Blackboard 9.1 SP11 Student Handbook

Blackboard 9.1 SP11 Student Handbook 1. Accessing Blackboard 2. Logging In 3. User ID / Password Help a. User ID b. Password 4. My Institution Home Page a. Overview b. Customize c. Personalize d. Notification Dashboard e. Global Navigation Pane f. Adding / Maintaining Personal Information i. Email Address ii. Profile Picture 5. Course Home Page a. Personalize Modules b. Course Tool Bar c. Course Menu d. Breadcrumb Navigation 6. Completing Coursework a. Sending Emails b. Uploading Documents c. Submit TurnItIn Assignment d. Discussion Board Participation 7. Tests and Assessments a. Pre-test Computer Preparation b. Assessment Recommendations c. Completing an Assessment 8. Course Tools a. Calendar b. My Grades (viewing course grades) 9. Tips and Tricks a. Time Management b. Netiquette or Net Etiquette 10. Blackboard Help and Support a. Help and Support on Blackboard b. Online Help and Support c. Additional Student Resources i. Distance Education Office ii. Learning Center iii. Disabled Students Programs & Services

Accessing Blackboard Blackboard can be accessed directly (https://rsccd.blackboard.com) or through the colleges websites (www.sac.edu or www.sccollege.edu). To access Blackboard directly: 1. Open a browser window. It is recommended to use a recent version of Internet Explorer or Firefox. For a of the browsers supported currently supported by Blackboard, go to the Blackboard Support site, or: https://blackboard.secure.force.com/publickbarticleview?id=kab700000008onu HINT: To ensure functionality, view Blackboard in Compatibility Mode. 2. Enter https://rsccd.blackboard.com in the address window, then click Go. Use the Web advisor User ID / Password 3. Compatibility mode can be enabled by clicking the broken or torn page in the upper right corner of the screen. If the page is blue in color that indicates that compatibility mode is enabled. A gray page indicates that compatibility mode is off. Click the page to enable compatibility mode. NOTE: This option may not be available in all versions of IE. Compatibility may have to be set through the tool bar (see below).

4. Compatibility mode can also be enabled using the Tools menu in Internet Explorer. Click the Tools pull down menu, and select Compatibility Mode Settings. 5. The Blackboard website should appear in the Add this website box. Click the Add button. The website will appear in the Compatibility View box. Click Close to exit.

To access Blackboard through the SAC and SCC college websites: 1. Open a browser window. Enter www.sac.edu or www.sccollege.edu in the address window, then click Go or. 2. On the Santa Ana College homepage, click Blackboard from the top menu. On the Santiago Canyon College homepage, click Blackboard Access on the Quick Links menu on the left side of the page. Click to access Blackboard Click to access Blackboard 3. A new browser page will open to Blackboard. Use the Web Advisor User ID / Password

Logging into Blackboard Blackboard utilizes the Web Advisor User ID and password. The Web Advisor User ID is two (2) letters (first and last initial) and five (5) numbers. HINT: Use lower case letters for the User ID as the log in process is case sensitive. 1. Access the Blackboard site (www.rsccd.blackboard.com) 2. Enter the Web Advisor User ID in the User Name field. Enter Web Advisor ID 3. Enter the Web Advisor Password in the Password field. Enter Web Advisor Password 4. Click the Login icon. Click to login to Blackboard

Blackboard User ID / Password Help To Find the Blackboard User ID: 1. Blackboard uses the Web Advisor User ID and password. For help with the User Name or password, click the Username and Password Help link on the Blackboard login page. 2. This link will redirect to the Web Advisor User Account Menu. To find the Web Advisor / Blackboard User ID, click the What s My Web Advisor Login link.

3. Enter your Last Name in the Last Name field and either your Social Security Number in the SSN field or your 7-digit Datatel Employee or Student ID number in the Student Number field. Click Submit to continue. Enter your last name Enter either your SSN or Datatel ID # 4. Web Advisor will display the User ID. Click OK to continue. The will return to the Web Advisor Home Page. Web Advisor and Blackboard User 5. Return to the Blackboard login page at https://rsccd.blackboard.com to log in.

To Reset the Blackboard Password or View the Password Hint: 6. Blackboard uses the Web Advisor User ID and password. For help with the User Name or password, click the Username and Password Help link on the Blackboard login page. 7. This link will redirect to the Web Advisor User Account Menu. To find the Web Advisor / Blackboard User ID, click the What s My Password link. 8. To view the password hint, click the I might remember: Show my password hint link. Click to view the password hint

9. Enter the Web Advisor User ID in the Web Advisor Login field, then click Submit to continue. Enter Web Advisor User ID 10. The next page will display the Password Hint entered for the User ID. Click OK to continue. Password Hint 11. To reset the password, click the I don t remember: Reset my password link. Click to reset the password

