Tips and FAQs - Faculty

  1. What is Blackboard?
  2. How do I set up a Blackboard course?
  3. What is my Blackboard username and password?
  4. How do I change my password?
  5. How do I add students to my course?
  6. How do I add co-instructors, TAs or additional students to my course?
  7. How do I remove students from my course?
  8. How do my students log into Blackboard?
  9. How do my students access my course?
  10. Where do my students go for help using Blackboard?
  11. How do I update my students' email addresses?
  12. Where can I find additional information about Blackboard and its features?

 

1. What is Blackboard?

Blackboard is a Course Management System, a type of software that allows faculty to share content and communicate with their students over the Internet. It is used to teach distance education courses, as well as to enhance courses taught in the classroom.

CSI's Blackboard service is managed and supported by the Instructional Technology Center Staff.



2. How do I set up a Blackboard course?

To set up a course, simply contact ITC staff requesting the new course. The new Blackboard course will be created in about 1-2 business days. You may begin adding your content as soon as the course has been created.

Please provide the following information:



3. What is my Blackboard username and password?

Instructor accounts for Blackboard are created individually through the Instructional Technology Center. Pease contact one of the following to have an account created for you:



4. How do I change my password?

After logging in to Blackboard, click on Personal Information, under Tools on the left side of your screen. Select Change Password. Enter your new password twice and click Submit button.

A couple of words about passwords:
Whether you are creating a password for Blackboard or your e-mail account, always try to create a password that is easy for you to remember, but difficult for others to guess. A few suggested rules for creating a password:

  1. Always make your password at least 6 characters.
  2. Mix characters and numbers (e.g., blue12berry, h0bbit, 0c3an).
  3. Mix capital and lower case letters (e.g., r3dw00d, bAtMaN21).
  4. Don't use the same password for every account.
  5. NEVER use your ATM Card Pin as your password.
  6. Avoid using your birth date, name, parents' or child's name, or their birth dates. In general, any easily accessible information available to others are considered bad practice.

Note:
If you have difficulties creating passwords, we suggest using tools such as Automated Password Generator (APG).



5. How do I add students to my course?

  1. Click Users and Groups in the Control Panel.
  2. Click Users.
  3. Select Find Users to Enroll from the Enroll User drop-down list.
  4. Click Browse to display a list of users in a separate window.
  5. Select the users and click Submit button.
  6. Choose Student from the Role options.
  7. Click the Yes radio button in the Enrollment Availability field.
  8. Click Submit button.

If you cannot find the student's account, please contact us.



6. How do I add co-instructors, TAs or additional students to my course?

You may enroll additional instructors into a course by going to Control Panel > Users and Groups > Users > Enroll User. Choose Instructor from the Role options. If you cannot find the instructor's account, please contact us.



7. How do I remove students from my course?

Students who drop your course should be removed by the instructor. This is because Blackboard is not dynamically linked to the Records Office.

When a user is removed from a Course all of the information associated with the user, such as, Grade Center information, is removed.

Note: Removed users cannot be restored to the Course. To restore a removed user, the user must be enrolled in the Course again.

  1. Click Users and Groups in the Control Panel.
  2. Click Users.
  3. Search users that you want to remove from the course.
  4. Select the check box next to the names of the users to remove and click Remove Users from Course button.
  5. A message will appear verifying that the user should be removed. This action is irreversible.


8. How do my students log into Blackboard?

Students can access Blackboard through the Entry page at http://blackboard.csi.edu. Students who need assistance with logging in should look at the "Login Information" page before seeking additional help.



9. How do my students access my course?

Once enrolled, your students will see your class listed under My Courses on the My Blackboard page. Normally, only currently enrolled students will be able to access your course (unless you have "Allow Guest Access" set to Yes under Settings in the Control Panel.



10. Where do my students go for help using Blackboard?

Students are advised to go to their instructors first, and then the ITC Staff for help using Blackboard. If you need assistance in helping them, please contact the Instructional Technology Center. View the "Getting Help" page for additional information.



11. How do I update my students' email addresses?

The email address in Blackboard is obtained through the records office. Both instructors and students can update the email address in Blackboard.

Updating instructions for the Instructor:

  1. Click Users and Groups in the Control Panel and select Users.
  2. Search for the student.
  3. Click the arrow next to the username and select Edit.
  4. Update their email address and click Submit button.

Updating instructions for the Student:

  1. From the My Blackboard Page, click Personal Information located in Tools on the left-side of the page.
  2. Click Edit Personal Information.
  3. Enter a new email address and click Submit.


12. Where can I find additional information about Blackboard and its features?

Blackboard provides comprehensive Online Instructor Manual that may help answer your questions or solve your Blackboard problems.

Log on to Blackboard, move the mouse over Help link at the top right under My Blackboard page, and click Manual. Or go to your course, click Help in the Control Panel and click Manual.