The Announcements page is the first page the students see when they enter a Blackboard course, so it is an key place to put time-sensitive information such as deadlines, changes, corrections, clarifications, and schedules.
From the Control Panel:
Modify
More Information
Q: How can I remove the Announcements or have a another area
(syllabus) be my course entry page?
A: If you choose not to use the Announcements tool, you can
disable it from the CONTROL PANEL > MANAGE COURSE MENU or change the entry
point from the CONTROL PANEL > SETTINGS > SET COURSE ENTRY POINT in the
Course Options section.
Q: Can I change the order my announcements appear for the
students?
A: Yes and no. You cannot change the order the same way you
do with folders and items elsewhere in Blackboard. However, you can change the
order by modifying an announcement. The last modified announcement will appear
at the top.
Q: How can I make an announcement always show up at the top
for a student?
A: You can make an announcement appear over other announcements
by making the announcement permanent. To do so, on the option Always
show this announcement on the course's main page, choose Yes.
Your announcement will override other non-permanent announcements.
Note: The last permanent announcement to be modified will
be the top announcement.
Q: How can I direct students to other sections of Blackboard
from an announcement?
A: You can have an announcement link to another part of your
Blackboard course so students can get to the information easily. To do so, click
Browse and follow the course map until you find the area or
document you want to link. Click the Submit button in the small
course map. Click the Submit button in the options page.