Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Using Blackboard
Access Information
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- Which Web Browsers can I use to access Blackboard?
- How do I obtain an account for Blackboard?
- How do I request a Blackboard course?
- What information in CMS/PeopleSoft does a department need to update in order for faculty to have access to their Blackboard courses?
- My students can't see my course. How do I make the course available to the students?
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- What happens if a student does not have access to the student portal? How do they access my Blackboard course?
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- I made my course available; however, some of my students cannot find the Blackboard course after they login through the portal. What can the students do?
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- What happens if a student drops a class? How can I remove a student from my Blackboard course roster?
- Can I add additional students to my Blackboard course or do I have to wait for IT to import the information?
- Can I add a TA, Course Builder, or additional instructors to my Blackboard course?
- How can I allow a guest to view my Blackboard course?
- I cannot access the Virtual Classroom.
- I am using Turnitin in Blackboard and sometimes my students have trouble submitting papers.
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Features and Capabilities
- What is My Fullerton?
- How can I delete or hide OLD Blackboard courses listed on the My Fullerton page?
- Can I merge my courses so I have one single course for multiple
sections?
- How can I copy content from an existing course to a new course?
- How can I download a copy of my course?
- How can I verify that my students are enrolled in the course?
- How can I remove a student from my Blackboard course?
- How can I change the name of my Blackboard course site?
- How do I copy documents or folders from one folder to another in the same course?
- How can I make a quiz available again and change the dates it is available?
- How can I clear the Attempt in Progress icon displayed in the Grade Center and allow the student to retake the test?
- How can I display the score instead of displaying a checkmark for each requirement listed in the Grade Center?
- How can I download a copy of the online Grade Center?
- Where can I find additional support for the new Blackboard 8 Grade Center?
- How can I change my e-mail address?
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Access Information
1. How do I access the Blackboard Academic Suite?
You can access Blackboard from any computer that is connected to the World Wide Web and has a compatible web browser. You can use Mozilla Firefox 3.0 or higher or Microsoft Internet Explorer 7. Mac computer users can use Mozilla Firefox or Apple's Safari Web browser. Do not use the AOL Web browser or any other type of proprietary Web browser. To access Blackboard you will need to follow these steps:
- Go to http://www.fullerton.edu
- Type your username and password as assigned to you by your department's IT coordinator.
- Click the Login button
- Click the Blackboard tab
- Click the button "Click Here to Access Spring 2009 Courses & all CSUF Communities".
After you login to Blackboard you will see the classes you are scheduled to teach in the My Courses module. If you do not see your course(s), please contact your department immediately and confirm that you are listed as the instructor for the course in PeopleSoft. (question #6).
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2. Can I access Blackboard directly? What
is the Web address for Blackboard?
Faculty and registered students must access Blackboard using the CSUF portal (question #1). Guests who are not matriculated can access the Blackboard Academic Suite by going to http://fullerton.blackboard.com.
- Click on User Login.
- Click the Preview button.
- Click the green Courses tab.
- Use the Course Search box to find a course.
If you are having problems accessing Blackboard, you will need to contact the CSUF Help Desk at (657) 278 - 7777.
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3. Which Web Browsers can I use to access Blackboard?
You can use Mozilla Firefox 3.0 or higher or Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 or higher. Mac users can use Mozilla Firefox or Apple's Safari Web browser. Do not use the AOL Web browser or any other type of proprietary Web browser.
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4. How do I obtain an Account for Blackboard?
To obtain an account for Blackboard, you will need to contact
your department's IT Coordinator and ask for a CSUF username and password for the Faculty/Staff portal. This information will be imported into Blackboard.
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5. How do I request a Blackboard course?
You do not have to request a course. Courses for all classes are created automatically in Blackboard. If you have concerns, check with your department to confirm that the department has entered you in PeopleSoft as the instructor of record for the course.
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6. What information in CMS/PeopleSoft does a department need to update in order for the instructor to have access to their Blackboard course site?
Your Department needs to list you as the Instructor in CMS/PeopleSoft. 24 to 48 hours later you should have access to your course in Blackboard.
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7. My students can't see my course site. How do I make the course Web site available to the students?
- Enter your course by clicking on the name.
- Go to the Control Panel.
- Click on Settings.
- Click on Course Availability.
- Select the Yes radio button.
- Click the Submit button.
Please place a reminder on your calendar, to make the course UNavailable shortly after the end of the semester. To make the course UNavailable, change the Course Availability setting to NO and click the Submit button.
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8. How do students obtain access to a Blackboard course?
