Accessing Your Course
Access to the course requires a Username and Password on the Blackboard system.
Step 1: Direct your browser to the Web address http://blackhawk.blackboard.com
or use the Blackboard link
at the top of the Blackhawk homepage
Step 2: Click on the Login button
Step 3: Enter your username
e.g. first initial last name Jane Doe Username: jdoe
Step 4: and your Password:
Enter your nine digit BTC ID number
Step 2: 
Step 3: 
Note: If you dont know your Blackboard Username and Password, check with the Blackboard administrator.
If you have forgotten your password you may be able to use the Forgot Your
Password? at the bottom of this Login screen to
obtain a new one. An e-mail will be sent to your Blackhawk e-mail
address.
This page is called the portal page. Click on the course title to enter the course.
Navigating Your Course
The course homepage shows ANNOUNCEMENTS, the COURSE MENU to the left, and at the top -navigation history or breadcrumbs.
Your Blackboard Class Sites
You can access various parts of your Blackboard course by single-clicking on the navigation buttons, folder titles, links, Tools and Communication buttons. Use the left menu to navigate between content areas.
Course Menu
The Course Menu appears on the left side of a course Web site. Content and tools are accessed from the Course Menu
A typical class using Blackboard will have a course menu similar to this one
Your Instructor may change colors, names of the links or position of the links
1. Announcements - timely information critical to class success
2. Syllabus - class objectives, class management information, lists the due date and description for class work.
3. Course Content- includes learning materials and lesson aids, such as lecture notes
4. Messages/Chat - Course users communicate through the Communication Center. The
Communication Center allow users to:
a. send email
b. read and post messages to Discussion Boards
c. enter Collaboration Sessions
d. view Student roster
e. view Group pages
5. External Links - connects course users to outside learning materials. Instructors may select outside materials and post a hyperlink and brief description for each external source
6. My Grades View scores/grades to keep track of progress through course
7. Course Map - Allows class site navigation through a collapsible tree directory. Students can go directly to various course areas
Sending EMAIL
1. Click on the Communication button located at the left of your screen
2. Click on the Send E-Mail button.
3. Select who you would like to send your e-mail message to
4. In the new window that appears, enter the subject heading and message to be posted in your message. (As a special note, you may wish to create your message in a word processing program, then copy and paste it into the message box. Why? You can conduct a spell check of your work in your word processor whereas you are unable to do so in the Blackboard email program. In addition, you can have a copy of your work to re-post if you run into technical difficulties)
5. Once you are finished entering your subject heading and message, click the gray Submit button at the bottom of your screen to send message to the members of your group(s) or class
6. Contact your instructor if you have any questions or comments about sending e-mail
Using the Discussion Board
1. To use the discussion board, go into the course pages, find your course, and click on it
2. Click Discussion Board on the left side of the screen
3. Click on the forum which you wish to use
4. To read messages from other students, click on the message subject
5. Post your own message by click on Add New Threads at the top left of the discussion forum
6. Click Submit, and then OK
7. Your message is posted
8. If the text box area is missing
a. In Internet Explorer's security settings, make sure the setting for Run ActiveX Controls and Plug-ins is set to enable for the Internet zone
b. Alternatively, add the Blackboard site to the Trusted Sites zone. The trusted site configuration should have ActiveX enabled by default, and would allow you to enable this for only the Blackboard site
c.
How to Submit Assignments
1. Instructors may also use the Assignment Submission Feature now built into Blackboard
2. A Learning Unit/Assignment icon indicates a writing assignment link
3. When students click the View/Complete link, they will receive a new screen with directions for typing a paragraph and / or attaching a file. If you have more than one file you need to send make sure you do so at the same time
4. An Instructor may have also attached a file for the student to work on prior to submission
5. To add a file, use the Browse button to locate the file(s) you want to add to your digital drop box
6. Once you have located the file, click it and the file name shall appear to the left of the Browse button
7. Click Submit and then OK to add the file to your Gradebook
8. When the student submits the assignment, the instructor can read, make comments on, and evaluate through the Gradebook
Taking a Test
1. Choose the course in which the test is located
2. Click the content area in which the test is located (e.g. Assignments, Tests)
3. Click the test you want to take
4. Read all instructions, then take the test
5. DO NOT hit the Back button. You will get locked out
6. Once you start the test you may be required to complete it in one sitting. Plan for it
7. Sometimes students on a dial-up connection will have difficulty taking or completing tests. Make sure your connection has the ability to stay open for the duration of your test
Communicating With Your Instructor
1. Check in with your instructor regularly
2. Use email as your first mode of communication
3. But don't be afraid to try other forms of contact
4. Check your email regularly
5. Use specific subject lines for your messages
6. Be specific in the content of your messages
7. Read your Instructors Syllabus and Announcements for specific instructions and timelines
