Student Bb Help
Here you can find answers for many common Blackboard questions. If you have additional questions, please contact the BlackBoard Administrator at bbhelp@wcc.vccs.edu or 223-4730.
How do I find my course on Blackboard?
How do I find my course content?
What does this clipboard error mean?
Help! I can't submit a message on the Discussion Board!
My instructor wants me to use the Digital Dropbox. What is it?
How do I submit an Assignment?
How do I use the Discussion Board?
How do I use the Collaboration (chat) tools?
Tips for taking tests on Blackboard
How do I find my course on Blackboard?
Once you log in to Blackboard, there will be a box on the front page of the web site labled "My Blackboard Courses". Your course will be listed there. If you do not see it, it may be for one of these reasons:
- The semester hasn't started yet. Unless it has been specifically requested by your instructor, you will not be able to see your Blackboard course until the semester begins.
- Your instructor has not yet made the course available. If it is past the start of the semester and you still do not see your course, your instructor may not be ready for you to have access to it. Please check with your instructor about the availability of the course before contacting the Distance Learning Office.
- You have not yet been enrolled in the course. If it is past the start of the semester and your instructor says the course is available, yet you still do not see it on your list, contact the Distance Learning Office.
How do I find my course content?
Click on your course title to enter the course. Course content will be found in the sections listed on the left-hand side of the page. Your instructor may also use the Annoucements section of the course to direct you towards content.
What does this clipboard error mean?
If you get a box that pops up asking about your clipboard that you can't exit out of, use these instructions to correct it.
For IE7 users:
- On the far right near the top of the browser, click "Tools" and choose "Internet Options".
- Click on the Security tab.
- Near the bottom of the tab, click the Custom Level button.
- Scroll down the list until you reach the "Scripting" section.
- Find where it says "Allow Programmatic clipboard action" and change it to "Enable".
- Click OK, and then Yes.
- Click OK and then restart the browser.
For IE6 users:
- At the top of your browser, click "Tools" and choose "Internet Options".
- Click on the Security tab.
- Near the bottom of the tab, click the Custom Level button.
- Scroll down the list until you reach the "Scripting" section.
- Find where it says "Allow paste operations via script " and change it to "Enable".
- Click OK, and then Yes.
- Click OK and then restart the browser.
Help! I can't submit a message on the Discussion Board!
Windows Vista and/or IE7 users may have problems with missing text boxes or missing submit buttons. The following instructions will remedy this.
Windows Vista users:
- Login to Blackboard.
- Click the "Learn" tab at the top of the page (or the "Teach" tab if you are faculty or staff).
- Click "Personal Information" in the Tools area on the left.
- Click "Set textbox Editor Options".
- Select "Unavailable".
- Click Submit.
IE7 users:
- Double-click the small globe icon found at the bottom of the browser window.
- Click the "Trusted Sites" icon.
- Click the "Sites..." button.
- Make sure "Require Server Verification (https:)..." checkbox is unchecked.
- Enter *.vccs.edu in the first textbox.
- Click the "Add" button.
- Click "Close" and then click "OK".
My instructor wants me to use the Digital Dropbox. What is it?
The Digital Dropbox is most often used to submit documents to instructors. Click here for instructions.
How do I submit an Assignment?
Assignments are a new feature in Blackboard 6. An Assignment can be added by an instructor to any section of a course. They allow instructors to include instructions and file attachments for students completing the assignment. Students can submit their completed assignments to the instructor, including comments and single or multiple attached files. The instructor can then view and grade the assignment and give feedback to the student as comments or in an attached file.
Click here for an animated tutorial on submitting an Assignment. (307 KB) (requires Macromedia Flash Player)
Click here for instructions on using Assignments.
How do I use the Discussion Board?
Discussion boards are used to foster communication and discussion between an instructor and students as well as between students.
Click here for an animated Discussion Board tutorial (642 KB) (requires Macromedia Flash Player). Or, click here for more information about the Discussion Board.
How do I use the Collaboration (chat) tools?
Blackboard's Collaboration tools are the Virtual Classroom and the Lightweight Chat. The Virtual Classroom is a place where your instructor can hold an online discussion in real-time, plus have access to tools such as a whiteboard and collective web page and content viewing tools. The Lightweight Chat is the chatting portion of the Virtual Classroom, which can be accessed separately. Instructors can archive sessions and post them for students to review.
Click here for more information on using the Collaboration tools.
Tips for taking tests on Blackboard
Click here for tips for taking tests on Blackboard.