Blackboard 9 Quick Reference Guide for Students

Blackboard 9 Quick Reference Guide
for Students

The Blackboard system at Temple hosts web-based materials for over 17,700 courses and 800 communities. Approximately 5,900 Temple instructors use Blackboard to place course materials for their students on the web and to conduct a variety of classroom activities. With your AccessNet account, you can go to Blackboard to retrieve and submit assignments, participate in discussion groups, take tests online, and use features such as a calendar and address book.

Note that instructors have the option of including various features, such as blogs and wikis, in their Blackboard courses. If you do not see a particular feature, confirm that your instructor added it to the course.

This guide provides basic instructions for using the most popular features of Blackboard, a Frequently Asked Questions section, and information for requesting assistance from the Help Desk.

I. Obtaining an AccessNet account
II. Logging in to Blackboard
III. Accessing your course
IV. Customizing Blackboard
V. Customizing notification settings
VI. Using the Bb drive
VII. Posting to a blog
VIII. Posting to a wiki
IX. Submitting an assignment
X. Participating in a virtual classroom
XI. Checking your grades
XII. Frequently Asked Questions
XIII. Getting Help

I. Obtaining an AccessNet Account

To access Blackboard, you will need an AccessNet account. If you do not have an account, you can create one at: http://accounts.temple.edu

You can also obtain an account by visiting the Help Desk in the TECH Center or Computer Services offices at various campus locations.

II. Logging in to Blackboard

Using your AccessNet account, you can access your Blackboard courses through TUportal. To login to TUportal:

1. Go to the TUportal website at: http://tuportal.temple.edu

2. At the TUportal window, type your AccessNet username and TUsecure password.

3. Click Login.

III. Accessing your course

1. In the MY PORTAL tab, go to TUAPPLICATIONS and click Blackboard. Blackboard will open in a new window.

2. Go to the My Courses module and select the course that you want to access.

Note: If you do not see the course, refer to question 3 in the Frequently Asked Questions section.

IV. Customizing Blackboard

You can customize Blackboard by changing the color palette and repositioning the modules between columns as well as within a column.

To change the color palette:

1. Go to the My Blackboard tab and click Personalize Page in the upper right corner.

2. Under Personalize Theme, a sample of the current color palette and samples of available themes display. Click on your selection and then click Submit.

To reposition a module:

In the My Blackboard tab, click on the module and drag it to the new position.

V. Customizing notification settings

1. Go to the top of the Blackboard window and click My Places.

2. At the My Places window, click Edit Notification Settings.

3. At the Edit Notification Setting window, you can define general and individual course notification settings as well as bulk notification settings.

VI. Using the Bb drive

Bb drive provides 1GB of storage space for saving and sharing your files. You have the option of uploading a single file or multiple files.

To save a file:

1. Click the Bb Drive tab at the top of the window.

2. At the Content Collection page, select Upload > Upload Files.

3. You have the option to upload a single file or multiple files.

To upload a single file:

Note: If the Upload Multiple Files and Folders window displays, go the the upper right corner and click Single File.

a. At the Upload Single File window, click Browse to find and upload the file.

b. Under Options, select any features that you want to include.

c. Click Submit.

To upload multiple files:

Note: If the Upload Single File window displays, go the the upper right corner and click Multiple Files.

a. At the Upload Multiple Files and Folders window, click Browse to find and select each file.
-or-
Drag and drop each file to the selected area of the window.

b. Under Options, select any features that you want to include.

c. Click Submit.

To delete a file:

1. Click on the box to the left of the file to add a check mark.

2. Click Recycle to move the file to the Recycle Bin.

Approximately every 24 hours, the Blackboard system automatically deletes files from the Recycle Bin.

To share a file:

Bb drive enables you to share files with a friend, colleague, or instructor at Temple or to someone outside of Temple. The easiest way to share a file is to create a Pass. A Pass is a clickable link that Blackboard creates and sends via e-mail. When the recipient clicks on the link, he or she can open the file and/or save it locally.

1. Click the down arrow icon to the right of the file you want to share. Then select Passes.

Note: The number of Passes you have created for a file displays in parentheses next to the Passes menu option. If this is the first time you are sharing the file, Passes (None) will display. If, for example, you previously created one pass, Passes (1) would display.

2. Click Create Pass.

3. Click Submit.

4. A notice displays indicating the Pass was created.

5. Click the check box next to No expiration and then click Email Pass.

6. In the To field, enter the e-mail address of the person with whom you want to share the file. To share the file with more than one person, separate each e-mail address with a comma and space. Then click Submit.

7. A notice that an e-mail was sent to each of the specified addresses displays.

Note: This is an example of the e-mail message that a recipient receives. By clicking the link, the recipient will be able to open and save the file.

To stop sharing a file:

To stop sharing a file, delete the Pass associated with it to deactivate the clickable link you previously sent.

1. Click the down arrow icon to the right of the file you are sharing. Then select Passes.

Note: The number of Passes you have created for this file displays in parentheses next to the Passes menu option. In this example, one Pass was created for this file. Therefore, Passes (1) displays.

