Service Catalog

Get Help with Blackboard

Technical assistance as well as advice and suggestions on how to use Blackboard are available to:

• Faculty, adjunct instructors, teaching assistants, as well as anyone who teaches a course at Temple University
• Temple University students, faculty, and staff who are student organization leaders, committee chairs, department chairs, administrative assistants, as well as anyone would like to host an organization or community on Blackboard

This service is available to an instructor or organization leader who:

• Needs help with a specific feature of Blackboard
• Wants to learn more about the features and functionality of Blackboard
• Is new to Blackboard and needs help getting started
• Has used Blackboard but would like a refresher
• Wants to learn about new features in Blackboard 9
• Would like help setting up a new course or organization on Blackboard
• Would like to brainstorm about how to best use Blackboard to meet specific teaching or learning goals
• Would like to explore options for revamping their Blackboard course
• Has a suggestion on how to improve Blackboard

Contents

• Who is entitled to this service?
• What are the limitations and restrictions related to this service?
• What are the applicable policies or guidelines?
• How do I use this service?
• What are the requirements for using this service?
• What is the time frame for fulfillment of service?
• When is this service available for use?
• What is the cost of this service?
• How do I request this service?

Who is entitled to this service?

• All faculty, adjunct instructors, teaching assistants, as well as anyone who teaches a course at Temple University
• Student organization leaders, committee chairs, department chairs, administrative assistants, as well as anyone who leads an organization or committee at Temple University

What are the limitations and restrictions related to this service?

Specialized assistance, including extended face-to-face consultations, is available at the Instructional Support Centers (ISC) listed below from Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

General assistance is available through the Help Desk during normal business hours. Questions on advanced topics, which have to be referred to the ISC, will be addressed during normal business hours only.

Note: Consultations are not available during Temple University holidays.

Extensive online help, documentation, and tutorials are available 24/7, however, all Blackboard topics are not covered.

The greatest opportunity to attend hands-on, instructor-led training occurs three weeks before and after the start of a semester. During this time, additional training sessions are offered to accommodate the high demand for training. Seats for training sessions are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can be reserved on the Training website.

What are the applicable policies or guidelines?

• Technology Usage Policy
• Instructional Support Center Policy

How do I use this service?

• Instructor-Led Training
• Online Resources
• Consultations

Instructor-Led Training
Several hands-on training sessions designed for instructors with various levels of expertise include:

• Jumpstart sessions which target instructors who are new to Blackboard or need a refresher. Sessions are generally offered prior to the start of each semester as well as during the first two or three weeks of a semester.
  
  
• Feature-specific sessions which help instructors use more advanced features of Blackboard, such as Assessments and Surveys, Grade Center, SafeAssign, blogs, wikis, and podcasts.

A listing of available sessions is available on the Training website.

Online Resources

• Documentation and Tutorials
  For instructors or leaders who cannot attend instructor-led sessions or prefer to learn on their own, online documentation and tutorials are available on a wide-range of topics for various levels of expertise.
  
  To access documentation and tutorials, log into Blackboard, go to the top of the Blackboard screen, and click the Bb9: What’s New tab.

• Help
  For instructors or leaders who have a course or organization on Blackboard, searchable online help is available through Blackboard.
  
  To access online help, log into Blackboard, click your course or organization link, and then go to the Control Panel box and click Help.

Consultations

• Phone/E-mail
  Phone consultations are available by calling any of the ISC locations during business hours. After hours, you can contact the Help Desk by submitting a request through TUhelp or by calling 215-204-8000 (1-8000).
  
  
• Face-to-Face
  For lengthy consultations, face-to-face meetings are often the most effective. Appointments are available Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at any of the ISC locations. Walk-ins are welcome, but it is recommended that you call for an appointment.

What are the requirements for using this service?

• AccessNet username and password

What is the time frame for fulfillment of service?

• Varies, depending on the type of assistance

When is this service available for use?

• Instructional Support Center (ISC): Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Help Desk: Hours
• Online help, Documentation, and Tutorials: 24/7

What is the cost of this service?

This service is provided at no charge.

How do I request this service?

• Instructor-Led Training
  Visit the Training website for a list of available training sessions and to reserve a place.
  
  
• Online Resources
  Documentation and Tutorials:
  Log into Blackboard, go to the top of the Blackboard screen and click on the Bb9: What's New tab.
  
  Online Help:
  Log into Blackboard, click on the link to your course or organization, and then go to the Control Panel box and click Help.
  
  
• Consultations
  Visit or contact any of the ISC locations from Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.