12. Enter your Last Name in the Last Name field and either your Social Security Number in the SSN field or your 7-digit Datatel Employee or Student ID number in the Student Number field. Click Submit to continue. Enter your last name Enter either your SSN or Datatel ID # 13. Next, select an Email address from the pull down menu to send the temporary password to. Click once to select the Email address, then Submit to continue. NOTE: This feature will only work if there is an Email address entered in Web Advisor. Click to select Email address

14. A confirmation page will appear to indicate that a temporary password was Emailed. Click OK to continue. 15. An Email from Email Responses with the subject line Web Advisor Response should appear in the requested Email Inbox. 16. The Email will contain a temporary password. Use this password to log onto Web Advisor. The password will be required to be changed at the first login. NOTE: The period (.) at the end of the temporary password is not part of the password. Do not include it when trying to log into Web Advisor. In the example below, the password would be entered as pk7orb38 with no period (.) at the end.

Use the temporary password to log onto Web Advisor. Do not include the period (.) at the end. Web Advisor / Blackboard Password Requirements: The password must be between six (6) and nine (9) total characters (letters, numbers, special characters). The password must start with a letter, contain at least two letters, one capital letter, and one number. Special characters (e.g. * & ^ % $ # @!?, etc.) may be used. The new password cannot resemble the User ID, the word password, or have more than three (3) total characters in common with the previous three (3) passwords. 17. Once the password has been changed in Web Advisor, return to the Blackboard login page at https://rsccd.blackboard.com to log in. Use the new password to log into Blackboard. Still having a problem? For additional assistance with the Web Advisor User ID and password, contact Admissions and Records: Santa Ana College Admissions and Records Phone: (714) 564-6005 Email: Adm_Records@sac.edu 1530 W. 17 th Street, S-101 Santa Ana, California 92706 Santiago Canyon College Admission and Records: Phone: (714) 628-4900 Email: admissions@sccollege.edu 8045 E. Chapman Ave., E-101 Orange, California 92869

Blackboard My Institution Home Page The Blackboard My Institution Home Page is the first page visible when accessing Blackboard. Link to SAC Website Link to Notifications Dashboard Global Navigation Panel Log Off Bb Add a module to the page Help and Support Student s Course Link(s) Links to Distance Ed support & resources Browser Test Modules provide information and quick links The Institution home page has links to and information on (please note, the modules may appear in a different order): Blackboard Help: Link to Blackboard help and tutorials Distance Education Support: Provides links to Distance Education resources and support NBC in the News Santa Ana College Mission Statement My Organizations: Provides links to orientations, practice courses and other organizations. o HINT: The Student Online Orientation is a great place for students to start. It contains some instruction on how to be a successful online learner, and provides a course for students to practice their skills. My Courses: Provides a quick link to all your courses

Browser Test: It is recommended that all users perform the browser test when first accessing Blackboard. o HINT: Use Internet Explorer or Firefox, but ensure that Compatibility Mode is enabled for the site. To Customize the modules on the Institution Home Page: 1. To rearrange the modules, simply drag and drop the modules to the desired location. Modules can also be moved by clicking the up/down arrows next to Personalize Page. Click to move modules 2. The Reorder Modules box will appear on the screen. Click on modules, then use the up (^), down (v), left (<), and right (>) arrows to move the module to the desired location. When all of the modules have been placed, click Submit. Use to move modules left/right Use to move modules up/down 3. Modules can also be moved by clicking on the module to select it. Click on the arrow icon in the upper left corner of the module. Hold the mouse button then drag and drop the module in the new location. Click to drag and drop module to new location

4. To add a module, click the Add Module icon in the upper left corner of the page. Click to add a module to the page 5. Scroll down the list of modules to find the desired one. Then click the Add button. Use the Search field to search for a specific module. Use to search for a module Click to add module 6. The added module will appear at the bottom of the Institution Home Page. The module can be moved by dragging and dropping it in the desired location.

7. Some modules can be deleted from the Institution Home Page by clicking the X in the upper right corner. Click to close module and remove it from the page 8. A dialog box to confirm the deletion will appear on the screen. Click OK to remove the module from the Institution Home Page. To personalize the look of the Institutions Home Page: 1. Click the Personalize Page icon in the upper right corner of the page.

2. Follow the steps to select a color palette and theme. Click Submit to apply the changes. To access the Notifications Dashboard: 1. Click the Notifications Dashboard link in the upper left corner of the Institution Home Page. 2. The dashboard will contain the following modules: a. Needs Attention: Assignments, tests, surveys, etc. that need to be completed b. Alerts: Past Due assignments, Activity Alerts, Early Warning system c. What s New: Newly assignments, discussion boards, content, etc. d. To Do: What needs to be complete to earn a grade in the course

3. Modules can be rearranged, moved, and added as described above under the Institution Home Page. 4. The Notifications Dashboard can be personalized as described above under the Institution Home Page. Global Navigations Panel: 1. Click on your name in the upper right corner of Blackboard. 2. The Global Navigations Panel will appear as a drop down menu. The icons on the left side from top to bottom are: Blackboard Home, Posts, Updates, My Grades, and Calendar. There is also an expandable menus for Courses, Organizations, and Settings.