Students need to login to the CSUF student portal at http://www.fullerton.edu and click the Blackboard tab. Then, they will see the courses they are enrolled in if the instructor has made the course available for student viewing.
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9. What happens if a student does not have
access to the CSUF student portal? How do they access my Blackboard course?
All students who are matriculated and those taking
classes through Extended Education have access to the CSUF student
portal. Call the CSUF Help Desk at (657) 278-7777 for assistance with logging into the CSUF student portal.
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10. How will students enroll in my course?
Students will be automatically enrolled in each Blackboard course before
the semester begins. However, students cannot see your course in Blackboard until you make it available. For instructions on how to make your course available, please read question 7.
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11. I made my Blackboard course available; however, some of my students cannot find the Blackboard course after they login through the portal. What can students do?
The IT department imports the student registration information from PeopleSoft into Blackboard. Please ask students to contact the Help Desk at (657) 278-7777 and they will be able to identify the problem. New student registrations usually take 24 to 48 hours to upload to Blackboard.
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12. Where
can students obtain support if they are having problems with Blackboard?
If students are having problems accessing Blackboard, using
the student portal or if they forgot their password, they will need
to contact the Help Desk at (657) 278-7777.
However, the instructor is responsible for explaining to his/her students
how to use the features implemented in a Blackboard course.
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13. Can I make my Blackboard course available for students to access before the semester begins?
Yes, you can decide when to make your course available. Please keep in mind that some of your students may need to wait 24 hours until their registration is updated in Blackboard.
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14. What happens if a student drops a class? How can I remove a student from my Blackboard course roster?
If a student drops a class, you can remove the student through the Control Panel.
- Go to the Control Panel.
- Click Remove Users from Course.
- Type the student's last name in the Search box.
- Click the Search button.
- Locate the student and click the checkbox next to the student's name.
- Type Yes in the box at the bottom right-hand side of the page.
- Click Submit.
Please note: This will remove the student's name from the roster and any records such as assignments, test results, and grades. This cannot be reversed.To deny access to your course, while preserving student grades, disable the student account instead of removing the student. To disable the account:
- Go to the Control Panel.
- Click List/Modify Users.
- Type the student's last name in the Search box.
- Click the Search button.
- Locate the student and click the Properties button next to the student's name.
- Select No for "Available (this course only)".
- Click Submit.
15. Can I add additional students to my Blackboard course or do I have to wait for IT to import the information?
The Information Technology department will add new students to your courses using an automated job every day. The process could take up to 24 to 48 hours for new students. You can add students to your Blackboard course as long as they have an existing account in Blackboard. It is recommended that you wait for the regular upload process to be completed.
If you prefer to add a student(s), please ask your student(s) to give you their full name and username. Then, follow these steps:
- Go to the Control Panel.
- Click Enroll User.
- Search for the student's last name, Blackboard user name, or email address.
- Identify the student and click the Add checkbox.
- Click Submit.
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16. Can I add a TA, Course Builder, or additional instructors to my Blackboard course?
Yes. However, before you can add a TA, Course Builder, or additional instructors, you will need to enroll the individual as a student (please read Question 15 ). Then follow these steps:
- Go to the Control Panel.
- Click List/Modify users.
- Search for the individual by last name, user name, or e-mail address.
- Click the Properties button corresponding to the users account.
- Select the appropriate User Role.
- Click the Submit button.
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17. How can I allow a guest to view my Blackboard course?
In order for the guest to have access to your Blackboard course, you need to enable guest access in three different locations using the Control Panel:
- Manage Course Menu: Click Manage Course Menu. For each menu item you want to allow guests to be able to access, click the Modify button. Confirm Guest Access is checked (click the check box if necessary.) Click Submit.
- Manage Tools: Click Manage Tools. Click Tool Availability. In the column labeled, Allow Guests, select the checkbox for the tools you wish to provide guests access to. Click Submit.
- Settings: Click Settings. Click the link Guest Access and select the Yes radio button. Click Submit.
Guests can access Blackboard via the CSUF portal by logging in with their CSUF username and password. Next click on the Courses tab. Use the Course Search box to locate the course.
Non-CSUF guests can access Blackboard at fullerton.blackboard.com. Next click the Preview button. Use the Course Search box to locate the course.
Please note: Guest access cannot be limited to a specific individual or group of individuals.
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18. I cannot access the Virtual Classroom.
Make sure that you are runnning the latest version of the Java software plugin.The Virtual Classroom works best with Internet Explorer 7. Download the current version of Java at http://www.java.com.
