Student Guide: Getting Started with Blackboard 7

http://blackboard.hartford.edu

 

Blackboard is an Internet application used by many instructors to put their courses online.  Information on using Blackboard is available at:  http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/fcld/handoutsstudent.htm .  As part of a major upgrade to Blackboard, the University has implemented significant changes for Blackboard usernames and course enrollments. 

 

Beginning in the Fall 2007 term, students will automatically be enrolled into official University Blackboard courses using class rosters.  Students cannot be added into a Blackboard course unless they are officially enrolled in the course through the Registrar’s Office.

 

All Blackboard users will be required to use their University of Hartford email username to access Blackboard (e.g., jdoe if your email is jdoe@hartford.edu ).

 

  • If you DO NOT have a University of Hartford email address, visit the Computer Support Center in the Computer Center, room CC113.  In order to prove your affiliation with the University, bring either your current class schedule or your schedule for an upcoming semester, and your University of Hartford Student ID card.  Within approximately two business days of requesting your University email, you will have access to Blackboard. 

Logging into Blackboard 7

Once you have a have a Blackboard account (username and password), you can log in. Your username is your email username ID (e.g., jdoe if your email is jdoe@hartford.edu ) and your initial password is the last four digits of your University ID, which can be found on your University ID card.  Note:  For Fall ’07, all passwords were changed to the last four digits of the University ID.  Change your password after logging in. 

  1. Go to http://blackboard.hartford.edu
  2. Click User Login.
  3. Type in your Username and Password.
  4. Click Login. 

 

If at any time you can’t remember your password, click the “Forgot Password?” link.  Instructions will be sent to the email address you have registered in Blackboard.

 

How do I access my Blackboard courses?

Go to http://blackboard.hartford.edu, and log in using your username and password.  After you log in, you will see your Blackboard Home Page. Your Blackboard courses will appear in a list to the right under a heading titled “My Courses.”  To enter a class, click the name of the course.

 

I logged into Blackboard, but I don’t see my courses anywhere!

Sixty days prior to the start of a term, students will be automatically enrolled into Blackboard courses.  If you do not see any courses listed under the “My Courses” heading, it may be that your instructors are not using Blackboard this semester, or may not have made their Blackboard courses available yet.  Automatic enrollments are updated daily, Monday – Friday through the semester. 

 

NOTE:  If you have recently added a course, it takes approximately two business days to become registered and enrolled into Blackboard courses. 

I forgot my password.  What should I do?   

Go to http://blackboard.hartford.edu and select the “Forgot Your Password?” link.  Instructions will be listed, informing you how to reset your password.   A message containing a link to reset your password will be sent to your Hartford email address.   

How do I change my Blackboard password?  


After logging in for the first time, it is recommended you change your password.  You may change your password in Blackboard at any time, but changing your password in Blackboard will not change your email password (although you may elect to set them to be the same).

·    After you log in, you will see your Blackboard Home Page.

·    On the left hand side of the screen, you will see a “Tools” menu.

·    Click on the tool labeled Personal Information.

·    Click on Change Password.

·    Enter your new password.  You will need to do this twice.

·    Scroll down and click Submit.

         


What if I have trouble using Blackboard?

Ask your instructor for assistance if you are having trouble using Blackboard.  If you continue to have trouble, or if he or she is not able to answer your questions, contact ITS at (860) 768-5999.  ITS has evening hours during the week and is open on weekends.

I already have email; do I have to use the University email?   

You must have a University email account to access Blackboard.  The University email is used to access Blackboard, online library services, and to communicate important University announcements.  If you want to continue using an alternate email address, you may forward your Hartford email to your other email account.  Instructions for forwarding email can be found at:  http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/www/index_howto.html and are as follows:

  1. Point your web browser to http://mail.hartford.edu:8000.
  2. Log on with your email name (without the "@hartford.edu" part) and your e-mail password (leave "Interface" set to "Administration").
  3. Click the "+" next to "Administration".
  4. Click the "+" next to "Mail".
  5. Click "Account".
  6. Click the "Forward" tab.
  7. Type in the address you would like your mail forwarded to, such as jdoe@aol.com
  8. Click the "Add" button.
  9. Be sure to UNCHECK the "Retain copy of received mail" box
  10. Click the "Update" button.
  11. Click the "Log Off" button at the top of the screen.
  12. If you need assistance, call the ITS Help Desk at (860) 768-5999.