3. There is a Home and a Help icon at the bottom of the Global Navigation Panel. Click for Bb Home Page Click for Bb Help Page 4. Click Courses to expand and access links to all current courses. Click the link of the course to open it. 5. Click the Organizations button to expand and access links to assigned Organizations. Click the link of the organization to open it. Click link to open 6. Click the Settings button toward the bottom. This provides links to Change Text Size, High Contrast Setting, Personal Information, Edit Notification Settings, and the Notification Dashboard. Adding and Maintaining Personal Information 7. It is extremely important to keep personal information updated in Blackboard. This information, allows the instructor to contact students. IMPORTANT: Email addresses must be kept current in Blackboard for communication. Email addresses changed in Web Advisor will not be changed in Blackboard.

This must be done separately (see below). Personal Information provides links to Edit Personal Information, Personalize My Settings, Change Personal Settings, and Set Privacy Options. 8. Click Edit Personal Information to update information and / or change an Email address. Click to update Email address 9. Complete the personal information on the edit page. It is important to keep the Email address current. Check the Email field to ensure that the most current Email address is displayed. If not, please update it. Once all the desired information has been entered, click Submit to save the changes. Click Cancel to return to the menu with no changes. Enter current Email address

10. Personalize My Settings allows the user to upload a profile picture, and set which links appear on the My Settings navigation menu. 11. To add a profile picture, click the box next to Use Custom Avatar Image. Next click the Browse My Computer icon. The profile picture will be displayed in the page headers, People tool, blogs, journals, discussions, wikis, roster, and within notification modules including What s New, Needs Attention, To Do, and Alerts.

Click to select & use picture 12. Select the desired file from the computer. Click Open to add it to Blackboard. HINT: The recommended pixel size is 150 x 150. Larger images should be cropped before imported. Click to select file 13. This image should be displayed. Click Submit to update and add the profile picture to the account.

14. A green confirmation banner will appear at the top of the Personal Information page. The picture is now displaying next to the profile name. 15. The Global Navigation Panel is always available on the main Blackboard banner at the top of the page.

Blackboard Course Home Page To access the Course Home page, click the name of the class (link) under the My Courses section of the Institution Home page. Classes can also be accessed through the Global Navigation Panel in the upper right corner, under the Courses section. Click link to access course or, from the Global Navigation Pane, click Courses to expand the section, then click the course link. Click to expand section Click link to access course The Blackboard Course Home Page is the first page visible when a course is accessed. Just as in a classroom, Instructors can customize the online course. Therefore, the course home page and the tools available may look different in each online class. The example below is an example of a common way a course may be set up. The course home page (in this example) contains: Course Menu: The menu students will use to navigate the completed course My Calendar: Class events, due dates, etc. Needs Attention: Newly submitted assignments, discussion boards, etc. My Announcements: Class announcements What s New: Show what is new in the class by category Alerts: Class alerts for past due, early warning system and activity To Do: Informs students what needs to be completed to earn a grade, what is past due, what is due today, and in the future.

Course Home Page Link Course Tool Bar Course Menu Modules provide information, reminders, & quick links to content

To Personalize Modules: 1. Modules on the Course Home Page can be personalized by clicking the Settings icon. Some modules may have an Edit <Module Name> Settings button. Click to personalize module Click to edit module settings 2. Follow the prompts on the personalization or edit settings page to customize the module. Once all the changes have been made, click Submit to continue. Click Cancel to return to the Course Home Page with no changes.

Course Tool Bar: 1. The Course Menu Bar is located on the left side of the Course Home Page and contains the Course Menu and Tool Bar. 2. The Course Menu Bar can be collapsed by clicking on the left facing arrow (<) or chevron on the right edge of the menu bar, or simply by clicking anywhere on the right edge of the menu bar. Click on the edge of the menu to collapse Click arrow to collapse menu

3. The Course Menu Bar will collapse into a blue line on the left side of the screen. To expand the Course Menu Bar, click anywhere on the blue line, or on the arrow in the middle. Click the blue line to expand the course menu bar 4. To expand a section on the Course Menu Bar, click the right arrow (>) or chevron. 5. To minimize a section on the Course Menu Bar, click the down arrow (v) or chevron.