19. I am using Turnitin in Blackboard and sometimes my students have trouble submitting papers.
Sometimes students submitting papers to Turnitin receive a login page instead of the Turnitin Assignment page. To avoid this issue, ask your students to enable their browser to accept 3rd-party cookies. Students who prefer not to accept 3rd-party cookies can set the browser to make an exception for Turnitin.
In addition, students may need to clear their cookies before logging in to the the CSUF Student Portal (and then Blackboard) as the browser may store old cookies which may prevent them from accessing Turnitin through Blackboard.
Instructions for enabling 3rd party cookies in Internet Explorer 6 or 7:
- Open Internet Explorer
- Click on Tools
- Select Internet Options
- Select the Privacy tab
- Set the Privacy level to Medium if you wish to enable cookies for most internet sites.
- Click Apply
- Click OK
Alternatively, if you wish to block most cookies except Turnitin (and other exceptions you specify)
- Follow steps 1 - 4 above.
- Set the Privacy level to High which will block many cookies.
- To enable Turnitin to function properly, click Sites (The button is located on lower left-hand corner of the Privacy page)
- Type turnitin.com
- Click Allow
- Next, type api.turnitin.com
- Click Allow
- Click OK
- Click OK
Instructions for deleting old cookies from Internet Explorer. Students should get in the habit of clearing cookies anytime they run into an issue. It resolves many browser issues.
- Open Internet Explorer
- Select Tools
- Select Internet Options
- On the General tab, click Delete.
- Next click Delete Cookies.
- Then click Yes.
- Then click Close. Click Ok.
Instructions for enabling 3rd party cookies in Firefox:
- Open Firefox
- Select Tools
- Select Options
- Select the Privacy tab
- Check Accept cookies from sites.
- Check Accept 3rd-party cookies. SKIP Step #7.
- Alternatively, for higher privacy, leave the Accept third-Party Cookies checkbox unchecked i.e. blank. To enable Turnitin to function properly:
- Click the Exceptions button
- Type turnitin.com
- Click Allow
- Type api.turnitin.com
- Click Allow
- Click Close
- Click OK
Instructions for deleting old cookies from Firefox.
- Open Firefox
- Select Tools
- Select Options
- Select the Privacy tab
- Click Show Cookies
- Cick Remove All Cookies
- Click Close
- Click OK
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Features and Capabilities
1. What is My Fullerton in Blackboard?
My Fullerton is the home page for Blackboard at Cal State Fullerton. Faculty and Students can quickly access their courses, announcements,
calendar events, tasks, etc.
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2. How can I delete or hide OLD Blackboard courses listed on the My Fullerton page?
Faculty cannot remove old Blackboard courses. The IT department will remove the Blackboard course Web sites one year plus one semester after the course ends.
However, you can hide the old course link after you make them unavailable by editing the My Courses module on the My Fullerton page. To hide old course links:
- Click the Modify the My Courses module button (pencil icon) located on the upper right corner (see picture below) of the My Fullerton page.
- Remove the checkmark in the Display Course Name column for each class that you do not want to display.
- Click the Submit button.
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3. Can I merge my courses so I have one single course for multiple sections?
Yes, you can request to have one of your Blackboard courses be the "Master" course that will list the combined student rosters.
In order to request a Course Merge, please send an email to Susan Gaitan with the following information:
- Course Name, Number, & Section, 5-digit Schedule Number & Semester of the course that you would like to designate as the MASTER course.
- Course Name, Number, & Section, 5-digit Schedule Number & Semester of the corresponding SUB course(s).
Important Information about COURSE-MERGE:
- You can only request the courses to be merged if you are the instructor on record for the Master and ALL Sub courses, (if more than one). You may verify that by going to the Faculty Center within the Faculty/ Staff Portal. http://portal1.fullerton.edu/schedule/
- By merging courses, the student rosters of the SUB course(s) will be copied to the roster of the MASTER course.
- It will take between 24-48 hours for the rosters to be actually merged AFTER you receive the merge confirmation email.
- Once the courses are merged you should make all SUB course(s) unavailable and just make the MASTER course available.
- Add content to the MASTER course only.
- Maintain ONE Blackboard Grade Center on the MASTER COURSE.
- Please be advised that students will NOT be automatically dropped from your MASTER course. You can remove the students through the Control Panel.
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4. How can I copy content from an existing course to a new course?
Log on to Blackboard and enter and go to the course which you want to copy. This is your SOURCE COURSE or the course from which you intend to copy the material. The course to which you intend to copy is your DESTINATION COURSE. You must be listed as the instuctor for BOTH courses.
- Go to the Control Panel (on your SOURCE course to select the material you would like to copy to another course)
- Click Course Copy (which can be found under COURSE OPTIONS in the lower-left section of the Control Panel).
