Getting started with Blackboard
1. Logging in
- Direct your web browser to https://my.mc3.edu, or click the Blackboard link on MCCC's homepage at www.mc3.edu.
- Enter your username and password in the fields provided. Your username and password are the same as your network credentials. Click login. Note that the system is shut down every tuesday morning at 2:00 a.m.
- Click the Courses/Blackboard link.
- Click the link for your course in the "My Courses" box on the right.
2. My MCCC
- You are looking at the My institution tab of the main Blackboard site. Different boxes on the screen should be labeled "My Announcements," "My Calendar," "My Courses" and "My Tasks." Some features may be turned on or off by your professor, so don't be alarmed if everything doesn't look exactly as it is described.
- Select and click on a course from the "My Courses" box, or click the "Courses" tab at the top of the screen and select a course from the list that appears.
3. Courses
Different sections of course material are represented by buttons or links on the left of the screen. Click each to explore your course.
- The announcements section is sorted by date and contains any course-specific announcements posted by your professor - assignment reminders, schedule changes, etc.
- The Course Information section contains general course information, like the syllabus or a course timeline. Click on each link to view.
- The Course Documents section contains more specific course documents, like lecture notes or assignments.
- Some of the important options here are:
Collaboration
Lecture Hall (Virtual Classroom)
- Here the professor can hold live class over the net through a real-time "chat" function and a virtual white board. Select and click Virtual Classroom, or browse the archives.
- Select drawing or typing tools to draw on the whiteboard, enter an internet URL into the "Location" bar to view that website, or click the "Questions" tab to post a question for the professor.
Office Hours (Lightweight Chat)
- Current users are listed on the left side.
- To Post a message for all users to see, enter your message in the "Compose" field and click "Send" when you're done.
Discussion Board
- Select and click on a forum to view messages. Messages are divided into "threads," which are basically analogous to individual conversations, represented in outline form. Click on the +/- sign next to a message to expand or collapse the thread. Unread messages appear in bold
- Click a message to view it (or click the
button to start a new thread).
- Click the
button to post a reply.
Send Email
- Click to send individual or mass emails
- Select and click your recipient type (all users, all instructors, select users - whatever you'd like)
- Fill in the appropriate fields and click the
button to send your message on its way.
- A resource to internet links that are beneficial to the course.
4. Student Privacy
Information on how to control privacy options can be found here.
5. Blackboard Test Help
Improtant Note: the Blackboard system is shut down every tuesday morning at 2:00 a.m. DO NOT start a test near this time if you can not finish it before the shut down, or you will loose your work!
If you are experiencing difficulties while taking a test, quiz, or survey via Blackboard, please remember the following:
Problems while Taking Tests
- If you are locked out of the test, you will receive the message "The assessment has already been taken," in error. Contact your instructor so they can re-open the exam for you.
You can be locked out of the test if:
- there is an interruption in Internet connection
- you log out of Blackboard
- you close your browser window
- you leave Blackboard open for 60 minutes without doing anything - Blackboard will time out if inactive for more than 60 minutes and log you out
- If you cannot find the exam on Blackboard and you are within the time-window specified by the instructor, log out of Blackboard and log back in.
Problems with Test Submission
- Know your computer and setup. Don't use an unstable or unfamiliar computer.
- Set ample time aside to complete the test. Think of it as an in class test and minimize distractions.
- Reboot your computer before taking the test. This will kill any extraneous background processes.
- Do not use a dial-up or wireless connection if you can avoid it.
- Make sure you disable your wireless connection when you are plugged in so you are not using both.
- Shut down Instant Messaging and Email.
- Close down any other applications prior to and while taking the exam.
- When you are ready to take the exam, click the link to the exam only once. Clicking the link twice may lock you out of the exam.
- Do not open a new web browser window while you are taking the exam (MySpace, Facebook, etc.) This could reload the quiz and lock you out of it.
- Do not double-click the submit button or hit return/enter and then submit. This can lock you out of the exam. Tip: if your browser logo (in the upper right corner) is moving, e.g. the flag in IE is waving, the system is working. Do not hit the Submit button again.
- Do not use the web browser back, forward or refresh buttons when taking an exam. This can lock you out of your test.
- Do not click outside the exam area. For example, do not click any Blackboard menu links such as 'Assignments' or 'Announcements'. This will cause Blackboard to submit the exam prematurely and you will be locked out.
- Type answers to essay questions in Notepad; save the Notepad document; and, finally, copy and paste the answers into Blackboard (that is, into the text fields provided for each essay question). This way, you have a copy of your answers just in case you lose your Internet connection and need to re-take the exam. Note: Notepad can be accessed by clicking the Start menu, highlighting Accessories, and then clicking Notepad.
- Do not resize the browser window while taking the exam. Some browsers will erase any information you have provided in the answer text fields if you re-size the browser window. Needless to say, you will have to re-enter your answers. Some browsers may even lock you out of the exam if you resize the window. Maximize the web browser window before you begin the exam.
- Disable all window pop-up blocking software before taking an exam. This type of software can prevent you from completing a Blackboard exam successfully. Note: The elapsed time in the bottom of the browser will not display in Firefox and Mozilla unless your browser is configured to allow pop-ups. If using the Firefox 1.5 browser, to assure that the timer displays in the bottom-left corner, go to Tools > Options > Content > Enable JavaScript > Advanced > Allow scripts to change status bar text. In Mozilla , use Edit > Preferences > Advanced > Scripts & Plugins > Allow scripts to change status bar text.
- Most quizzes and test can only be accessed once so be certain you are ready and have read the instructions carefully before clicking the test link.
- SAVE often during the test using the Save button. When you finish the final question, click Submit.
- If you have problems, document them and contact the help desk at 215-641-6495 or email the Help desk at help@mc3.edu. You should also contact your instructor immediately.
Problems with Settings on Your Computer
- Spyware is notorious for causing problems with quiz submission. It is highly recommend to use some type of program to remove spyware from your computer.
- Problems with Windows XP Service Pack 2 firewall can cause problems. Most of these can be resolved by disabling the Windows Firewall installation of Service Pack 2. You need a firewall, however, so do not disable the Windows Firewall unless you have the Symantec firewall installed and configured.
Problems with Internet Provider or Internet Connection
Dial-Up Modems
- Dial up modem idle time -- Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) may disconnect after several minutes of idle time; time when the screen has not changed to a new page, or scrolled (which often happens when a student is reading online or taking a Blackboard quiz). Users can open another browser window to another site and periodically activate links on the page to fool the ISP server into staying connected.
- When using a dial-up Internet connection, ensure that no one in your home picks up another telephone line while you are taking a test online. This can interrupt the connection needed for the test.
- Call waiting can interfere with online testing if you use a dial-up Internet connection. Disable call-waiting by dialing *70 before you connect to the internet to take a Blackboard test.
DSL or Dial-Up
- Your phone line may have static, which will affect your connection. Pick up your phone and listen for static.
Tips
Visual Text Box Editor
If you have problems with the Discussion board you may need to turn off the Visual Text Box Editor
1. Login to Blackboard
2. On the "My Institution" tab, click Personal Information on the left side of the screen
3. Click Set Visual Text Box Editor Options
4. Select Unavailable then SubmitSpecial characters
There are some characters that are not allowed in filenames on Blackboard, and using them will result in your instructor not being able to view your file. Here is a list of allowed characters for filenames: A-Z, a-z,1-9, "-" dash and "_" underscore (leave out the quotes).
