Blackboard
Welcome to the Blackboard Learning System. Blackboard is hosted by Blackboard Inc. and is a fully functional online course service.
Students planning to register for online web courses must complete the Blackboard tutorial and pass the Blackboard quiz. Students that have already successfully completed an online course will be exempt from testing. Go to the Blackboard Tutorial and Quiz to get started, or scroll down to read the Frequently Asked questions about Blackboard
FAQs About Blackboard
Table of Contents
- What is Blackboard?
- Who is responsible for Blackboard courses at Northark?
- How can I use Blackboard in my course? (for faculty)
- What do the students need in order to take a Blackboard course?
- How long does it take to learn how to use Blackboard?
- How do I do access Blackboard at Northark?
- Where can I find more information about Blackboard?
- What problems might I encounter?
What is Blackboard?
Blackboard is a self-contained computer-based Course Management System. It allows an instructor to create courses (or parts of courses) for delivery on the World Wide Web. Blackboard contains its own communications modules that allow students and instructor to chat, post bulletin board messages, send e-mail, use a whiteboard, and use a drop box for assignments or notes. It also contains an editor that allows faculty to create distinctive pages and edit text. Blackboard keeps track of students and provides several ways for instructors to keep tabs on student activities. It also contains a built in quiz creator for the instructors. The quiz builder allows students to take tests on the web and receive immediate feedback. All of the facilities within Blackboard are managed by the instructor.
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Who is responsible for Blackboard courses at Northark?
In a way, this question has more than one answer. Employing Blackboard courses at any college requires the coordination of several people. The key person is the instructor. Instructors develop, facilitate, and maintain courses. They have creative control and final say in how their course looks and behaves. The technical support crew makes up the bulk of the team. There are at least two Blackboard administrators. One or two people manage the Blackboard server components; the other manages the Blackboard software and assists faculty and students who are using Blackboard.
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How can I use Blackboard in my course?
Blackboard is designed to allow you to create a full-blown academic course for web-based delivery. However, because Blackboard has a variety of communications options, some instructors opt for just using the e-mail, chatroom, bulletin board, and/or drop box features of Blackboard for their traditional classes. Instructors can also select the course management tools they need to track grades, enrollment, and student activities if they require students to use Blackboard for some or all of their course assignments. The quiz and survey tools can be used independently of a web-based course.
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What do the students need in order to take a Blackboard course?
Students need access to a computer and the internet. Their computer should be capable of displaying text and graphics. Computer speed is important since Blackboard can be a graphic intensive program. Modem speed is also important if the student is accessing the internet over a dial up service (as opposed to a high-speed connection or corporate or institutional network).
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How long does it take to learn how to use Blackboard?
Blackboard is fairly user friendly. It also has an extensive "help" program built-in. For students, many of the Blackboard functions are based on clicking on icons. The few functions that require more knowledge of the program or of computers might cause some anxiety, but help is close at hand. Instructors attend about 64 hours of training over a four week period during the summer. One outcome of that training is a course syllabus that explains any Blackboard function with which a student might have a problem. There is also an online tutorial they can use to keep current. Instructors can schedule students for an orientation to Blackboard at the beginning of the semester. The Distance Education Department is also available to answer questions and assist with solving problems as they occur. This service is not a 24 hour a day seven days a week service, but it is available during normal working hours.
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How do I access Blackboard at Northark?
You must first go to the Northark Blackboard web site at http://borg.northark.edu. The Blackboard log-in page will open to allow registered students into their courses.
Students entering Blackboard for the first time will select the log-in option on the Blackboard homepage. Select the course from your 'My Courses' module.
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Where can I find more information about Blackboard?
Blackboard has a web site that you can go to anytime. Write the web address down and/or click on the following address http://www.blackboard.com
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What problems might I encounter?
As with any technology, Blackboard might not perform perfectly from time-to-time. Most of the problems you might encounter will be minor annoyances - like having to leave the program and return in a few minutes to allow your computer or the server re-set. Occasionally, you will have a problem that could drive you to distraction - occasionally e-mail, digital drop box, or virtual classroom functions may fail. These are serious problems for instructors and students. When a failure in the technology occurs, don't panic. Contact your teacher and/or the Distance Education Office at 391-3308. You an also e-mail the Distance Education Director at jwalsh@northark.edu.
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