- Click on the link: Copy Course Materials into an Existing Course.
- Click on the Browse button to locate your DESTINATION COURSE (to which you intend to copy the material).
- The pop up window will list all of your current courses for that semester.
- Click the Select button to select the destination course.
- Select the course materials that you wish to copy using the check boxes. NOTE: If you have created Assignments using the Assignment tool or use the Discussion Board grading option, be sure to check Grade Center Columns and Settings because the Assignments and graded discussions are linked to the Grade Center.
- Make sure NOT TO select ENROLLMENTs while selecting the material to be copied. If you select Enrollments, it will also copy the entire STUDENT ROSTER to the destination course.
- Click the Submit button.
- Click OK to get back to the Control Panel.
Important Note: To do a course copy, you must be the designated instructor of both the source as well as the destination course. The Faculty Center in the CSUF Portal will list all of your current semester courses.
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5. How can I download a copy of my course?
Take the following steps to download a copy of your course:
- Go to the Control Panel.
- Click on Export Course.
- Click on Export (upper left).
- Select the course materials to export.
- Click the Submit button.
- Wait to receive an email from the Blackboard Administrator.
- Right-click on the newly created link and select Save Target As (Internet Explorer).
- Select the location in your computer where you want to store the file.
- Click Save. This file will be a zip file. Caution: We recommend that you do not open/change this file or it may not work properly if/when it is imported to another Blackboard course shell.
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6. How can I verify that my students are enrolled in the course?
Go to the Control Panel and click on the link List/Modify users. Leave the Search box blank. Cllick the Search button. All your students should be listed who have registered at least 48 hours ealier.
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7. How can I remove a student from my Blackboard course?
If a student drops your course, you can remove them from your Blackboard site. Removing a student from your course will delete all of that student's records for that course. To preserve the student's records, but prevent a student from accessing the course,make the course unavailable to that student. To make a course unavailable follow these steps:
- Go to the Control Panel
- Click List/Modify users
- Type the last name, username, or e-mail
- Click the Search button
- Identify the student and click the Properties button
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and select No to make the account unavailable
- Click the Submit button
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8. How can I change the name of my Blackboard course site?
Changing the name of the course can be useful in certain instances. For example, when sections are merged, the instructor may wish to remove the section number so the new name is relevant to all students. To change the course name, go to Control Panel > Settings > Course Name and Description. Type the new name and click the Submit button.
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9. How do I copy documents or folders from one folder to another in the same course?
Please click here to view instructions.
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10. How can I make a quiz available again and change the dates it is available?
You will need to return to the location were you made the quiz available and Modify it. Click the Modify button, and then click on the link "Modify the Test Options". Change the dates and click the Submit button.
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11. How can I clear the Attempt in Progress icon displayed in the Grade Center and allow the student to retake the test?
When students are taking a test/survey and they do not submit their answers correctly (or something else goes wrong), Blackboard will display an Attempt in Progress icon (see the Icon Legend in the Grade Center). This icon is used to let the instructor know that the student started answering the questions, but the student has not clicked the Submit button (or that an error occured).
If the student cannot submit the answers, the instructor can clear the attempt and allow the student to take the test again. To clear the attempt follow these steps:
- Go to the Control Panel
- Click Grade Center
- Click on the menu for the cell where the icon appears.
- Select Grade Details
- Click the Clear Attempt button.
- Click OK
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12. How can I display the score instead of displaying a checkmark for each requirement listed in the Grade Center?
In order to change the display for an assignment or test in the Grade Center from a checkmark to a score follow these steps:
- Return to the Control Panel
- Click on Grade Center
- Hover the mouse over the column of the item you want to change.
- Select Modify Column
- Change Primary Display to Score
- Click Submit.
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13. How can I download a copy of the online Grade Center?
- Go to the Control Panel.
- Click on Grade Center.
- Hover the mouse over Manage.
- Click on Download.
- Choose your options.
- Click Sumbit.
- Click Download.
- Click Save.
- Choose a location on your computer.
- Click Save. You can open the document with Excel.
14. Where can I find additional support for the new Blackboard 8 Grade Center?
Please view our Blackboard 8 Support page. If this doesn't solve your issue, please email Susan Gaitan sgaitan@fullerton.edu. In your email, please describe your issue in detail, and include the course name, number, and 5-digit schedule id. The FDC also offers workshops on the Blackboard Grade Center. See our schedule.
15. How can I change my e-mail address?
You cannot. All users must use their CSUF assigned email address.
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Page updated March 2009
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