 2004

A student sent me a file I have read, but now when I look at it (same name) the file is different, why?

When a user uploads a file into the Digital Drop Box named "homework.doc" and then three days later updates it and uploads the file again "homework.doc", the file "homework.doc" will be saved over, removing the original file. You can see the new date and time stamp on the file, but you have lost the original. It would be a good idea to tell your students to name each version differently (ex: homework1_10.doc, homework1_13.doc).

Keywords: digital drop bxox ID: 120 Created: Jul 23, 2003 / Modified: Sep 24, 2009

I'm using the digital drop box and the students have submitted their papers to the digital dropbox. I've used word to track changes, and now I want to re-upload the papers. Is there a way for me to do this?

Yes, click on either the Digital Dropbox or the Digital Dropbox Manager link in your course’s control panel and choose Send File. You may then select the student who you want to send the file to and then upload the new file. I would recommend using a different name than the original filename and keep the filename short & simple. In general filenames that you upload to Blackboard should be short and simple and not include special characters (*#@$, etc.) or spaces in the name.

Keywords: track changes digital drop box dropbox ID: 323 Created: Feb 2, 2007 / Modified: Sep 24, 2009

I have a student who submitted a file to the digital dropbox and I am unable to open the file. When I click on the link to access the file, I get an error message. What is the problem?

Blackboard sometimes has issues with filenames that include special characters such as #, & or filenames that contain spaces. Example: "smith_assignment1" is an acceptable filename, "smith assignment #1" is not. Tell your students to rename their filenames and re-submit them. You may want to share this information with all your students and provide them with specific guidelines for naming files that are uploaded to Bb. It may be helpful to you as well when you download the files from Blackboard if file naming guidelines are spelled out to the students. All files and grading information should be backed up and permanently stored by you, not within Blackboard.

Keywords: digital dropbox homework send homework dropbox assignment manager ID: 333 Created: Sep 26, 2007 / Modified: Sep 24, 2009