for Students
- I. Introduction
- II. Obtaining a Blackboard account
- III. Logging in to Blackboard
- IV. Accessing your course
- V. Participating in a discussion forum
--To post a message to a discussion thread
--To start a new topic (thread)- VI. Participating in a Collaboration session
--To participate in a Lightweight Chat session
--To participate in a Virtual Classroom session
--To send a private message to your instructor- VII. Sending a file to your instructor
- VIII. Completing an assignment
--To access an assignment
--To send an assignment- IX. Checking your grades
- X. Frequently Asked Questions
- XI. Getting Help
I. Introduction
Many Temple faculty use Blackboard to place course materials for their students on the Web and to conduct a variety of classroom activities. With a Blackboard account, you can retrieve and submit assignments, participate in discussion groups, take tests online, and use optional features such as the calendar and address book.
This reference guide contains instructions for accessing and using Blackboard. Note that this guide is also available after you login to TUportal and access Blackboard.
II. Obtaining a Blackboard account
To access Blackboard, you will need an AccessNet account. If you do not have an account, you can create an account online at:
You can also obtain an account by visiting the Computer Services Help Desk in The TECH Center, room 106, 12th St. & Montgomery Ave. or other Computer Services offices at various campus locations.
III. 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 Web site at:
2. At the TUportal window, type your AccessNet username and AccessNet password.
3. Then, click on Login.
Note: You may also access Blackboard directly at http://blackboard.temple.edu.
IV. Accessing your course
To access your Blackboard course:
1. Under "TUapplications," click Blackboard. Blackboard will open in a new window.
2. Then, in the My Courses box, click on the course that you wish to access.
Note: If you do not see the course that you want, contact your instructor. For additional information, you can also refer to Question 2 in the Frequently Asked Questions section.
V. Participating in a discussion forumThe Discussion Board, which is similar to a bulletin board, enables participants to read and post messages and create discussion threads. Some instructors may use the Discussion Board to measure class participation.
If your instructor adds a forum to the Discussion Board, you can reply by posting your reactions, comments, or questions. When you participate in a class discussion, keep in mind that your entire class will be able to read your postings.
To post a message to a discussion thread:
1. Click on Discussion Boards. If this link does not display, click on Communication and then click on Discussion Boards.
Note: Discussion Boards may be located in a different area for each course. If you do not see this option, please contact your instructor.
2. Click on the forum in which you wish to participate.
3. Then, click on the message to which you wish to reply.
4. Go to the bottom right side of the window and click on Reply.
5. Type your message in the Message box.
6. Then click on Submit to post your message to the forum.
To start a new topic (thread):
1. At the top of the window, click on Add New Thread.
Note: Your instructor may not have enabled this feature.
2. At the Create New Message window, type the subject and your message.
3. Then, click on Submit to post your message to the forum.
VI. Participating in a Collaboration session
The Collaboration feature, also referred to as Virtual Classroom, allows students and instructors to hold real-time virtual classroom sessions online. Students can also use this feature to conduct online group meetings.
There are two types of collaboration sessions:
- Lightweight Chat, which is part of the Virtual Classroom, offers an instant messaging or text-based chat function.
- Virtual Classroom provides more functionality and interactivity, such as the option to draw on the whiteboard, use a group browser, and participate in breakout sessions.
To participate in a Lightweight Chat session:
1. Click on Communication. If this link does not display, please contact your instructor to find out how to access the Collaboration function.
2. Then, click on Collaboration.
3. At the Collaboration Sessions window, select the session in which you wish to participate. The Tool column identifies a session as either Virtual Classroom or Lightweight Chat.
Note: You can use the Filter or the Search by function to search for specific Collaboration session.
4. Next, locate the session in which you wish to participate and click on Join.
Note: In order to access the Virtual Classroom tool, you will need a Java Plug-In. If this is the first time you are accessing a Collaboration session in Blackboard 6, a new browser window will open and a Security Warning dialog box will appear. You will be prompted to install and run Java 2 Runtime Environment. Click on Yes to install the Java Plug-In.
At the License Agreement window, review the terms and then click on Yes to accept the agreement. Next, follow the step-by-step instructions, select the appropriate options for your computer, and wait for the download process to complete. If you are in a Temple computer lab, please ask the lab consultant for assistance.
If you are still unable to open this feature, you may need to upgrade your browser. For further assistance, you can contact the Help Desk at help@temple.edu or 215-204-8000.
5. At the Blackboard Chat window, type a message in the Compose box.
6. When you have completed your message, click on Send.
7. To exit from the Chat session, click on the "X" in the top right corner of the Blackboard Chat window.
To participate in a Virtual Classroom session:
1. Click on Communication. If this link does not display, please contact your instructor to find out how to access the Collaboration function.
2. Click on Collaboration.
3. At the Collaboration Sessions window, select the session in which you wish to participate. Note that the Tools column identifies a session as either Virtual Classroom or Lightweight Chat.
Note: You can use the Filter or the Search by function to search for specific Collaboration session.
4. Next, locate the session in which you wish to participate and click on Join.
Note: In order to access the Virtual Classroom tool, you will need a Java Plug-In. If this is the first time you are accessing a Collaboration session in Blackboard 6, a new browser window will open and a Security Warning dialog box will appear. You will be prompted to install and run Java 2 Runtime Environment. Click on Yes to install the Java Plug-In.