2. Click the check box next to No expiration and then click Delete.

3. When prompted to confirm that you want to delete the passes, click OK.

4. A notice displays that the passes were deleted.

VII. Posting to a blog

A variety of optional features, such as deleting and posting, are available for blogs. If you cannot access a particular feature, verify that your instructor included it in the blog.

1. Go to the content area where your instructor created the blog. Then, select the blog and click Add Comment.

Note: The first time that you select the blog feature, "Course synchronization in process" will display. This action could take a few minutes.

2. Add a subject, enter your comment, and then click Submit.

VIII. Posting to a wiki

A variety of optional features, such as deleting and posting, are available for wikis. If you cannot access a particular feature, verify that your instructor included it in the wiki.

1. Go to the content area where your instructor created the wiki. Then, select the wiki and click Comment.

Note: The first time that you select the wiki feature, "Course synchronization in process" will display. This action could take a few minutes.

2. Enter your comment and click Add.

IX. Submitting an assignment

"Assignment" is a feature in Blackboard that enables you to upload files for a specific project or task. The assignment feature will accept most file formats except ".pages" because this extension indicates a folder, not a file format.

Note: As a Temple student, you are eligible to receive substantial discounts on the purchase of software.

1. From the Course Menu, select the content area where your instructor created the assignment.

2. Select the assignment.

3. At the the Upload Assignment page, click Browse My Computer and select the file.

You have the option to include information in the Assignment Materials text box.

4. You have the option to include information in the Comments text box.

Click Submit.

5. The Submission History page confirms that the assignment is complete and provides details of the submission.

Click OK to return to the content area.
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Click Start New Submission to upload another file.

X. Participating in a virtual classroom

If your instructor is using the WIMBA virtual classroom program and you need help with features, such as Chat, Voice e-mail, or Live Classroom, visit the Distance Learning Program website and review the WIMBA tutorial.

XI. Checking your grades

1. From the Course Menu, click Grades.

XII. Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I enroll in a Blackboard course?
If your instructor is using Blackboard for your course, he/she will enroll you in the course. Please note that you must have an AccessNet account before you can be added to a course. If you are not sure about your AccessNet username and password, go to: http://accounts.temple.edu. You can also visit the Help Desk on Main Campus in the TECH Center, 12th St. and Montgomery Ave., 1st floor.

2. Why can't I access Blackboard?
If you are unable to access Blackboard, try the following troubleshooting procedures:

a. Go to the System Status page to determine that Blackboard is available.
b. If Blackboard is available, try logging in through the Blackboard site.
c. If you are unable to access Blackboard directly, try logging in to another university application, such as TUmail.
d.If Blackboard is available and you are unable to log in to Blackboard and TUmail, you probably need to change your password. To do this, go to the Accounts site, enter your AccessNet username and password, click Submit, and follow the steps to create a new password. If you forgot your password, click on the Forgot password link.
e. If you changed your password and are still unable to log in to Blackboard, contact the Help Desk.

3. Why don't I see my course in Blackboard?
Blackboard enrollment starts the Friday before the start of the semester. If, after this date, your course is not listed in Blackboard, do the following:

a. Log in to TUportal and select Self-Service Banner to confirm that you are registered for the course.
b. If you are registered for the course, contact your instructor to determine that your course is on Blackboard and that auto-enrollment has been requested.

4. Can I remove a course from a previous semester that displays in my Blackboard courses?
Only an instructor can remove a student from a Blackboard course. You can make that request to your instructor or you can hide the course. To hide a course:

a. Click the Manage Course icon ( ) at the top right of the My Courses module.
b. Click each box to remove the check marks.
c. Click Submit.

5. How can I find a course in the Blackboard Course Catalog?
To search the catalog, do the following:

a. At the My Blackboard tab, go to the Blackboard Links module and click Course Catalog.
b. Click the Course fields to select course attributes such as Name, Description, and Starts with.
c. Enter your search term(s).
d. To limit your search results, click the Creation Date fields to select a time frame.
e. Then, click Go.

6. Can I preview a course that I'm not enrolled in?
Refer to the previous question for instructions on finding a course in the Blackboard Course Catalog. When you find the course you want to preview, click the Preview button to the right of the course title. If the instructor did not activate the guest access feature, the Preview button will not display, therefore, you will not be able to preview the course.

7. Where are the computer labs on campus that I can use?
For a list of computer labs at various Temple locations, visit the labs website.

8. How do I connect to Blackboard from home?
You can use Temple's online resources from home through your Internet Service Provider such as Verizon or Comcast. To connect to Blackboard, go to TUportal and log in with your AccessNet username and password.

XIII. Getting help

If you have problems using Blackboard, please contact the Computer Services Help Desk:

Location:	The TECH Center
	12th St. & Montgomery Ave., 1st floor
Website:	tuhelp.temple.edu
Phone:	215-204-8000