Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Access Information
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- Which Web Browsers can I use to access the Blackboard system?
- How do I obtain an account for Blackboard?
- How do I request a Blackboard course Web site?
- What information in SIS+ does a department need to update in order for faculty to have access to the Blackboard course Web site?
- My course Web site is unavailable. How do I make the course Web site available to the students?
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- How will students enroll in my course Web site?
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- What happens if a student does not have access to the student portal? How do they access my course Web site?
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- Can I add additional students to my course Web site or do I have to wait for IT to import the information from SIS+?
- How can I add a TA, Course Builder, or additional instructors to my Blackboard course Web site?
- How do I enable the guest account?
- I made my course Web site available and my students cannot find the Blackboard course Web site after they login through the portal. What can the student do?
- I am using Internet Explorer 7.0 or higher and some of the Blackboard features would not work?
- I cannot post threads on a Discussion Board forum using Internet Explorer 7.0 on the Windows Vista operating system
- I cannot access the Virtual Classroom
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Features and Capabilities
- What is My Institution?
- Can I have one single course Web site for multiple
sections?
- How can I copy content from an existing course Web site to a new course Web site?
- How can I copy content from my SUMMER 2007 Blackboard course to my Fall 2007 Blackboard Course?
- How do I copy Documents or Folders from one folder to another on the same course?
- How can I verify that my students are enrolled in the course Web site?
- How can I delete a course Web site?
- How can I change the course title?
- How can I change my e-mail address?
- How can I delete the student records?
- How can I download a copy of my course Web site?
- How can I download a copy of the Online Gradebook?
- Why are students who dropped my class still included in my course Web site?
- How can I disable an account in my course Web site?
- Where can students obtain support if they are having problems with Blackboard?
- How can I display the score instead of displaying a checkmark for each requirement listed on the Online Gradebook?
- How can I delete or hide the old Blackboard course Web sites listed in the My Courses module?
- How can I make a quiz available again and change the expiration date?
- How can I clear the padlock displayed on the online gradebook and allow the student to take the test again?
- My students are seeing a green checkmark instead of the score I assigned. How can I change this view?
- I am a Mac user and I have problems downloading the gradebook. How can I download a copy of the gradebook?
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Access Information
1. How do I access the Blackboard Learning System?
You can access Blackboard from any computer that is connected to the World Wide Web and has a web browser software. You can use either Netscape Communicator 7 or higher or Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or higher. Mac computer users can also use the 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://my.fullerton.edu
- Type the username and password
- Click the login button
- Click the Blackboard tab
- Click the button "Click Here to Access your Blackboard Classes".
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 a class, please contact your department immediately and confirm that you are listed as the instructor for the class in SIS+ (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 portal (Question #1). Guests and students who are not matriculated can access the Blackboard Learning system directly after obtaining the username and password from the instructor. The Web address to the home page for Blackboard is
http://fullerton.blackboard.com.
If you are having problems accessing Blackboard, you will need to contact the help desk at (714) 278 - 7777.
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3. Which Web Browsers can I use to access the Blackboard System?
You can use either Netscape Communicator 7 or higher or Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or higher. Mac computer users can also use the 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 and ask to obtain an account for the faculty portal.
This information will be imported onto the Blackboard system.
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5. How do I request a Blackboard course Web site?
You do not have to request a course Web site. Course Web sites for all classes are created automatically in the Blackboard Learning system. However, you will need to ensure that your department updates the SIS+ system and identify you as the instructor.
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6. What Information in SIS+ does a department need to update in order for the instructor to have access to the Blackboard course Web site?
Please ask your department to update the following information in SIS+:
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Go to screen 129 and make sure the Instructor ID and the class information are on the screen.
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Check on screen 1F6 or 1F7 using the Instructor ID if the instructor's email address is correct. To ensure that the instructor's email address is correct, please tell your department to double check and use the Microsoft Outlook address book to compare it. The email address on the Microsoft Outlook address book is always current and it has to match with the email address entered on the screen 1F6 or 1F7.
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7. My course Web site is unavailable. How do I make the course Web site available to the students?
- Go to the Control Panel.
- Click on Settings.
- Click on Course Availability.
- Select the Yes radio button.
- Click the Submit button.
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8. How do students obtain access to a Blackboard course Web site?
Students need to login to the student portal at http://my.fullerton.edu and click the Blackboard tab. Then, they will see the courses they are enrolled.
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9. How will students enroll in my course
Web site?
Students will be enrolled automatically in each Blackboard course Web site before
the semester begins. You are still required to make your course
site available to your students (please read question
7).
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10. Can I make my course Web site available
before the semester begins? Can students access my Blackboard
course Web site before the first day of class?
Yes, you can make your course Web site available. Please keep in mind that some of your students may need to wait 24 hours until their registration in updated in the Blackboard system.
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11. What happens if a student does not have
access to the student portal? How do they obtain access to my
course Web site?
All students who are matriculated and taking
classes through Extended Education have access to the student
portal. However, there are special cases when a student will not
have access to the student portal.
