Blackboard Quick Guide

1. What is Blackboard?

Blackboard is a course development tool which allows your instructor to teach all or part of your course on the Web. You can do some or all of the following in your course, depending on how your instructor set it up:

See announcements about the course
See your instructor's biographical and contact information
Check the syllabus, including assignments and due dates, readings, etc.
Participate in on-line "chats" (synchronous) with other students and your instructor
Participate in a Discussion Board (asynchronous), posting and reading messages from your instructor and other students
Access course materials and resources on the Web
Participate in small group discussions and projects
Send assignments to instructors in a "drop box" and receive their feedback
Take on-line quizzes and check your grade
Create your own Web page to introduce yourself to the class

2. What software do I need on my home computer?

You can use either Firefox or Internet Explorer. Your browser must accommodate both JavaScript and Java. Firefox is provided at University of Maine System campuses and centers and at ITV receive sites.You can download a free copy of Firefox for use on your home computer from the mozilla.com web site.

3. What if I don't have a computer at home?

Computers are available at sites, UMS Centers, and campuses. Many public libraries also provide Web access. For more information on general access computer labs at USM see the web pages at www.usm.maine.edu/computing/labs/.

4. How do I get to my course site?

You can access your course in one of two ways. Both options below bring you to a login screen. Upon logging in you'll see your personal "portal", which might include announcements, calendar events, and a list of today's tasks. Click on the link to the course you wish to enter in the My Courses box in the upper right of the My Institution tab.

Specific login instructions:

Go to www.courses.maine.edu
If your course is being offered as a distance education course and is listed in the UMS course guide distributed by UNET, go to the UNET Web site (www.unet.maine.edu ), click on Internet Course Conferences, and click on your course in the list.

5. How do I log in?

When you see the login screen, click Login. On the login screen, enter your UMS User ID and Password.

Your UMS User ID is the same as your University (maine.edu) e-mail name (the part of your e-mail address before the "@"). (For example: if your e-mail address is John.Jones@maine.edu, your UMS User ID is John.Jones).

If you don't have a University e-mail account, one will be set up for you within 24 hours after you register for a course that uses Blackboard and automatically entered into Blackboard. New e-mail accounts/User IDs are set up with this convention: Firstname.Lastname, eliminating any hyphens, apostrophes, and periods in your last name.

Examples of UserNames:

Martha Robinson: Martha.Robinson
Margaret Smith-Brown: Margaret.SmithBrown
Terry O'Reilly: Terry.OReilly
Martin St. James: Martin.StJames

6. I'm having login problems. Any suggestions?

If you try to log in immediately after registering for a course and are unsuccessful, try again the next day.
Try adding your middle initial. If this doesn't work, try adding your middle name.
Example: John David Robinson would try, in order:
- John.Robinson
- John.D.Robinson
- John.David.Robinson
If you are still unsuccessful, call the USM HelpDesk at 780-4029 or the UNET Technical Support line at 1-800-696-4357 (HELP).

7. How do I verify, forward, or change my e-mail?

Your maine.edu e-mail address will automatically be entered for you, and all Blackboard mail will be sent to that address. E-mail forwarding can no longer be set up within Blackboard, but can be set at the UMS Mail Server.

You should verify, and, if necessary, forward your e-mail address and change other information as soon as possible.

From within your course:

Click Student Tools
Click Personal Information

From your personal "portal":

Click Personal Information in the Tools area on the left-hand side of the screen.

Click Edit Personal Information. Either:

Verify that this is the address you want to use; or
Go to the UMS Mail Server to update your e-mail forwarding (from the University account to another account)

While Editing your Personal Information, please do not delete or alter your Student ID number. It is viewable only by your Instructor and Blackboard Administrator to verify Blackboard rosters against the official University Class List as maintained in the Student Information System.

It's helpful to your instructor and other students if you make your e-mail address visible in the Roster. To do this, select Set Privacy Options under Personal Information. Click E-mail address and confirm.

