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Blackboard FAQ

Blackboard FAQ - Getting Started

Computing & Technology
 

	URL - Web locations for starting Blackboard
	Browser set up for Blackboard
	Software Needed
	How to use Blackboard
	Back to Blackboard FAQ

Web location for Hollins Blackboard site:
To start Blackboard, set your browser location to http://bb.hollins.edu/

Browser set up for Blackboard - important!
Some activities in Blackboard require that you have cookies, popups, and active X controls enabled.  Check out BB Setup to find out how to set up your Browser to work with Blackboard
We recommend that you use Netscape Navigator 4.7 or higher or Internet Explorer version 5.5+ or higher to access Blackboard.

Software needed
Many of the documents that are posted to Blackboard are in MS Word or MS PowerPoint and PDF format.  If you do not have these software programs on your PC or Mac, you can download free viewers for these programs.

How to Use Blackboard
Set you web browser to the login address (see above) and Click on the Login button.

Blackboard login screen:

Your BB username is the same as your network username.  This is usually your last name followed by your first and middle initials (e.g. studentfy).  Your default password is your three initials followed by the last four digits of your social security number (e.g. fys4683).

If your default password does not work, or you have changed your password and forgotten it, click on Forgot your password?, enter your account information, and Submit the form.  An email will be sent to the email address listed in Blackboard with the URL for the page where you can reset your password.  When you get this email, make sure you copy and paste the entire URL into the address field of your Web browser. 

How to copy and paste: Highlight the entire URL in the email message.  Click on the Edit option on the menu bar at the top of your email client.  Click on Copy.  Re-open the Web browser.  Move the mouse pointer so it is over the address field.  Click to highlight the entire URL that is displayed.  Select Paste from the Edit menu of your Web browser.  Press the [Enter] key.

4.  When you have successfully logged-in you will get the Blackboard welcome screen similar to the example below:

Blackboard welcome screen:

5.     All the Blackboard courses you are enrolled in are listed under My Courses.  Locate a course in which you are enrolled and click on its link.  This will open the Announcements page of the course. 

Some helpful hints about using Blackboard:

  Each time you login to Blackboard the Announcements page appears by default.  This is where the instructor will post special announcements throughout the semester.  Be sure to check for new announcements.

Note:  Not all courses will have links for all of the sections listed below.  Each insturctor can customize the sections for their course.

Course Information  General information about the course is found under Course Information.  This is where you may find the course description, goals, and schedule.

Links in Blackboard.  Throughout the Blackboard course site you will find links to other documents.  These may be links to other websites, Word documents, or PowerPoint presentations. When you click on a link, the related (destination) document should automatically open up within the Web browser window.  When you are done viewing a document, click on the [ Back] button to return to the Blackboard page.  Once you have opened a PowerPoint presentation, simply move your mouse pointer over the slide and click to see the next object on the slide or to proceed to the next slide. 

The Staff Information page provides information about how to contact the instructor.

  The Assignments page is where you will find all the assignments that you must complete.  Some assignments may be found within folders.  Double click on the folder icon to open a folder.  

Quizzes can only be taken one time (unless set up otherwise by the professor), so be sure you are ready before starting a quiz.  Once you start a quiz, you must complete the entire quiz before exiting. Be sure to give yourself enough time. 

The Communication page is where you can send email to the instructor and/or classmates, or access the Discussion Board to post comments about particular assignments.  In some assignments you may be asked to send specific comments to the Discussion Board.

On the Tools page you will find the Digital Drop Box for assignments, the grade book where you can check your grades (Check Grade), and the Blackboard user Manual.

If you have any questions not answered here, please feel free to contact the instructor.

NOTE: Blackboard works best with Internet Explorer. Netscape does not work well with Blackboard, it has problems opening linked documents.