If a student does not have access to the student
portal the instructor will need to send their full name and e-mail
address of each student to Susan Gaitan . The student(s) will
access the Blackboard system directly at http://fullerton.blackboard.com
12. What happens if a student drops a class?
How can I remove his/her account in my Blackboard course Web site
roster?
If a student drops a class, the IT Web Services department will disable the account. After census they will remove the account from the Blackboard course Web site.
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13. Are students enrolled in
each course Web site?
Yes, Blackboard will have a course Web site for each class you
are teaching. Students will be automatically enrolled in the corresponding
course Web site.
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14. Can I add additional students to my course Web site or do I have to wait for IT to import the information from SIS+?
The Information Technology department will add new students and drop students from your course Web sites after they import a new file from SIS+ every day. However, you can add students to your Blackboard course Web site as long as they have an existing account in Blackboard.
Please ask your student(s) to give you their full name and user name. Then you will need to follow these steps:
- Go to the Control Panel.
- Click Enroll User.
- Search for the student's last name, user name, or e-mail address.
- Identify the student and click the Add checkbox.
- Click Submit.
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15. How can I add a TA, Course Builder, or additional instructors to my Blackboard course Web site?
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 the instructions provided in question 14 ). Then you will need to 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.
- Select the User Role.
- Click the Submit button.
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16. How do I enable the guest account?
In order for the guest to have access to the Blackboard course Web site, faculty will need to enable the guest account in three different locations using the control panel:
- Manage Course Menu: Faculty will need to modify the settings for each item listed on the navigation bar and allow the guests to access the content.
- Manage Tools: Faculty will need to click the link Enable Blackboard Tools and select the checkbox that allows the guest to access the content area.
- Settings: Faculty will need to click on the link Guest Access and enable the guest account.
The guest will need to access Blackboard via the portal using their CSUF username and password. Then the person will need to search for the class using the Courses tab.
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17. I made my course Web site available and my students cannot find the Blackboard course Web site after they login through the portal. What can the student do?
The IT department imports the student registration information from SIS+ onto the Blackboard system. Please ask the students to contact the help desk at 714.278.7777 and they will be able to identify the problem.
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18. I am using Internet Explorer 7.0 or higher and some of the Blackboard features would not work?
If you are using Internet Explorer 7.0 or higher You will have to make https://fullerton.blackboard.com a Trusted site in order to run all Blackboard features successfully. Click here to view the step by step instructions on how to add https://fullerton.blackboard.com as a Trusted site.
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19. I cannot post threads on a Discussion Board forum using Internet Explorer 7.0 on the Windows Vista operating system. (make sure you perform #18 also)
Windows Vista has not yet been declared a supported operating system by Blackboard. Please download and use the Firefox browser to participate in Discussion Boards if using Windows Vista. Click here to download the latest version of Firefox.
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20. I cannot access the Virtual Classroom.
Make sure that you are runnning the latest version of the Java software plugin. Click here to access the Java download page at http://www.java.com.
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Features and Capabilities
1. What is My Institution?
My Institution is the home page for the Blackboard system. However, it is called
"My Fullerton" at this University. My Fullerton allows
students to obtain information from different courses. It is highly
effective when students are enrolled in multiple courses that use
Blackboard. Students can quickly access their courses, announcements,
calendar events, and tasks, from one or more courses.
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2. Can I have one single course Web site for multiple sections?
Yes, you can request to have one of your Blackboard course Web sites be the "Master" course Web site that will list the combined rosters.
If you are interested using this tool, you need to send an e-mail to Susan Gaitan identifying the class schedule numbers for all classes. Please specify which of the classes should be identified as the "Master" course Web site.
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3. How can I copy content from an existing course Web site to a new course Web site?
Click here to watch a Flash Video Tutorial
Log on to Blackboard and go to your existing course in which you have the material already, this would be or your SOURCE COURSE or the course from which you intend to copy the material. The course to which you intend to copy would be your DESTINATION COURSE.
- Go to the Control Panel (on your SOURCE course to select the material you would like to copy)
- Click Course Copy. (which can be found under COURSE OPTIONS on 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 easiest way to locate your DESTINATION COURSE is to either search by your 5 digit course schedule number OR you by your username. Eg: If you would like to search by your course ID you can select the "COURSE ID" radio button and put in the 5 digit course schedule number (eg: 12410) and click on Search OR simply select the "INSTRUCTOR" radio button and put in your username (eg: sahmed) and then click on Search.
- Once you locate your DESTINATION COURSE to which you would like to copy your material, Click the Select button to select the destination course.
- Select the course materials that you wish to copy using the check boxes.
- Make sure NOT TO select ENROLLMENT while selecting the material to be copied. If you select enrollment 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 copy course, you must be the designated instructor of both the source as well as the destination course. Please view the Titan Class Schedule for the specific semesters to verify that you have been designated as the instructor of the courses. Click here to view the Titan Class Schedule.
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4. How can I copy content from my SUMMER 2007 Blackboard course to my Fall 2007 Blackboard Course?
Click here to view the help file.
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5.How do I copy Documents or Folders from one folder to another on the same course?
Please click here to view the help file.
