Overview

This tutorial is designed to provide you with an overview of how to use the ICDC College BlackBoard Classroom. The BlackBoard System is designed for easy access to course materials and provides the opportunity for communication in an online environment. This tutorial will guide you through the process of acquiring your username and password and the use of the basic features in the BlackBoard Classroom

Some information that you might find in the BlackBoard Classroom may include:

• Announcements
• Syllabus
• Discussion Questions
• Quizzes or Exams
• Instructor Information such as office hours and her/his phone number
• Course Content: PowerPoint files, class notes, short videos and/or external links

Note: If you need further assistance accessing the different areas of your class listed above please contact the ICDC College Online Support team at 877-900-4232. (Please allow 24 business hours response)

First Step:

Once you have registered, you are automatically enrolled in those classes which appear on your BlackBoard Home Page. Your instructor might open the Classroom to you before the official class start date but you should not expect a reply to postings or assignments from your instructor until the official start of classes.

New Students: Username and Password:

Your username will be as follows icdc.onlineID where “onlineID” is the ID that was provided to you in the email that was sent to you when you began the application process. This online ID and your password were also sent to you in your acceptance email.

Logging into Blackboard:

Log into ICDC Blackboard by navigating to the ICDC College Virtual Campus Home Page and clicking on the ”Go to Class” link

Depending upon your browser settings, you may need to add the ICDC College servers to your list of trusted sites: *.icdc.blackboard.com
In Internet Explorer: Tools > Internet options > Security > Trusted Sites > Sites

Navigating through the BlackBoard Classroom

BlackBoard is divided into tabbed screens. Each tab represents a different area. The active tab is always white. The tabs across the top of the BlackBoard login page direct you to important information that you might need while at ICDC College.

• The My Courses tab provides access to your courses.
• The Announcement area is where you will find timely information critical to your success.
• All questions related to class content should be directed to your instructor.

Password Issues:

If you forget your password, either click on the Forgot Your Password? link to have a new password mailed to you or contact your student advisor at 877-900-4232.

Some messages you might receive while attempting to log in

An error occurred while the system was processing this login request.
This means the username you typed in does not exist in the BlackBoard database of users. If the class hasn't started yet, or if you recently added a class, your account might not have been created yet. If the class is already underway, you should contact your student advisor at 877-900-4232 and let him or her know that you are unable to access ICDC College BlackBoard.

Could not login. Valid authentication credentials were not provided.
Basically, this means that the password you typed in is incorrect. BlackBoard found your username in the system, but couldn't match up what you typed in the password box with the stored value in the system. Try re-typing your password and make certain that you don't have Caps Lock on by mistake. Passwords are case sensitive, so you will need to type in your password exactly as you did when you first set it or when it was first created

An error occurred in the authentication module. Error occurred while trying to lookup the current session in the database.
This error indicates that the server was unable to set a cookie on your computer, which it uses to keep track of who you are as you navigate through your course(s). BlackBoard requires the use of cookies, so you will need to change the settings on your computer to allow this.
If you are using Internet Explorer, you can allow cookies by going in the Tools menu, and choosing “Options...” at the bottom of the menu. Go to the Privacy tab, and change the slider control to anything other than Block All Cookies. (Even a setting of High should allow BlackBoard to work on your system.) If you are not using Internet Explorer, or if you have changed the setting as described but are still getting the error message, you should contact the Online Support Team for assistance. Be sure to include your Campus username and information about your computer such as operating system and browser (Windows XP with Internet Explorer 6, OS X 10.3 with Safari, etc.) and mention if you are running any firewall software as well.

No authentication credentials were provided with the request.
This error indicates that the browser security you are using is set too high. You will need to relax the security imposed on your computer to allow BlackBoard to properly interact with your web browser.
If you are using Internet Explorer, you can lower your security setting by going to the Tools menu and choosing 'Internet Options...' at the bottom of the menu. Go to the Security tab, choose the Internet zone from the white box "Select a Web content zone to specify its security settings." (The Internet zone is the one with a blue and green globe, all the way to the left in the box.) If you click the button that says "Default Level" it should return the Internet zone to Medium-level security, which will allow ICDC College Blackboard to operate normally with your computer.
If you do not wish to lower the security level of your Internet zone, but still wish to use ICDC College BlackBoard from this computer, you can add ICDC College Blackboard to the Trusted sites zone and change that security level to medium instead. To do this, go on the Tools menu and choose “Options...” at the bottom of the menu. Go to the Security tab, choose the Trusted sites zone from the white box "Select a Web content zone to specify its security settings." (The Trusted sites zone is the one with a green circle and check mark, third from the left.) Click the "Sites..." button and a new window will open up. Clear the check mark (if there is one) from the box labeled "Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone," then type blackboard.southark.edu into the "Add this Web site to the zone" box near the top of the window, and click the "Add" button.

The Classroom Interface

Below are the default section names and the content you may find in each section.
Note: The section names might vary.

