Blackboard: Frequently Asked Questions Jacksonville University

Transcription

1 1. What is Blackbard? 2. Hw d I lg in? 3. Hw d I learn t use it? Blackbard: Frequently Asked Questins Jacksnville University 4. What srt f hardware and sftware will I need? 5. Cmmn lg in prblems 6. Cmmn prblems accessing nline chat (Virtual Classrm) 7. Cmmn prblems with file attachments 8. Prblems taking tests/quizzes 9. Prblems with text editing 10. Hw are students enrlled in Blackbard curse sites? 11. Hw d I change the way my last name appears in Blackbard? 12. Why desn't my address appear in the class rster? 13. Hw d I change my Blackbard passwrd? 14. Can I have my Blackbard g t a different address? 15. When I lg in t Blackbard, I dn't see my class listed 16. I still see classes frm past semesters. Can I get rid f them? 17. Can I cmplete the curses at my wn pace? 18. This is my first time taking an nline curse. Hw will I knw what t d? 19. I have a questin that isn't listed.

2 1. What is Blackbard? Blackbard is a curse management sftware, a tl that allws instructrs t put sme (r all) f the cmpnents f their curses nline. Instructrs can use Blackbard t pst files fr their students' use allw students t electrnically submit assignments hld virtual recitatins and ffice hurs cntinue class discussins utside f class administer tests and quizzes supprt student wrkgrups... as well as t perfrm many ther functins analgus t thse that wuld take place in a physical classrm. Sme prfessrs that use Blackbard are teaching their curses entirely nline, but many thers use it t supprt r supplement their "in persn" class instructin. The Jacksnville University Blackbard system has been upgraded t the latest release, versin 9.1 Service Pack 8 (June 2012). This new versin f Blackbard has an updated lk and feel, and several new features. Blackbard 9.1, als called Blackbard Learn, has new features and capabilities that we are sure yu will appreciate. Blackbard Learn uses a web 2.0 interface that allws users t drag and drp items that appear n the screen, select drp dwn menus, and even access cntextual help. Yu will enjy using fewer clicks t navigate the system and cmplete tasks n yur curses. 2. Hw d I lg in t Blackbard? T lg in t JU's Blackbard server, use the Lgin buttn n the Prtal s Student Services page, r g t and click the "Lgin" buttn. Blackbard is cnfigured t use yur JU username and passwrd. This is the passwrd that students and instructrs use t lgin t WebAdvisr, Jacksnville University cmputers, e mail and many mre systems n campus. If yu d nt knw yur username r passwrd please cntact the Helpdesk at r helpdesk@ju.edu.

3 3. Hw d I learn t use Blackbard? Mst students find Blackbard t be fairly intuitive t use. Once yu are lgged in, yu will see a list f the curses yu are taking that are using Blackbard. T enter a curse's website, click n the name f the curse in the list. Once in the curse area, use the menu n the left hand side f the page t navigate t different areas f the class site. Blackbard 9.1 Tutrials: Students Faculty Als, feel free t brwse the nline Blackbard Student Help Blackbard Instructr Help. 4. Hardware and Sftware Requirements If yur cmputer des nt have the prper hardware, Blackbard TM Learn Release 9.1 may run slwly r may nt run at all. Prir t using Blackbard TM Learn Release 9.1 n yur cmputer, cmpare yur current system cnfiguratin with the system requirements belw. Hardware Minimum Requirements 1.5 GHz CPU r greater with minimum f 1GB RAM Netwrk adapter: LAN (Ethernet) r wireless (WiFi) DSL r cable bradband Internet (Dial up nt cmpatible) 3G & 4G cnnectins nt recmmended when taking tests CD/DVD drive and speakers may be required; refer t curse requirements Operating Systems, Web Brwsers & Plugins Windws XP, Vista r 7 MAC OS X 10 r later OS x 10.4 Tiger nt supprted JAVA Runtime Envirnment 6 Blackbard Learn requires the latest versin f Sun JRE 6. The JRE can be dwnladed frm T determine which web brwser t use with the Blackbard Learn System, find yur perating system in the left clumn and chse a web brwser. When pssible chse a recmmended brwser which Blackbard has certified cmpatibility. In additin, yu shuld have at least tw apprved brwsers installed n yur cmputer t accmmdate fr nging brwser versin changes.