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6. How can I verify that my students are enrolled in the course Web site?
Go to the control panel and click on the link "List/modify users". Then click the search button.
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7. How can I delete a course Web site?
Instructors cannot delete a course Web site. However, if you do not want to continue using the Blackboard course Web site, you can make it unavailable by going to the Control Panel - Course Settings - Course Availability. Then select the No radio button and click the submit button.
You can also place the link for your course Web site at the bottom of the list in the My Course Module if you add the letter "z" to the beginning of the title (read question 6).
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8. How can I change the course title?
To change the course title go to Control Panel - Settings - Course Name and Description. Type the new title and click the submit button.
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9. How can I change my e-mail address?
To change your e-mail address in Blackboard follow these steps:
- Login to Blackboard
- Under "My Fullerton" go to the "Tools" panel
- Click "Personal Information"
- Click "Edit Personal Information"
- Type the new e-mail address
- Click the Submit button
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10. How can I delete the student records?
You will not be able to delete student records. The IT department will delete the student accounts if they drop your class.
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11. How can I download a copy of my course Web site?
Take the following steps to download a copy of the course Web site:
- Go to the Control Panel.
- Click on Export Course.
- Select the course materials.
- Click the Submit button.
- Click the link provided to download the course Web site.
- Select the location in your computer where you want to store the file.
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12. How can I download a copy of the Online Gradebook?
- Go to the Control Panel.
- Click on Gradebook.
- Click on Download Grades.
- Select the Delimiter Type for the downloaded file: Comma or Tab (Note: Choose Comma if you would like to download it as a .csv file and open it in MS Excel).
- Click the download button.
- Select the location in your computer where you want to store the file.
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13. Why are students who dropped my class still included in my course Web site?
Your students are still listed because the IT department only disables the account in your Blackboard course Web site. This is done as a precaution during open enrollment because some of the students will change their mind and enroll again in the same class.
However, The IT department will remove the accounts after census if faculty submitted their request on time.
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14. How can I disable an account in my course Web site?
When you disable an account, you are denying access to your course Web site. However, there are a couple of unresolved issues in the Blackboard system. The account will still be included in the online gradebook and they will receive e-mails from you if you use the link to send an e-mail to "all users". You can disable the account in your course Web site if you 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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15. Where
can students obtain support if they are having problems with Blackboard?
The instructor is responsible for explaining to his/her students
how to use the features implemented in a Blackboard course Web site.
However, 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 (714) 278-7777.
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16. How can I display the score instead of displaying a checkmark for each requirement listed on the Online Gradebook?
In order to change the display for a requirement on the Online Gradebook from a checkmark to a score follow these steps:
- Return to the Control Panel
- Click on Gradebook
- Click on Modify Items
- Click on the Modify button for the requirement you need to update
- Change the "Display As" information from complete/incomplete to score
- Click the submit button
- Return to the gradebook.
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17. How can I delete or hide the old Blackboard course Web sites listed in the "My Courses" module?
Faculty cannot remove the old Blackboard course Web sites. The IT department will remove the Blackboard course Web sites one year after the semester ends.
However, you can hide the old course Web sites after you make them unavailable if you customize the My Courses module. To hide the old course Web sites:
- Click the edit My Courses module button located on the upper right corner.
- Remove the checkmark for each class that you do not want to display.
- Click the Submit button.
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18. How can I make a quiz available again and change the expiration date?
You will need to return to the location were you made the quiz available and modify the settings. 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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19. How can I clear the padlock displayed on the online gradebook and allow the student to take the test again?
When students are taking a quiz/survey and they do not submit their answers, Blackboard will display a padlock to indicate that the quiz is in progress. This icon is used to let the instructor know that the student started answering the questions but the student has not click the submit button.
If the student cannot submit the answers, the instructor can clear the attempt and allow the students to take the quiz again. To clear the attempt follow these steps:
- Go to the Control Panel
- Click Gradebook
- Click on the padlock icon
- Click the View button
- Click the Clear Attempt button.
- Click OK
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20. My students are seeing a green checkmark instead of the score I assigned. How can I change this view?
This happens while creating a new item for the Gradebook and the option for "Display As" is not changed from complete/incomplete to score. To display the score instead of the green checkmark, go to the control panel, click on gradebook, click on manage items, click on modify and change the setting for "Display As" to score.
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21. I am a Mac user and I have problems downloading the gradebook. How can I download a copy of the gradebook?
Faculty who are using a Mac to access Blackboard can download a copy of the gradebook using thefollowing steps:
- Login to Blackboard go to the control panel - Gradebook
- Click the button/link download grades
- Select comma to separate the information
- Click the submit button
- Press the control key down and click the download button
- Select "Download link to disk"
- Type the name and select the location where you would like to save the .csv file.
- Launch excel
- Go to File - Open and open the .csv file
- Go to File - Save as to save it as a spreadsheet
- Add the formulas and update the spreadsheet
When you are ready to import the file launch Microsoft Excel and use the File menu - Save as and save the spreadsheet as a .csv file. Then you can return to Blackboard and upload the grades.
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