Getting Started in Blackboard

You will need…• A web browser, preferably Internet

Explorer, version 4.0 or higher• An email account and the knowledge of

how to send and receive email messages

• The ability to navigate the web and handle multiple open windows

• The ability to open, close and save files and attachments

Open a new window in Internet Explorer and go to http://blackboard.smumn.edu

http://blackboard.smumn.edu

Click Login to enter system

Enter your username and password.

Talk to your instructor to get the current password.

The password is different from your network and

email logins.

This is the welcome screen in Blackboard. It contains

announcements, your courses, calendar and

other tools.

The first place you’ll want to go is “Personal

Information”

Click on “Edit Personal Information”

Within this screen, you can change various information

about yourself.

At any time, you may change your personal information, such

as email, to settings that are more useful.

Click “Change Password”

This will allow you to set your own password.

Since you are already logged in to the system, you need only type a new password and re-type the same password to

continue.

Click “Set Privacy Options”

This will allow you to set the amount of personal

information you would like to reveal to fellow students

and teachers.

Within the “My Institution” tab, you are able to access a variety of information, including: announcments for the courses in which you are

enrolled, calendar, and tasks. You can also access each of your coursese directly.

If you were to click on the link, you would be taken to the announcement set up

by the instructor or administrator.

Announcements

Clicking an announcement takes you to the announcements section of the specific course:

Announcements will contain information about the course:

- Room changes- Quizzes- Chat room meetings

This is an example of an actual annoucement page.

You can select from daily, weekly, monthly, and all by clicking on the tabs above

the announcements.

Course Information

The next button is Course Information

This will contain general information placed by the instructor, such as:

- Syllabus- Grading policy- Assignment schedule

An example course information page.

Content may be organized as individual pages, files, or

within sub-folders.

To open a folder, click on the link.

Staff Information

The next button is Staff Information

This will contain an instructor’s contact information, such as:

- Office Hours- Email Address- Phone Number- Other useful contact information

Course Documents

Course Documents Button

This may contain the following course content:- Lecture outlines- Lessons- Required readings- Presentations- Student examples

Assignments

Assignments Button

This area may contain assignment listings created by your instructor, such as:

- Class projects- Research- Links to quizzes & tests

Books

Books Button

May contain a listing of all books used for the course.

It may also appear as “bibliography” depending on the preference of your instructor.

Within the communications page, you will find links to:

EmailDiscussion BoardVirtual Classroom

RosterGrop Pages

To send an email, click on the link.

This will bring up the ability to send email to the above

groups.

The roster selection will allow you to view who is

part of your course.

This will bring up a roster listing. Students who have enabled email in their personal information will

have their email addresses listed.

Also, by clicking on a name, you will be taken to the individual’s personal page if they have enabled this

feature.

Virtual Classroom

Virtual Classroom & Discussion Board

These buttons provide direct links into each area of the course site.

- Virtual Classroom (chat)- Discussion Board (archival email)

The discussion board allows you to view messages posted by your instructor and

classmates. You may reply, discuss, and debate and it is all archived in the discussion board.

You may view the discussion board in both a linear and spacial format.

Web Sites Button

Web Sites Button

May contain links to web pages:- Sites with content relavent to the course.- Is searchable.

The tools area contains many of the same

functions as the welcome screen.

It also contains the grade book and the student

version of the Blackboard manual.

The digital drop box link provides a secure method for exchanging files with

your instructor.

Within the drop box acts as a personal “virtual hard

drive.”

You may also send files to your professor by clicking on the “send file” button.

Any additional questions regarding the Blackboard system may be addressed

in the system manual.

The manual provides searchable content that you can access at any

time.

Getting Started in Blackboard