4 Apple Mac OS Operating System Safari 5.0 Safari 4.0 Firefx Latest Release Firefx 3.6 Chrme Latest Release Mac OSX 10.5 "Lepard" Cmpatible Cmpatible Cmpatible Recmmended Cmpatible Mac OSX 10.6 "Snw Lepard" Recmmended Cmpatible Recmmended Cmpatible Recmmended Micrsft Windws Operating System Internet Explrer 9 Internet Explrer 8 Firefx Latest Release Firefx 3.6 Chrme Latest Release Windws XP (32 bit) Windws Vista (32 bit) Unsupprted Cmpatible Cmpatible Recmmended Cmpatible Recmmended Cmpatible Recmmended Cmpatible Cmpatible Windws Vista (64 bit) Cmpatible Cmpatible Cmpatible Recmmended Cmpatible Windws 7 (32 bit) Recmmended Cmpatible Recmmended Cmpatible Recmmended Windws 7 (64 bit) Cmpatible Cmpatible Cmpatible Recmmended Cmpatible Recmmended - fully tested and supprted Cmpatible - partially tested but shuld functin prperly Unsupprted - either impssible r nt tested

5 The fllwing technlgies are nt supprted: Internet Explrer 6 and Internet Explrer 7 Firefx 1.x, 2.0, 3.0, and 3.5 Safari 2.0, 3.x (r any versin n Windws) Mac OSX 10.4 "Tiger" Java 5 If the cmputer yu are using has a different brwser than thse indicated abve, yu still may be able t use parts f Blackbard TM Learn Release 9.1. Hwever, yu may als experience prblems, especially when cmpleting quizzes and tests r using chat and the virtual classrm. Blackbard TM Learn Release 9.1 advises that yur web brwser cnfrms t certain standards. If yu have an ut f date r unsupprted brwser, it is suggested yu either dwnlad a certified versin f yur current brwser r a different certified brwser befre attempting t lg int Blackbard TM Learn Release 9.1. Nte (AOL) users: The AOL brwser is nt cmpatible with Blackbard TM Learn Release 9.1. Hwever, yu can use yur AOL Internet cnnectin with ne f the web brwsers listed abve fr yur perating system t access Blackbard 9.1. Brwser Cnfiguratin Yur brwser must be cnfigured prperly as fllws: JavaScript must be enabled. Ckies must be enabled. Pp up windws must be enabled. Brwser Plug ins At a minimum, yu will need three brwser plug ins t use Blackbard TM Learn Release 9.1: Adbe Reader, Adbe Flash Player, and the Java Runtime Envirnment plug in. Yu may need additinal plug ins if the curse yu are taking includes multimedia elements such as QuickTime; yur instructr will prvide yu with any additins yu may need. T dwnlad and install the current versins f Adbe Reader and Adbe Flash Player: 1. G t 2. Click the Get Adbe Reader buttn. 3. Return t 4. Click the Get Adbe Flash Player buttn.

6 Yu will als need the crrect versin f the Java plug in (nte this is nt the same thing as JavaScript). Blackbard TM Learn Release 9.1 will nt run prperly if yu are using an incmpatible versin f Java r if yu have multiple versins f Java installed. Verify yur Java plug in is functining prperly by visiting: Cnnectin Speed Once yu have ensured that yur cmputer has the prper perating system and hardware t run Blackbard TM Learn Release 9.1, yu shuld verify that yur Internet cnnectin is fast enugh t supprt Blackbard TM Learn Release 9.1. Online curses may require yu t dwnlad/uplad large files and ften include streaming audi and vide, bth f which require faster cnnectins. Dial up yu shuld nt be relying n dial up while taking a curse thrugh elearning. Yu may still use Blackbard TM Learn Release 9.1. Hwever, yu will encunter difficulties when lading pages, especially during peak usage times. Yu will als find that bth audi and vide playback can be very chppy. Additinally, dwnlading r uplading assignments may take a lng time. Cable mdems (Time Warner CableVisin) this is the preferred cnnectin t use when accessing Blackbard. Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) this is a gd quality cnnectin t use. Satellite (such as Hughes Net) will wrk hwever yu will encunter a latency (a delay) between the satellite cnnectin and Blackbard Learn. 5. Cmmn Lg in Prblems: If yu have prblems getting lgged in, please lk belw fr the specific errr message yu are receiving. If the given slutins d nt help r if yu are getting an errr message that is nt listed, please cntact the HelpDesk. Errr Message: "Errr: Culd nt lgin. The specified user name des nt exist in the system." Cause #1: Yu have recently enrlled at JU it takes up t 24 hurs fr yu t get int the system. Cause #2: Yu are lgging in with yur cmplete address as the username (abc123@ju.edu). The system allws this, but Blackbard des nt. Cause #3: The prgram that autmatically enrlls students in the prper Blackbard curse sites is nt wrking. Please cntact the Call Center (helpdesk@ju.edu r ) Errr Message: "An errr ccurred while the system was prcessing this lgin request." Cause: Yu are mistyping yur username. Check yur username and try again.