At the License Agreement window, review the terms and then click on Yes to accept the agreement. Next, follow the step-by-step instructions, select the appropriate options for your computer, and wait for the download process to complete. If you are in a Temple computer lab, please ask the lab consultant for assistance.
If you are still unable to open this feature, you may need to upgrade your browser. For further assistance, you can contact the Help Desk at help@temple.edu or 215-204-8000.
Once the installation is complete, the Blackboard Virtual Classroom window will load. Note that this process may take several seconds. You can then join the Collaboration session.
5. At the Blackboard Chat window, type a message in the Compose box.
6. When you have completed your message, click on Send. You message displays in the lower pane of the window.
7. To exit from the Chat session, click on the "X" in the top right corner of the Blackboard Chat window.
To send a private message to your instructor:
1. At the bottom left side of the Chat or Virtual Classroom window, click on Private Message.
2. Type your message in the Compose Private Message box.
3. Then, click on Send.
VII. Sending a file to your instructor using the Digital Drop Box
To send a file to your instructor using the Digital Drop Box:
1. Click on Tools.
2. Next, click on Digital Drop Box.
3. Click on Add File.
4. In the Title box, type a name for the file you are sending to your instructor.
5. Click on the Browse button to locate the file. Next, click on the filename and then click on Open.
6. If you wish, you can type a message in the Comments box.
7. Then click on Submit to send the file to your instructor. Note that you may need to scroll to the bottom of the window to access the Submit button.
8. When the file has been successfully sent to your instructor, the Receipt: Success window will appear.
9. Click on OK and then on OK again to return to the Digital Drop Box.
VIII. Completing an assignment
Your instructor may upload an assignment to Blackboard and ask that you use Blackboard to turn in the completed assignment.
1. Click on Assignments and locate the assignment you wish to complete.
Note: Your instructor may post an assignment in an area other than Assignments.
2. Click on View/Complete Assignment: title of assignment.
3. Read the assignment instructions.
4. To access an assignment file, click on the file link. Note that if the File Download dialogue box appears, you can click on Open it to open the file or Save it to save the file to disk. If you choose to save the file, select the location and then click on Save.
5. You can then complete your assignment and save the file.
1. Locate the assignment that your instructor posted.
2. Click on View/Complete.
3. If you wish, you can type notes to your instructor in the Comments box. Note that you may need to scroll down to see the Comments box.
4. Next, click on the Browse button to locate your completed assignment. Then, select the file and click on Open.
5. Finally, click on Submit to turn in your assignment.
6. Click on OK to return to the course area.
IX. Checking your grades
To view your grades for a course:
1. In the Courses: Quick View box, click on the course that you wish to access.
2. Next, click on the Tools button.
3. Then, click on View Grades.
4. When you are finished, click on OK to return to the Tools window.
Note: For a description of how your grades may be calculated, go to:
X. Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I be enrolled into a particular Blackboard course?
If your instructor is using Blackboard for your course, he/she can enroll you in the course. For further assistance, you can contact the Computer Services Help Desk.
Please note that you must have an AccessNet account before you can be added to a course. To obtain an AccessNet account online, go to:
You can also visit the Help Desk on Main Campus in The TECH Center, 12th St. and Montgomery Ave., on the first floor.
2. Why don't I see all of the courses I'm registered for on my list of Blackboard courses?
If an instructor is not using Blackboard for a course or has not requested student enrollment, you will not see that course on your list. You should contact the instructor to find out if your course is on Blackboard and if student enrollment has been requested.
3. How do I remove a course from a previous semester from my list of Blackboard courses?
Only the instructor can "un-enroll" you from a Blackboard course. To ensure that none of your course information is lost, please contact the instructor of the Blackboard course in order to be removed from a course.
4. How can I be removed from a Blackboard course that I'm not registered for?
To be removed from a Blackboard course, you can contact the Help Desk.
5. How do I find a course through Blackboard's Course Catalog?
You can search the Blackboard Course Catalog from the TUportal login page or from within Blackboard. To search for a course, perform the following steps:
a. Click on Course Catalogs in the upper right corner of the TUportal window.
b. Next, click on Blackboard Course Catalog.
c. In the Search box, type in the instructor's last name or the name of the course for which you are searching. You can also browse through the School, College, or Department category listing to find the course.
6. How 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 would like to preview, click on the Preview button to the right of the course title.
Note: 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 listing of the computer labs and their location, hours, and equipment, you can visit the lab Web site at:
8. How do I connect to Blackboard from home?
With your AccessNet account, you can use Temple's online resources from home through your own Internet Service Provider, such as AOL, MSN, or DCANet.
Note that Temple has special rates with DCANet for low-cost Internet access. For information on prices or to sign up for this service, you can visit the the DCANet Web site at:
XI. Getting help
If you have problems using Blackboard, please contact the Computer Services Help Desk:
Location: The TECH Center, Room 106 12th St. & Montgomery Ave. Phone: 215-204-8000 E-mail: help@temple.edu Web: http://www.temple.edu/cs/helpdesk
Copyright 2006. All
rights reserved.
Temple University
Version 3.0
updated 01/09/06