You can add Course Cartridges from your textbook’s publisher into your course, however occasionally there are problems with the import and you should check with the U of A’s Blackboard Helpdesk before importing any cartridge into your course.
Taken from a Blackboard article regarding Course Cartridges
A Course Cartridge is an easy way for an instructor to supplement his or her Blackboard course using text or program-specific course content developed by academic publishers. A Course Cartridge allows you to import publisher content directly into a Blackboard course.
What type of materials are included in a Course Cartridge?
Course Cartridges contain a variety of resources and may include instructor resources (such as PowerPoint® presentations, review materials and test pools) and student resources (such as self-study materials, videos, learning objectives and exercises). Publishers may use different kinds of content in different Cartridges.
How do I check to see if a Course Cartridge exists for my textbook?
Search the online catalog for Course Cartridges at http://cartridgecatalog.blackboard.com/search.aspx. Select the “Filter by:” button and choose Course Cartridge. You can search by Title, Author, Publisher and/or ISBN.
Are Course Cartridges textbook-specific?
Most Course Cartridges are created for specific textbooks and are typically updated when new editions of the textbooks are released. Some publishers also produce program-specific titles that can be used with several different textbooks.
Are Course Cartridges free for instructors?
In general, a Course Cartridge is free for instructors, provided he or she has adopted the corresponding textbook.
Is there a cost for students?
The cost for students depends on the type of Course Cartridge. There are currently two types of Course Cartridges: 1) Open Access and 2) Protected Access. Only Protected Access Course Cartridges involve costs. A student must purchase a Student Access Key to view and utilize Protected Access materials. The cost for a Student Access Key varies by publisher and title. (Often, Student Access Keys are bundled with new textbooks.)
What is a Student Access Key?
A Student Access Key is a single-use unique PIN a student must enter in order to view and utilize publisher content added to a course using a Protected Access Course Cartridge. A student will only be prompted to enter a Student Access Key once. After the validation has been approved, a student will be able to access the content for the remainder of the course. Student Access Keys are sold as part of a new textbook package or as a standalone item in bookstores. If you plan to use a Protected Access Course Cartridge, you must contact your publisher sales representative to coordinate the sale of Student Access Keys.
What does a student need to purchase in order to use a Course Cartridge?
If the Course Cartridge is Open Access, nothing is required for a student to use the materials. If the Course Cartridge is Protected Access, a student needs to purchase a Student Access Key. Contact your publisher sales representative to see if the Course Cartridge requires a Student Access Key.
How does a student purchase a Student Access Key?
Student Access Keys are typically purchased in the bookstore as part of a new textbook package or as a standalone item. Prior to usage, contact your publisher sales representative to request that Student Access Keys for the Course Cartridge be bundled with the new text and/or sold as a standalone item (for students who purchase used textbooks).
Can a Student Access Key be used multiple times?
In general, Student Access Keys are single use only.
Whom should I contact to learn more about a specific Course Cartridge or to request an Instructor Download Key?
Contact your publisher sales representative.
What should I do if a student is having trouble using a Student Access Key?
Confirm that the student is using a valid Student Access Key purchased from the bookstore or directly from the publisher. If the key fails to authenticate, contact your publisher representative. Only the publisher can verify or generate key sets.