Course Menu: 1. The course menu is located on the upper left menu bar on the Course Home Page. The course menu allows navigation through the course by clicking on any of the links. Some common links may be Home Page, Syllabus, Discussions, Tools, Assignments, Groups, My Grades, or Help. These categories are determined by the instructor and may vary from class to class. Click link to access section 2. The Course Menu Tool Bar at the top allows the user to change the view to List View, Folder View, Display Course Menu in a (new) Window, and Refresh the Course Home Page. Students may find the folder view to be helpful. There is also a Course Home icon represented by a house located above the Course Menu Tool Bar and to the right of the course title. The down arrow (v) or chevron next to the Course Home icon allows a student to quickly access other current online courses in which they are enrolled. This quick link allows the student to toggle between courses. Simply click the chevron, then select the new class to jump to. Click to access course home page Quick link to student s other online courses Course menu tool bar 3. The folder view allows the course and all course documents to be viewed as folders. Folders can be expanded by clicking the plus icon + to the left of the folder name. This will display all documents contained in the folder. Folders can be collapsed by clicking the minus icon - to the left of the folder name. Documents can be accessed by clicking the links in the folder view.

Click for Folder View Click to expand section Click to minimize section Documents in the folder, click link to access Breadcrumb Navigation Breadcrumb is a navigation aid that allows students to keep track of the location within a course. The breadcrumb is located in the upper left corner. Students can return to previous menus simply by clicking the corresponding portion of the breadcrumb. The current page, is on the far right of the breadcrumb. The pages are separated by > which indicates the relationship. To the left of the > is the parent page. In the example below, Articles is located in Unit 3. Unit 3 is the parent page or folder. Click Unit 3 to return to that folder. Breadcrumb: click any part to access that page

Completing Coursework in Blackboard Send an Email: 1. There are multiple ways to send an Email in Blackboard. The easiest is to click the Tools icon on the Course Menu, then select Send Email. The Tools menu also has links to the tools available in the course such as Announcements, Groups, Journals, Discussion Boards and more. The instructor may have created a contact for themselves located under Contacts. Private messages (not Email, but very much like the private messages in Facebook) can be sent through the Course Messages tool. Click to view announcements Click for contacts created by instructor Click to send private message (not Email) Click to access discussion board Click to send Email 2. The Send Email page allows users to select who to send an Email to: All Users Instructor and all students, All Groups all groups in the course, All Teaching Assistant Users teaching assistants in the course (if any), All Student Users all students in the course, All Instructor Users all instructors (if more than one), Select Users select the individual users that will receive the Email, and Select Groups. Students will primarily be contacting the Instructor. Click on either All Instructor Users or Select Users.

Click to Email Instructor 3. Complete the Email Information page. Start by selecting the recipients, as the Select Users is being used for this example. This step will not be necessary if All Instructor Users was selected in the previous step. To select the user, click on the name of the person to Email in the Available to Select column. Use the left facing arrow (>) or chevron, to move the recipient to the Selected column. Multiple recipients can be selected by pressing and holding the <Ctrl> key and clicking on multiple names. The Select All icon at the bottom of the box will select all users. Click the name(s) of the recipient(s) Click to move to or from a column Click to select all

4. Complete the Subject field, and enter and format the text of the Email in the Message box. It may be helpful to the instructor if the course name or section number was included in the Subject (e.g. History 101). Files can be added by clicking the Attach a File link in the Attachments section. Once the Select Users page has been completed, click Submit to send the Email. Click Cancel to return to the menu with no changes. A copy of the Email will be sent to the sender. Enter subject Enter Email text Email address sent from Use tool bar to configure Email text 5. A green confirmation banner will appear at the top of the page if the Email was successfully sent from Blackboard. NOTE: The confirmation does not confirm delivery of the Email, only that the Email was sent through Blackboard. Any non-delivery notifications will be received in the sender s mail box. Complete (Upload) an Assignment: 1. Access the assignment through the course menu. Many assignments will require a separate word or PDF document be uploaded.

2. If the Assignments page appears, click on the appropriate assignment. 3. Review the Assignment Information section. This section will provide the details of the assignment, and any necessary documents will be attached. Assignment Instructions 4. The Assignment Submission section allows assignments to be typed into a provided text box, or a document uploaded into Blackboard. Click Type Submission to enter the assignment in a text box. Click Browse My Computer to add a file. Find the file to be uploaded, and click once to select in the Choose File to Upload dialog box. Once selected, click Open to continue. The file should be added to the Assignment Submission section. Click Do Not Attach to remove or unattach the file. Once the assignment has been completed, click Submit to continue. Click Save as Draft to save the work but not submit. The assignment can then be accessed and worked on later. Click Cancel to return to the menu with no changes.

Click to enter text Click to add a file or document Enter assignment text Add comment(s) for instructor re: assignment Click to save draft - Can continue to work on later Attached file Click to unattach file

5. A confirmation will appear at the top of the page and a copy of the document will be displayed if the assignment was successfully submitted. Image of document Grade information Attached document Submit a Turn It In Assignment: 1. Access the assignment through the course menu. Many assignments will require a separate word or PDF document be uploaded. 2. If the Assignments page appears, click the View / Complete link for the appropriate assignment. 3. The page will redirect to Turn It In. First Time Users will need to read and agree to the User Agreement. Click I Agree Continue to proceed. The user agreement should only appear the first time Turn It In is accessed.