7 Errr Message: "An errr ccurred in the authenticatin mdule: Errr ccurred while trying t lkup the current sessin." Cause #1: ju.edu is listed as a restricted site in yur IE security settings. Cause #2: Ckies are disabled entirely (under "privacy" in internet ptins in IE). T enable ckies: If yu have ne f the required brwser versins, yu can enable ckies with the fllwing steps: Internet Explrer 7.0 r higher: Select Tls >Internet Optins >Security >Custm Level Scrll dwn until yu see the "Ckies" entry. Click the "Always accept ckies" selectin, then click "OK." Errr Message: "Culd nt lgin. Yu have nt prvided valid authenticatin credentials." Cause #1: Plain, ld, bad passwrd. Check that yur "Caps Lck" key is nt n and change yur passwrd by having it e mailed t yur frm the frnt page. Cause #2: Yu've typed the wrng passwrd three times in a rw and yur accunt is lcked. Call the Call Center ( ) t have yur accunt unlcked r wait 10 minutes fr the accunt lck t time ut. Errr Message: "Alert! This client des nt cntain supprt fr HTTPS URL's" Cause: Brwser des nt meet minimum requirements fr Blackbard. Update t a mre recent versin f the Brwser. Errr Message: "N Authenticatin credentials were prvided with the request" Cause: JavaScript is disabled in yur brwser r yur security level is set t high. In IE, g t Tls > Internet Optins > Security > Internet Zne. Click "Custm Level" and scrll dwn t the "Scripting" sectin (near the bttm.) Make sure "Active Scripting" is set t Enable. 6. Chat Prblems Blackbard is generally easy t use, but the Virtual Classrm tl is the ne area where students may run int prblems. The gd news is, nce yu get access t the Virtual Classrm area fr the first time, yu shuld nt have experience further prblems.

8 If yu can't get Virtual Classrm t lad: Mst prbable cause: Java is nt enabled r needs t be updated. Check t be sure that Java is enabled. In Internet Explrer, click n Start > Settings > Cntrl Panel and select Internet Prperties. Click n the Advanced tab and scrll thrugh the settings t make sure that JIT cmpiler fr virtual machine enabled is checked. Under "Java" in the list, make sure JRE r higher is installed and functining. Other pssible causes: Brwser desn't meet minimum requirements. Slutin: Update yur brwser. A firewall is preventing yu frm accessing nline chat. Fr peple wh access Blackbard frm the wrkplace, especially, this tends t be a prblem. Many crprate and/r persnal firewalls blck prts required by Virtual Classrm. If the IT flks in charge f netwrk security in the lcatin frm which yu are accessing Blackbard are willing, unblcking the fllwing prts may allw access: 80, 443, 1433, 1376, 8000, 8007, and Anther pssible slutin is the use f a VPN cnnectin. Windws needs t be updated. G t Micrsft's site Dwnlad the "Critical Updates." Yu shuld als cnsider dwnlading the "Recmmended Updates." This will help with the perfrmance f yur PC and als imprve security issues. 7. Cmmn Prblems with File Attachments I submitted my file, but the instructr is unable t pen it. If yu are a Macintsh user, make sure that yur filenames d nt cntain spaces r any nnalphanumeric characters ther than perids (n ampersands, cmmas, qutes, slashes, clns, etc.) Yu must add a file extensin t the file name s that yur instructr's cmputer will "knw" what prgram t use t pen it. Cmmn file extensins include:.dc.xls.txt.ppt.html.htm Wrd dcuments Excel spreadsheets Text dcuments Pwerpint files HTML dcuments HTML dcuments

