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Blackboard Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to buy Blackboard software?
No, Blackboard is a program you access from the Internet. Yavapai College purchases the software, and maintains it on their site. You'll need a computer with Internet access, and, occasionally, some software extensions (called "plug-ins") that allow you to view multimedia content from your Instructor or classmates. In order to log in to your class, you'll need to know your Yavapai College username and password.
How do I log into Blackboard?
When you sign up for a class that uses Blackboard, you'll be able to "access" the class via the Yavapai College Portal at www.yc.edu.
- First, you'll have to login to the portal using the username and password given to you when you registered. The login is on the right side of the page below the "my YC Portal Login".
- Type your YC username and password into the appropriate boxes.
- The next page you will see is your personal portal page. On the upper right side of the page, just below the green band, there are several icons. Click on the Blackboard icon.
- The courses available to you will be displayed in the "My Courses" channel. Your course will not appear until your instructor makes it available to students. Click on the course you wish to access and you are ready to work.
How do I get a username and password?
When you register for classes at Yavapai College, your username and password are automatically generated, and printed on your schedule of classes. If you can't remember your username and/or password, you may contact the Registration Office at 928-776-2149 or 800-922-6787, ext. 2149 to request that the information be sent to you.
Accessing Your Course
One of the most powerful features of the online learning environment is the connectivity it provides for anytime, anywhere learning. Whether you're accessing your online course from a computer on campus, from your home, or while on vacation in another country, if you have access to the Internet, you have access to your virtual classroom.
Here are some tips to help you access your online course from any Internet-enabled computer: Write it down and save in a few places:
- the Yavapai College homepage address: http://www.yc.edu/
- your YC username and password, which allow you to access Blackboard (even if you have them memorized, you'd be amazed at how many people forget their username and password when they're away from their usual surroundings.)
- technical support numbers (YC Help Desk, instructor contact information, etc.)
Think mobile: If you're not working from your accustomed location, do you have everything you need for your class? It's often helpful to create a mobile computing notebook that contains:
- important printed course materials
- A floppy disk or flash drive to store documents, references, etc.
- important contacts (phone numbers, email addresses)
- If you travel with a laptop, be sure you have all the necessary accessories you will need (battery, power cord, Internet access #'s.)
Submit an Assignment
Although instructors use a variety of methods for collecting and recording assignments, the most popular is through the Blackboard Assignment feature.
Through this feature, instructors are able to post instructions for your assignment, attach files if they wish, and offer you a convenient link that directs you to the assignment window. There, you have a message area for messages to your instructor, an upload area where you may easily upload your assignment, and best of all -- it's connected to the gradebook, so you and your instructor will be able to instantly see that your assignment has been submitted.
You'll recognize a Blackboard assignment when you see the assignment icon and when you see the assignment link:
- Click on the "View/Complete Assignment" link
- In the Assignment Information area, read the assignment instructions
- In the Assignment Materials area, include any comments you wish to include about this assignment.
- Next to the file to attach area, click on the "Browse button"
- Browse for the assignment you've prepared; click on it and then click "Open"
- Click the "Submit" button.
(You have the option to save your assignment. This option does not submit your assignment; it just saves your work. If you choose this option, remember to return to the assignment and submit it, or you will not receive credit.)
Once you have submitted your assignment, the file is available to your instructor as an attachment within the gradebook. Your instructor will see a red exclamation mark, indicating that you have submitted your assignment. Once your instructor has graded the assignment, you will see your grade reflected in the gradebook. You may click on the grade to view instructor comments and/or file attachments.
Navigating Blackboard
Maneuvering through an online course can be just as challenging as finding your way around a physical campus. Here are some tips for navigating Blackboard:
- Familiarize yourself with Blackboard's features by exploring all the tabs, bars, icons and buttons to discover their function and content
- Attend an online student orientation, or visit the Yavapai College training site to sign up for a Blackboard workshop
- Review the online Blackboard student manual
- Check out the Blackboard tutorial section of your Student Orientation by clicking on the How Do I? button on the menu bar
- Click on the Course Map link at the bottom of the Menu Bar. Click on the plus signs (+) next to the main folders to expand the folders and reveal subfolders and items.
Course Materials
In each of your online courses, you'll find important information and course materials in various locations of Blackboard. Each instructor has his/her own style, and will organize their courses in different ways. Here are some helpful hints for locating and organizing your course materials:
- Carefully review your syllabus, assignments and requirements to be sure you have a good understanding of the course, and what will be expected of you
- Print out course information that you might have to refer to often and place in your course folder
- Calendar all your important dates for assignments, papers, live chats, etc
- Email your instructor if you have any questions about the syllabus or other course information
Create a New Thread
In the Discussion Board, a series of messages, including the original and all of its replies, is known as a "thread".
A "thread" is a series of messages concerning the same subject.
All replies to the original message are part of the same thread.
To post a new thread in the Discussion Board:
- Click on the Discussion Board Link
- Click on the Discussion Board forum
- Click the Add New Thread
- Enter a subject and your message
- Click the Submit button.
Reply to a Message
- the sharing of ideas
- time for thoughtful response
- the chance to build off the ideas of others
- learning from your classmates
- a chance for everyone to have a voice
These are the strengths of a good online course. The very nature of an online course offers multiple communication opportunities, including the Discussion Board, email, chat, and the virtual classroom. Unlike a traditional course where time is often limited, in an online course, everyone has a chance to contribute.
It's been said that good communication is much like tossing a ball. If you toss the ball to someone and they let it drop, or don't throw it back, there's not much to hold your interest. But if you toss the ball to someone and they toss it back things could get very interesting. The Discussion Board thrives on this "tossing it back" concept. When you offer an idea you're counting on your classmates to pick it up and "toss it back" with thoughtful responses, questions and fresh ideas. In the Discussion Board the way you "toss it back" is through the REPLY feature.
To reply to a message in the Discussion Board:
Open the message by clicking on the message subject link
Click on the REPLY button (bottom right of the screen)
The message screen will pop up, with the SUBJECT line already filled in (this helps people follow the thread)
Add your reply (comments, ideas, questions)
Click SUBMIT
Now you'll see your reply in the forum list. It will be indented from the original message, and the subject line will have a "re" at the beginning, showing it's a reply.
What if I need help with Blackboard?
For assistance, call the Help Desk at 928-776-2168. The technicians at the Help Desk are trained, and happy to assist you in accessing your Blackboard course.