Are there any instructions on using Blackboard?  

If you are logged into Blackboard, clicking on the Help Button (question mark) at the top of the screen will direct you to student information.  If you are not logged into Blackboard, this information is also available at:  http://uhaweb.hartford.edu/fcld/handoutstudent.htm

 

Accessing Blackboard Handouts

My username and password aren’t working.  What should I do?

  • Make sure you have University email.  You will not have a Blackboard username until you have one.
  • Make sure you are using the correct password.  For Fall ’07, all passwords were changed to the last four digits of the University ID.
  • Make sure you are using the correct case for your password – passwords are case sensitive!
  • Make sure that you aren’t using your entire email address as a username.  Only the first part of your email address should be entered (jdoe if your email is jdoe@hartford.edu) as your username.
  • Make sure that you are using only the last four digits of your University ID.
  • Call the ITS Help Desk at (860) 768-5999 to be sure that you are using the correct username or check the  online email directory at http://vax.hartford.edu/www/white_pages.html

Accessing the Blackboard Student Manual

A manual of instructions for using Blackboard is available under the Tools box (click on “Course Tools”) of your Blackboard course menu. 

         Accessing the User Manual
  • You need a computer with multimedia capabilities (i.e., sound with speakers), a monitor capable of at least 800 x 600 resolution, a 56k modem or Internet connection, and an Internet Browser in order to access Blackboard.  Here are further specifications:
  • Your browser must accommodate both JavaScript and Java for some functions of the course.  These are functions you can turn on in your browser.
  • Your browser must be set to accept cookies (use minimum browser security settings).
  • Windows users will need the Java Virtual Machine, which can be downloaded for free from Sun Microsystems.
  • NOTE:  Firewalls and popup blockers may affect your ability to access and use Blackboard.

Ø      The Java 2 Run Time Environment1.5.06 & above (recommended) is required to use the Collaboration Tools. 

Ø      This plug-in may be downloaded from the page that appears when a user joins a Collaboration Session, or

Ø      Visit http://java.sun.com/products/plugin/index.jsp. 

 

In order to use Blackboard on your personal computer, you must have cookies enabled.  Depending on your browser type, do one of the following:

 

Internet Explorer

  1. Open Internet Explorer and select Tools à Internet Options.
  2. Select the Privacy Tab.
  3. Using the sliding bar, slide the bar down to that the cookie settings are Medium or lower.
  4. Click OK.

 

Mozilla Firefox

  1. Open Firefox and select Tools à Options.
  2. Click onto Privacy.
  3. Check “Accept Cookies from Sites.”
  4. Click OK.

 

Netscape

1.    Open Netscape and select Edit à Preferences.

  1. Click onto Privacy and Security.
  2. Select Cookies.
  3. Select Enable Cookies.
  4. Click OK.

Supported Browsers for Blackboard 7

Internet Explorer

·        Windows 2000, IE version 6.0

·        Windows XP, IE version 6.0* and 7.0 (provisionally - beta)

 

Mozilla Firefox

·        Windows 2000, Firefox 1.0

·        Windows XP, Firefox 1.0*

·        MAC OS 10.2, Firefox 1.0

·        MAC OS 10.3, Firefox 1.0*

·        MAC OS 10.4, Firefox 1.0*

 

Netscape

·        Windows 2000, Netscape 7.1, 8.0

·        Windows XP, Netscape 7.1, 8.0

·        MAC OS 10.2, Netscape 7.1

·        MAC OS 10.3, Netscape 7.1

 

Apple Safari (for MAC OS only)

·        OS 10.2, Safari version 1.0 and 1.1

·        OS 10.3, Safari version 1.2*

·        OS 10.4, Safari version 2.0*

 

Other browsers, such as AOL or Opera, may function but are not officially supported by Blackboard.  AOL users should consider minimizing the AOL browser and use Internet Explorer or Netscape instead.