9 I've psted a file, but n ne can pen it: Make certain that the file name des nt cntain any characters ther than the standard letters, numbers, hyphens, and underscres. Other characters (apstrphes, etc.) in file names may cause peple wh try t access the psted file t get an errr message "Requested file culd nt be fund." 8. Tests & Quizzes Errr message n submit: Cause: Make certain that yu hit the "save" r "submit" buttn nly nce. Duble clicking may cause an errr message and may als delay submissin f yur answers. Yu click n the quiz, but nthing happens: Cause: Yu may need t turn ff yur pp up blcker sftware. Preventing prblems with quizzes: D nt resize yur screen after entering a quiz. Sme brwsers will refresh the screen when yu resize the windw. Be cautius when using the <Backspace> key t crrect errrs in entered text. Yu need t make certain that yur cursr is within the text entry field befre hitting <Backspace> r the brwser may attempt t return t the previusly displayed page. Depending n the settings fr the quiz, students wh attempt t view material n anther website r in anther area f the Blackbard curse site may find themselves unable t return t cmplete the quiz. If the instructins fr taking the quiz are nt clear, please check with yur instructr. Make sure yu dn t use yur brwser s back, frward and refresh buttns during a test. This can interrupt yur test and knck yu ut f the test. T mve frm questin t questin, users shuld nly use the arrws within the testing windw r the Questin Cmpletin Status list f questins. D nt duble click the start buttn n a test while waiting fr it t lad. This can cause multiple instances f the exam t pen, leading t sme cnfusin. Depending n yur PC and internet cnnectin speed, it may take a little while t lad a quiz. Make sure that, when accessing a quiz, yu nly click the link nce. If yu click a secnd time (n the keep pushing the buttn t make the elevatr arrive quicker principle) yu may find yurself lcked ut.

10 Make sure yu are aware f yur time while taking an n line test. If yur instructr sets a time limit, Blackbard will try t display a warning 1 minute befre the time limit expires, but brwser settings may prevent this warning frm appearing. If yur instructr sets a time limit in Blackbard, when yu click pen a test the clck will start and will nt stp regardless f whether yu save it and repen later. It certainly may be prudent t have a back up timer f yur wn. If yu shuld get kncked ut f an nline test yu shuld lg back int Blackbard as quickly as pssible t resume the test. Instructrs may set a limit as t when an n line test is available, ften referred t as the test windw. The link t pen r re pen yur test is nly visible during this windw. If yur test als has a timer, yu will nt be ejected frm the test at the end f the test windw, but if that windw has clsed yu will nt be able t re enter the test if yu are kncked ut f the test after that time, even if yur timer has nt expired. Start early enugh during the test windw s that yu can cmplete the test befre the windw expires. If yu are discnnected frm yur test sessin fr any reasn, yu shuld clse yur brwser, re start the brwser, and g back t the test in Blackbard. If yur instructr permits, yu will be returned t the test questin yu were just viewing. If yur instructr selects the Frce Cmpletin ptin, hwever, yu cannt re enter a test. In such a case yu must cntact yur instructr first regarding this. If the exam has been selected t shw all questins at nce, yu shuld peridically save yur answers. Yu can click the Save buttn next t each questin as yu select answers r scrll t the end f the page and click the glbal Save buttn. This will save yur wrk thus far but will allw yu t cntinue t ther questins and even change earlier answers up until the time yu click Submit. If test questins are presented ne at a time, nly click the "next questin" arrw nce, even if the respnse is slw mving t the next questin. Each questin is saved autmatically by Blackbard as yu mve frm ne questin t anther s there isn t any reasn t hit Save befre mving t the next questin. That wuld just add an extra delay between questins. If yu are typing an answer in a text bx, be aware that neither Blackbard nr yur brwser saves text as yu type it. One ptin is t click the Save buttn next t the questin frequently s the text yu have typed s far will nt be lst. Anther ptin that perhaps is mre secure is t type answers t essay questins first in Ntepad, save it there, and then cpy and paste the answer int the test s text bx.

11 If yur instructr presents test questins ne at a time, he can als chse whether t allw students t backtrack that is, t g back t previusly answered questins. If backtracking is permitted, yu can g frward and backward t adjacent questins at any time using the test navigatin arrws r t any questin at any time using the Questin Cmpletin Status windw. Hwever, if backtracking is prhibited yu can nly mve frward ne questin at a time, and yu can nly get t the end f the test t the Submit buttn by advancing thrugh all questins ne at a time. If yur test has a time limit, yu will need t keep this in mind in case yu need t skip several questins t reach the end and click Submit befre time expires. After Taking an On line Test: After yu submit yur test, the infrmatin yu will see next depends n the settings yur instructr has selected. Yu may nly see a cnfirmatin that the test was submitted with n additinal infrmatin. Yu may see a grade fr the test if the instructr turns that n, if n test questins have t be graded individually, and if n time limit has been exceeded. If any questins require the instructr t assign a grade individually, yu will see an exclamatin mark (needs grading) instead f a grade. If yu exceed a specified time limit, and yu have nt submitted the test, yu will see a pencil and paper icn indicating that yur attempt is Still in Prgress. If yu have exceeded the time limit, but submitted yur test, yu will see a green exclamatin mark fr the grade. If yu have questins abut this, yu shuld cntact yur instructr. 9. Text Editing Prblems Can't right click and cpy/paste text in the editing windw Wrkarund: Use the keybard shrtcuts t cpy and paste text. T cpy text in the editing windw, select it and use Ctrl Insert r Ctrl C. T paste text, use Shift Insert r Ctrl V. When accessing a page with a text editing windw, yu get a message prmpting yu t insert yur Office 2000 CD This happens t sme Blackbard users when they access anything that uses the DHTML Edit cntrl (basically, any page with the fancy text editing windw.) The prblem is related t the way in which Office 2000 was installed n yur PC. The quickest way t fix it is simply t insert the CD, if yu have it t hand. Micrsft has a web page detailing the steps t fix the prblem withut the CD. If this is a JU cmputer (e.g. in yur ffice r in a campus lab) yu can call the Call Center at and they will arrange fr smene t fix the prblem fr yu.