Use to scroll through agreement 4. The Turn It In class home page will appear. The home page will display all Turn It In assignments in the Assignment Inbox, and allow users to set Preferences. The Assignment Inbox will provide information about the assignment by clicking the I symbol, the due date and allow assignment submission. Users can also return to Blackboard by clicking the Home icon in the upper left corner or by using the breadcrumb. Turn It In help is available by clicking the Help icon in the upper right corner. Click Submit to submit the assignment. Once an assignment is submitted, View allows the user to view the submission and any feedback that has been left. Click to return to Home Page Breadcrumb Click to set preferences Click for Turn It In Help

Click for assignment information Click to submit Download file View submission & feedback 5. Complete the Submit Paper: Single File Upload page. Select Single File Upload as the submission method. The first and last name fields should auto populate. Complete the Submission Title field by entering the name of the paper. Click to select the location the document will be uploaded from: Choose from this computer, Choose from Dropbox, or Choose from Google Drive. Then select the assignment in the Choose File to Upload box, click Open to continue. Enter the title Select where the file will be uploaded from

Select file to upload 6. The file will appear at the bottom of the page. To remove the file, click Clear File. Click Submit to continue. Click Cancel to return to the menu with no changes. Uploaded file Click to remove file 7. An image of the submitted assignment will display on the Submitted Paper page. It will include the author (student) name, and paper title. Review the contents of the page. Click Submit to continue. Click Cancel to return to the menu with no changes. Author s name & paper title Image of submitted paper

8. A confirmation page will appear if the submission was successful. The confirmation will contain a unique Paper ID number, the title, author and an image of what was submitted. Click Go To Portfolio to return to the Assignment Inbox. Click to access portfolio Unique Paper ID # 9. Turn It In will also send a confirmation (digital receipt) Email that includes the Paper ID number. 10. Once submitted, students can click View to review any feedback or grading. Students can also rework and resubmit the paper if needed. Click Resubmit to resubmit the paper. Turn It In provides students with feedback on papers that can assist in refining and honing the paper. Papers can be submitted as many times as necessary prior to the Due Date.

Similarity between paper and others submitted Click to view feedback Discussion Board Participation: 1. Discussion Boards can be accessed multiple ways. Instructors may include them in assignments, provide direct links, or provide a quick link to the Discussion Board Tool. The use of Discussion Boards may vary from course to course. The Discussion Board page provides links to forums, descriptions, the number of total posts on a thread, the number of unread posts, and the total participants. Click on the Forum or title of the Discussion Board to participate. Click on forum title to participate 2. The Forum page will display all threads, allow users to Create Thread, access Grading Information, Subscribe to a forum, Search for a particular forum, and change the Display. Click Create Thread to start a new post. Grading Info Click to create thread Click to subscribe Click to search for a forum 3. Complete the Subject field on the Create Thread page. Next, enter and format the post in the Message text box. Files can be attached by clicking the Browse My Computer icon in the Attachments section.

In the dialog box, select the file to be included, and click Open. Click Submit to save and continue. Click Save Draft to save a copy to continue working on at a later time. Click Cancel to return to the menu with no changes. Click to save as draft Enter text for post Enter post subject Use to format text Click to attach a file 4. A green confirmation banner will appear if the post was successful. The new thread will appear in the forum. Newly added thread

5. To respond to a post, click the Forum title to access it. Click on the Thread title to open the thread. Click to respond 6. Click the Reply icon on the desired thread. The Editor will appear directly below the post. Enter and format the response in the Message text box. Files can be attached by clicking the Browse My Computer icon in the Attachments section. In the dialog box, select the file to be included, and click Open. Click Submit to save and continue. Click Save Draft to save a copy to continue working on at a later time. Click Cancel to return to the menu with no changes. Click to reply to the post Click to send an Email to the author Enter response Use to format text Total # of words in text box Click to add file

7. A green confirmation banner will appear if the post was successful. Posts are displayed from oldest to newest. The new post will be at the end of the page. 8. Blogs, Wikis, Journals and other types of assignments can be completed much like the Discussion Boards. Tests and Assessments Online courses, just as in traditional classes, have tests, quizzes and other assessments. Unless set up otherwise by the instructor, assessments (test, quiz, etc.) can only be accessed one time, and must be completed once opened or started. Because assessments are administered online, there are some technical requirements and suggestions. To reduce the possibility of experiencing technical issues during an assessment, do the following: Computer Preparation 1) Prior to starting an assessment, reboot the computer. To reboot the computer, turn it off completely. Leave it off for a minute or two, then start it up. 2) Use the recommended browser Firefox or Internet Explorer. Blackboard usually works best with the newer versions of the browser. For a complete list of supported browsers, go to Blackboard Help, or: http://help.blackboard.com/en-us/learn/9.1_sp_10_and_sp_11/student/002_browser_support_sp_11 3) If using Internet Explorer (IE), set the browser to run Blackboard in Compatibility mode. Also ensure that Pop-Ups, Cookies, and Java are enabled for the site. Assessments will not work unless the browser is in Compatibility mode. a) Compatibility mode can be enabled by clicking the broken or torn page in the upper right corner of the screen. If the page is blue in color that indicates that compatibility mode is enabled. A gray page indicates that compatibility mode is off. Click the page to enable compatibility mode. NOTE: This option may not be available in all versions of IE. Compatibility may have to be set through the tool bar (see following).

b) Compatibility mode can be enabled using the Tools menu in Internet Explorer. Click the Tools pull down menu, and select Compatibility Mode Settings. c) The Blackboard website should appear in the Add this website box. Click the Add button. The website will appear in the Compatibility View box. Click Close to exit.