Although the section names may vary, below are the default section names and the content you may find in each section.

Accessing Announcements:

Announcements are placed in the Classroom by your instructor and provide critical course information. Checking the course and reading the course announcements will help insure your success in the course. The Announcement page generally is the first page of the course and is viewed after you have clicked on your course link. However, your instructor may choose to have a different page appear as the first page of the course. To view the announcements, click on the Announcement button or link in the Navigation bar located on the left-side of the navigation window.

Announcements are ordered by date with the most recent date displayed first. An announcement is displayed on the View Last 7 Days tab for 7 days unless your instructor has made it a permanent announcement. Once the seventh day passes, the announcement moves from the View Last 7 Days to the View Last 30 Days and then finally the View All tab. (see graphic)

Working with Attachments :

You have the ability to upload and download files in Blackboard. Your instructor can upload files in almost any area of Blackboard. Generally, attached files appear as blue underlined text with the file size noted beside it. Hyperlinks also contain blue, underlined text but do not have a file size associated with the link.

Opening a file in a New Browser Window

• Right-click (MAC-ctrl click) on the file name,
• Select Open in New Window from the menu,
• Review the file and click on the X to close the browser window.

Save a File to Your Desktop

• Right-click (MAC-ctrl click) on the file name.
• Select, Save Target As from the menu. The Save As dialog box will appear.
• Choose a location to save the file and click on the Save button.

Attaching Files to Blackboard
You may need to share files with your instructor or other learners. There are three areas where you can upload a file. They are the Discussion Board, Send Email, and the Digital Drop Box. Your instructor may choose to use all four areas or none of them.

The layout of each feature might vary.


Using the Digital Dropbox

1. Click on the Course Tools.
2. In the Tool Window: click on the digital dropbox.
3. Click on the Send File button to attach the file. The "path" or location of your file should appear in the Add or Browse text box.
4. Click on the Submit button.

Taking Exams

Please read all the instructions on this page before completing an exam. Take the exam well before the completion date and time so that if any errors occur you are able to talk to your instructor and complete the exam before the deadline.

• Make sure that you are prepared to take the exam in one sitting.
• Close all other computer applications (Except Word if you are taking an essay exam).
• Make sure your browser window is full-screen.
• Be aware of your instructors' directions before taking the exam.

• Single-click on the Final Evaluation on the navigation bar link when you are ready to take the exam. Once open you will not be able to "back out" of the exam.
• Click on the Final Evaluation, then click the ok button.
• Wait for the entire exam to load before beginning the exam!

• Don't click on any of the browser navigation buttons which include the Back, Forward and Home buttons. Use the navigation buttons within Blackboard.
• Don't Refresh/Reload your browser window once you have begun the exam.
• Don't use bookmarks. Access the quiz/exam through Blackboard links.
• Don't attempt to print the quiz/exam.
• Don't attempt to access other pages while taking the quiz/exam.
• Don't hit the Return key on your keyboard to submit answers. Instead, use the navigation within Blackboard.
• If you are only able to answer one question at a time on your exam, single-click the next button to view the next question.
• Don't click on any of the navigation links on the left-side of the browser window. Doing so will prematurally submit your exam.
• If taking an essay test, write your answers in MSWord and cut/paste them into the Blackboard platform. If anything goes wrong, you will have a copy of your answers.

Single-click on the Submit button and wait patiently. Do not double-click the Submit button.

The Discussion Board:

The Discussion Board allows the learner to actively communicate with other learners as well as an instructors. Conversations are logged and organized making it easy for both you and the instructor to see who is participating in the class discussions.

Discussion board questions are initiated by the instructor for the creation of an active learner forum. Once created, learners can answer the discussion board question by creating a thread.

Below is the typical method for accessing the Discussion Board tool in your course. Your instructor may place links to the Discussion Board elsewhere in the course.

• On the Course Menu, select Communication.
• Select Discussion Board.
• Select the Forum you were instructed to go to.

Forums can only be created by the Instructor. Click on the link, in the example above, Discussion Question 1 to add a Thread.

To add your initial response, click on the Add New Thread button.

Adding a thread is similar to filling out a form or an email. Add a subject in the Subject text box area. Enter your message in the Message text box. Notice that the text box contains word processor like functions so you can format your text.

You can also attach a file to your answer by clicking on the Browse button in the Attachment area. The Browse button opens the Choose File window in Windows and allows you to search for your file. Click on the Submit button when you have finished your thread.

• Click on the Thread link.
• Click on Reply button to post a reply to a message.

Helpful Hints

Reading Messages:
You can save a lot of time if you open each message in a new browser window (right-click on the message and choose Open in New Window). After reading the message, you simply close the browser window to return to the message list without having to reload the entire list each time.

Entering Subject Headings:
When posting a reply, clear the subject heading and enter a new subject heading to identify the purpose and intent of your reply. Meaningful and descriptive titles will make it easier for you and other learners to see the direction and flow of the discussions when viewing the forum index.