12 10. Hw are students enrlled in Blackbard curse sites? Students are autmatically enrlled in curse sites based n infrmatin in the registratin database. After a student registers fr a class, she shuld be added t the Blackbard curse site within abut 24 hurs. If mre than 24 hurs have passed and a student is nt shwing up n the Blackbard rster, please cntact the Blackbard supprt staff. 11. I've legally changed my last name, but Blackbard still shws my ld name. This is nrmal. Yur display name will be the nly piece infrmatin that will change. Yu will still need t lgin with yur ld username. 12. Why desn't my address shw up in the class rster? Yur address will be kept private unless yu specify that yu want it t be shared with ther students in yur class. T make yur address visible, click "Persnal Infrmatin" in the Tls area f yur Blackbard "MyJU" page. Click "Set Privacy Optins," chse the infrmatin that yu wuld like t have visible t thers, and hit "Submit." 13. Hw d I change my Blackbard passwrd? Users need t g t the main JU passwrd website at Can I have my Blackbard class mail g t a different address? This is nt recmmended. Many new e mail systems have advanced filtering systems that may prevent e mail being frwarded t reach its destinatin.

13 15. When I lg in t Blackbard, I dn't see my class listed. Please be aware that many instructrs d nt use Blackbard at all, r d nt make their curse sites available t students until after the semester has started. If yu aren't certain whether yur class is ging t be using Blackbard, please speak with yur instructr. It can take up t 24 hurs between the time yu enrll in a class and the time that the class shws up in Blackbard. If yu knw yur curse uses Blackbard and yu dn't see the class site listed after 24 hurs, please speak t yur instructr. He r she has the access t add yu t the curse. 16. I still see classes frm past semesters. Can I get rid f thse? Yu shuld nly see the current classes yu are taking. Hwever, if yu d have this prblem cntact the instructr and they can take yu ut f the class. 17. Can I cmplete the curses at my wn pace? The curses are nt self paced. Students shuld read the curse syllabus t btain the layut/structure f the class. 18. This is my first time taking an nline curse. Hw will I knw what t d? Each class is set up differently. Instructrs rganize their Blackbard sites differently and chse different settings. When lgging int the curse fr the first time, students shuld read all annuncements and the curse syllabus. Mst instructrs have directins fr the curse listed in the annuncements. If yu have any questins at any time, yur instructr, r cntact the JU Blackbard Help Desk.

14 19. I have a questin that isn't listed Wh t Cntact: Curse Related Prblems: Yu shuld cntact yur curse instructr fr any prblems, which are curse related i.e., prblems finding curse material and resurces in the Blackbard curse web site. Instructrs rganize their Blackbard sites differently and chse different settings. It's a gd idea t ask yur instructrs because ften the answer is specific t the way they are ding things. It's als imprtant fr yur instructrs t knw if yu're having a technical prblem that may affect yur ability t d yur assignments. Platfrm Related Prblems: If yu are experiencing any truble with Blackbard please cntact the IT Helpdesk at r by sending an t helpdesk@ju.edu. Please be sure t give r enter the fllwing infrmatin in yur issue ticket: Cmplete name, address, Student id, Operating System f yur cmputer, Web Brwser yu are using (Name and versin), Curse id, Curse Name and Area f prblem. Be sure t give a full and detail descriptin f yur issue and include the steps t repeat it at ur end. It's imprtant t be as specific as pssible s we can determine the prblem. Fr all ther cmputer/netwrk related issues yu may cntact the IT Helpdesk at r by sending an t helpdesk@ju.edu.