8. How do I change my password?

You can change your e-mail password at the UMS Mail Server web site.

9. How do I get around my course?

The buttons on the left-hand side of the screen link to various parts of the course. (You may not see all of the default buttons which are displayed here, and some of the buttons may have different names.)

Announcements: Used to display announcements, updates, and reminders. Appears in the main course window each time you enter the course. You can view either today's or previous announcements.
Course Information *: Information about the course which is typically found in a course syllabus.
Staff Information (Alternate button names: Faculty Information, Group Leaders, Teachers: Information about your instructor: e-mail, telephone numbers, office hours, personal bio.
Course Documents *: This area is used to hold the majority of information that will be delivered online, such as course outlines, handouts, lecture materials, and related readings.
Assignments *: This area holds course assignments, and may contain links to tests, quizzes, and surveys.
Communication (Your course may have unique buttons for Discussion Board, Virtual Chat/Chat/Virtual Classroom, and Groups.): Communication tools, including Send E-mail, Discussion Board, Virtual Chat, Roster, and Group Pages.
External Links (Alternate button names: Resources, Web Sites.): Here your instructor posts URLs you can use to access Web resources.
Student Tools (Alternate button names: Tools, User Tools): Tools for submitting assignments to the instructor (Digital DropBox), view the Course Calendar, check your grades, edit your homepage, change your password, and enter or change your e-mail address.

* These buttons may be customized by your instructor for specific uses. The new button names might include Bibliography, Homework, Labs, Projects, Lectures.

10. How do I view and download course materials?

You will see course materials as individual documents or in folders in the Course Information, Course Documents, and Assignments areas. If a document is not immediately displayed on the screen, click on the link to the file to either view it in the browser or save it on your own computer to open with the appropriate program. In some cases, you may want to try right clicking on the link.

11. How do I use the Discussion Board?

To read messages posted to the Discussion Board, click on the Communication link, then on Discussion Board. Click on the name of the forum you wish to view, then on the linked threads to read messages. To reply to a message, click the Reply button.

12. How do I send e-mail and check my e-mail?

To send e-mail from Blackboard click on Communication, then Send E-mail. You will NOT be able to read your e-mail directly from Blackboard; use your regular e-mail program.

13. How do I use the DropBox to submit my assignments?

You can send assignments to your instructor as files which you upload to your instructor's DropBox. Files that your instructor sends to you will be in your DropBox. The DropBox is located under the Student Tools menu option. Make sure you "Send" the file(s) or your instructor will not receive them.

14. How do I join my project group?

Your instructor may have set up small groups for project work. Click on Communication, then Group Pages, then the group in which you're planning to work.You will then be able to use number of communication tools with access limited to the members of your group.

15. How do I take quizzes, tests, and surveys?

If your instructor uses Blackboard to give quizzes and/or tests, you will find a link under either Announcements (either on your portal or in the course site), Course Information, Course Documents, or Assignments. Click on the link to take the quiz or test. Answer all questions and click Submit. To check your grades (quizzes and tests only), click on Student Tools, then on Check Grade.

Once you open the quiz, you MUST complete and submit it or you will be locked out and will have to contact your instructor. Do not re-size the browser window ("drag and drop") or you may be locked out.

16. How do I get to the Blackboard "Practice Course"?

A practice "course" is available to help you learn most of the features in Blackboard. Go to www.courses.maine.edu and log in as "student".

17. How can I get Technical Assistance?

Call Technical Support at 1-800-696-4357 (HELP) or e-mail techsupport@maine.edu.

18. Is there an instructional videotape available?

A 20-minute videotape, Using Blackboard Blackboard in Your Course, is available at sites and UMS Centers. It is also available for purchase ($5.50 with $2.50 refundable) from the University of Maine at Augusta Bookstore (1-800-621-0083 or 1-207-621-3128).

Still have questions about Blackboard? Contact us via email at helpdesk@usm.maine.edu.

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