Assessment Recommendations: Do not use a wireless connection. Use a computer that is physically connected to a network with a wire. Wireless connections can time out or lose connectivity, which will lock up the assessment and make it unavailable. Do not use a mobile device. The test features may not be available on a mobile device, and mobile devices may lose connectivity. Assessments should only be taken on a computer or laptop. Only have one (1) browser window open. Multiple browser windows or sessions can cause errors or the browser to shut down unexpectedly. Do not have any other programs open on the computer. Other programs may interfere or cause problems with the assessment. Do not close the browser window during the assessment. This will close the test and it will not be accessible again. Do not leave the test page in Blackboard once the assessment has been started (e.g. attempting to view course materials, another website, etc.). This could cause the assessment to crash or malfunction, and students will become locked out of the test and be unable to access it. Once started, complete the assessment. Assessments, unless otherwise specified by the instructor, can only be accessed once. If it is not completed during that time, it will not be available again. Be aware of time constraints on the assessment. The instructor can set a time limit and the test must be completed within the allotted time. If there is a time constraint, a timer will be visible in the assessment. Click the Submit button when the assessment is complete. This will ensure that it is submitted. Completing an Assessment 1. Locate the assessment. Instructors may include assessments within a content area, provide direct links, or provide a quick link to the course Test page. Click on the title of the assessment to access it. Click title to access 2. The assessment will open in Blackboard. The first page provides the Instructions, indicates if it is a Timed Test, Timer Setting - if the test will save and submit when the time expires, and Force Completion - if the test can be completed in multiple sitting or must be completed at one time. Click Begin to start. Click Cancel to return to the menu with no changes.

Indicates timed test Action when time expires If the test must be completed once started Click to start test 3. Once the assessment begins, the assessment information will remain displayed at the top of the screen. If timed, a timer will appear below the information and will let the student know how much time is left to complete the assessment. The screen also displays the point value for each question, which question is displayed and how many questions in total. This information can be useful for time management. Assessment information Time Remaining Current Question Question Point Value 4. Assessments can be a number of different formats, requiring different types of answers. For example, True/False, Multiple Choice, Short Answer, Essay, Fill-In-The-Blank, Matching, Calculated Number, Fill- In-Multiple-Blanks, Matching, Multiple Answer, etc. Text boxes will be available for answers requiring input such as short answer or essay. For choice type questions, click the box next to the desired answer to select it. Once a question has been completed, click Save Answer to continue. If the Forward icon, represented by a left facing arrow or greater than sign (>) is clicked, the answer will be automatically saved, and the next question will display. A dialog box may appear when the answer is saved. Click OK to continue, then click the Forward (>) icon. No dialog box appears if the Forward icon is used.

Question Click to advance to next? Click to save Click box to select answer Selected answer Click to return to previous? Total points assigned to? Click to advance to next?

5. When the assessment is completed, and all the questions have been answered, click the Save and Submit icon. A confirmation box will appear. Click OK to continue and submit the assessment. Click Cancel to return to the test. 6. A confirmation page will be displayed containing information about the assessment, such as the course name, assessment title, date and time started, date and time submitted, and time used. Some test results may be available immediately. In these cases, click OK, located in the lower right corner to view the test results. Click to view score

7. The Review Test Submission page will contain a summary of the assessment. The preliminary grade will appear in the Attempt Score field. Preliminary Score IMPORTANT: Students should contact the instructor immediately if any technical issues are encountered during the assessment, or prohibit the access to or completion of the assessment.

Course Tools Calendar 1. The Course Calendar allows students to view upcoming assignments and due dates. The calendar can be accessed either on the home page, or from Tools. From the home page, click the More Calendar Events link in the Calendar module. From Tools, select Calendar to open and view the course calendar. Click to access calendar Click to access calendar 2. The calendar will be displayed. The calendar view can be set to display a Day, Week, or Month by clicking the icons in upper left corner. The current month / week / day is always displayed. To select a different time period, click the forward (>) or back (<) icons or chevrons next to the month. Calendar items appear color coded on the calendar. If a student is enrolled in multiple courses, each course will be represented by a different color on the calendar. Students can create Personal calendar events. Course calendar events are added only by the instructor, and cannot be added, modified, or deleted from the calendar by students.

Click to change view to day, week or month Click to view next or previous month Course event Calendar color display key 3. Personal calendar items can be added by clicking the plus (+) icon in the upper right corner, or by double clicking on the date of the event to be added. Complete the fields in the Create Event dialog box. The name of the calendar event should be entered in the New Event Name field. Enter the Start and End dates / times. Click either date field to select from the calendar. Select the date and time, then click Done. If it is an All Day or Repeat event, check the appropriate boxes. Enter the Event Description in the text box. Click Save to continue. Click Cancel to return to the menu with no changes. Click to add new event Enter Start / End Dates / Times Enter event description Use to select date / time

4. The new event will be displayed on the calendar. Note that all added events will appear on the Personal calendar and will be color coded accordingly. Only instructors can add events to the course calendar. Newly created event Viewing Grades 1. To view the grade in the course, click the My Grades link on the course menu. My Grades can also be accessed from the Tools page. Click to view grades Click to view grades

2. The My Grades page usually displays the grade in the course, as well as the grades on individual assignments. However, the grades and how they are displayed are determined by the instructor and therefore may vary from course to course. Links are provided for the Description of the assignment or assessment, (if applicable) Grading Criteria, and Comments. Comments are the instructor s feedback. The assignment or assessment can be accessed by clicking the name. Instructor s may provide additional comments in the assignment or assessment, if a rubric was used. Submitted document or assignments that have not been graded appear at the bottom of the grades, under Submitted. Course Grade Assignment Description Click title to view assignment & rubric Assignment Grade Submitted, ungraded assignments

3. Rubrics are a set of defined criteria and expectations pertaining to an assignment. Rubrics will provide specific details as to how a grade will be determined. Instructors may provide addition comments and feedback within the rubric. To view the Rubric, click on the assignment or assessment title to access it. The Review Submission History page will display an image of the submitted work. The grade details are on the right. Grade is the grade assigned. Attempt is the date and time that the assignment was submitted. Late submissions will be noted. The Rubric icon is on the attempt line, and will access the Rubric details. The Rubric Details will provide the grading criteria, and what score was achieved for each component. The instructor may leave additional comments for each criteria. The submitted document is located in the Submission section. The instructor may leave additional comments in the Grader Feedback section. Click OK at the bottom right to return to My Grades. Grade Image of submitted document Click to view rubric Submitted document Instructor feedback 4. The Rubric detail will provide students with a description of the assignment, a breakdown of their grade, additional feedback, and provides the criteria that was used to grade the assignment or assessment. Instructors have the option of making this available or not, therefore rubrics may not always be accessible in a course. Click Exit to return to assignment detail.

Criteria for specific grade Grade for the section Main Criteria Point & Percentage of total grade Additional Comments General Rubric comments

Online Learning Tips Collaborative Learning Online learning is more of a collaborative learning environment, with the instructor acting more like a guide through the learning resources than a lecturer. Online learning students have more responsibility for reading and interacting with the content, the instructor, and other students in the course. To be successful in a collaborative learning environment: Take responsibility for your learning, listen and read carefully Prepare by reading all of the assigned materials before any group activity Actively participate in interactions such as discussion forums, chat rooms, virtual classroom, etc. Ask questions if you do not understand and seek clarification if you are confused Expect feedback on your performance in a timely manner Provide constructive feedback to your peers when appropriate Share only relevant experiences, ideas, and thoughts Apply newly learned knowledge to your environment Be flexible, adaptable and patient Develop an active sense of humor and have fun Time Management A set of well-developed time management skills may be the most important tool for success in an online learning environment. Students need to plan ahead and allocate sufficient time to access course materials, participate in collaborative activities, and complete all of the assignments. Realistic Expectations: Anticipate spending the same amount of time on the online course as you would for the same course in a traditional classroom. A good rule of thumb is about two to three hours per week per credit (e.g. a 3 credit course would be approximately 6-9 hours per week). Check-In Frequently: Log onto the online course frequently to ensure that you are up to date on the announcements, assignments, materials, any changes and communications. At a minimum, log on two to three times per week. Look Ahead: Use the course calendar to stay on track with assignments and due dates. Look ahead to see what is coming up so you can be prepared. Speak Up: Contact the instructor or peers if you do not understand something or if you need further clarification. The instructor is a great resource, use them! Instructors are there to ensure that you understand the material, content, and assignments. Instructors want students to succeed in the course. Check the course syllabus for contact information. Many online instructors will also offer online or virtual office hours. Plan and Organize: Use the course calendar or a personal calendar (e.g. Google Calendar) to schedule study time, and create milestones to ensure that you are on track for projects and papers. It s too easy to miss deadlines or fall behind. Netiquette (Net Etiquette) Netiquette or Net Etiquette refers to the acceptable standards of behavior when interacting in an online environment. There are a few simple rules:

Be Respectful of Others: It is important to be courteous and respectful of others time, bandwidth, and opinions; behave in a manner that is professional; never say anything online that you wouldn t be willing to say to someone in person; remember that there are many different viewpoints, beliefs and ideas embrace the variety, you may change your opinion understand that we may disagree as it is part of the learning experience if you do disagree, remember to challenge the idea and not the person; be open minded and listen to other s thoughts and ideas. Privacy: Posting private information in the wrong place can have serious consequences. Respect the privacy of classmates and what is shared in the course. Appropriate Language and Communication: Check your writing for errors before posting, either use a word processing program (such as Word) or use the spell check tool in the text boxes within the course. Use proper spelling and grammar. Refrain from using social media abbreviations (e.g. lol, omg, lmao, etc.) and any inappropriate or offensive words. Remember do not type in all capital letters it is the same as yelling at someone and is considered rude. Be careful with the use of humor and sarcasm, both can be easily misunderstood without the benefit of seeing facial expressions and hearing inflection and tone of voice. Just the Facts: Respect other people s time by keeping messages, posts, and comments short and tothe-point. Support stated opinions with facts and reliable sources. Review all discussion posts before posting your own to avoid redundancy. Remember to be friendly, positive, and self-reflective when participating. Technology Online courses use a variety of evolving technology and virtual tools to facilitate the dissemination of information and effective interactions with the instructor and students. Review the Guidelines: There are minimum technology requirements for online learning. Check with the instructor for the specifics for the course. Most online learning systems have browser and system (computer) minimum requirements, and many will need up-to-date operating systems and browsers. Expect Glitches: Occasional glitches or technical difficulties will occur. Don t be alarmed, but do contact your instructor with any problems that you encounter. Help and other resources are available in the program, as well as at the College, and on the College Website. Test: Test your equipment (computer, web cam, microphone, etc.) before you need it in the course. This is especially important before a taking a test. Download: Some features of the online class may require you to download a plug-in, add on or application. Be sure to follow the onscreen prompts. Contact your instructor if you have any questions or concerns about the download. Tips o Do not use a wireless connection, the connectivity could be interrupted. Use a computer or laptop that is physically plugged into the network. o Do not use a mobile device as some content, assessments or other course tools may not be available or work properly this includes cell phones and tablets. Use a desktop or laptop computer. o Only have one (1) browser window open. Opening multiple windows or trying to access other sites while participating in a course can cause the browser window to experience errors, and may lose the connection or kick you out of the course. This is especially important when taking tests. o The college has computers available for student use, in the event that your personal equipment is malfunctioning or not compatible. Ask your instructor where and how to access the resources.

Blackboard (9.1 SP11) Help and Support Instructors are the best student resource in a course. Students should contact the instructor first if they need any assistance or have any difficulty with the course. The Instructor should be contacted immediately if any technical issues are encountered during an assignment or assessment, or if anything prohibits the access to or completion of a class assignment or assessment. Help, Support and Resources on Blackboard 1. From the Institution Home Page, find the Blackboard Help module. Click the link for Blackboard Tutorials and Help. Click to access Blackboard Tutorials and Help 2. A new page will open to the Blackboard On Demand Learning Center. Browse or search for specific topics within the learning center. Short videos and written instructions are available for many topics.

Enter topic or keywords to search Categories to browse 3. Distance Education also provides resources on the Blackboard Institution Home page. Locate the Distance Education Support module. Click on the appropriate link.

4. Blackboard Help is also available from the Course. Click the Help icon located at the bottom of the Course menu. 5. A new page will open for the Official Blackboard Help site. Browse the Table of Contents or search for a topic or key words. Click the right facing arrow (>) or chevron to expand a Table of Contents section. Click on a topic to explore it. Enter topic or key words to search Browse the table of contents Click on the > arrow to expand

Blackboard Online Help, Support and Resources 1. Visit the Distance Education Website at www.sac.edu/disted for Blackboard information, help, support and resources. Additional Student Resources: Distance Education Office The Distance Education Office supports faculty and students in all areas of online learning and instruction. Contact or stop by the Distance Education Office at: SAC DISTANCE EDUCATION OFFICE Email: sac_disted@sac.edu Phone: (714) 564-6725 Website: www.sac.edu/disted Santa Ana College Cesar Chavez Building, Room A-101 1530 W. 17 th Street Santa Ana, California 92706

The Learning Center The Learning Center offers students free academic assistance. Contact or stop by the Learning Center at: SAC Learning Center Email: LearningCenter@sac.edu Phone: (714) 564-6569 Website: www.sac.edu/learningcenter Santa Ana College 1530 W. 17 th Street, D-301 & D-307 Santa Ana, California 92706 Disabled Students Programs & Service Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the DSPS to explore the available resources. SAC DSPS Phone: (714) 564-6264 Website: www.sac.edu\dsps 1530 W. 17 th Street, U-103 Santa Ana, Ca 92706

DE Student Blackboard Handbook by Santa Ana College Distance Education is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License