STUDENT MINI-GUIDE TO BLACKBOARD
Jump to:
Blackboard at Paisley
Blackboard is a web based system offering a set of fully integrated functions for use as a teaching tool to support learning at module level. In the University of Paisley it is used to support a wide range of programmes including full time and part time programmes as well as those programmes designed to suit flexible and distance learning study modes.
You can connect to Blackboard at Paisley from any location, either on campus or off campus. Security of access is ensured by allowing only those registered on the system to gain access via a unique Username and Password check. In addition registered users are allowed access to only those modules in which they have been registered.
Login to Blackboard
You can connect to the Blackboard web server by entering the following address into your browser: http://blackboard.paisley.ac.uk
After you have connected to Blackboard, you will be presented with the Blackboard opening page as shown below.
To access the system click on the "Login" link.
As a result you will be presented with the login page as shown below.
Enter your unique Username and Password into the appropriate field.
If you are a new student at the University you will be have been given a unique UserID and Password at registration. You will use this UserID and Password to access Blackboard. If you are an existing user your current UserID and Password will still be valid.
Note: If the system rejects your UserID and/or Password, contact Computing Support in the Centre for Learning and Teaching (CLT).
Click on the following link to view an animation example of the "Login" procedure. The animation also describes the format of the Username and Password.
Change your Password
It is IMPORTANT that you protect your access rights so CHANGE your default Blackboard password as soon as possible. Click on the following link to view an animation example of how to "change your password".
Customise your Blackboard
After you login to Blackboard you are presented with the "My Institution" page, an example of which is shown below.
This page acts as a gateway to your modules and a central display for module announcements, calendar events and tasks that have been made/set by your module lecturer(s).
You can, to some extent, organise your "My Institution" page to suit your personal preferences. Click on the following link to view an animated description of how you can organise the the "My Institution" Page.
Selecting a Blackboard Module
The titles of all the modules on which you are registered are shown under the "My Courses" banner (see above). To access a module click on the module name in the "My Courses" list. Click on the following link to view an animated description of how you can "select modules".
When you have made your selection the module home page will be displayed. An example of a module home page is shown below.
The module home page is composed of two main frames. The left hand frame lists the navigation links that you will use to gain access to your learning resources and other system functions. The right hand frame is the "view port" which acts as a display window for the resources you access.
Note: The “Courses” tab is highlighted whenever you access a specific module (see above). You can “leave” your current module by selecting the “My Institution” tab from whence you can access another of your modules by clicking on the desired module name from the “My Courses” list.
Surfing through Blackboard
The main navigation links available in the Blackboard navigation panel acts as a top level access point to the learning resources/functions associated with each link. A diagram of the overall structure of the Blackboard navigation options is shown below.
Note: Please be aware that not every module will make use of all available facilities. Your lecture will decide which facilities are appropriate for use in your module.
Although there are no strict rules governing where your lecturer(s) must store your learning resources you will usually find that the resources designed to suit a particular purpose are stored in an area that closely matches the name on the navigation link. For example if your lecturer has told you that he/she has put lecture notes on Blackboard you can reasonably assume that they can be found in the Course Materials area. If they tell you that you can find the module syllabus on Blackboard it is most likely to be found in the Course Information area. Guess where your assignment/coursework might be stored in your module? In what area will you find the email and discussion facilities?
When a link is selected, you will be present with a series of sub-options from which you can make further selections. In many cases the materials will be stored as discrete files, eg a word file, usually within a topic folder in a relevant module area. The structure of a sample "Course Material" area is shown below.
The folders will contain the individual learning resources associated with the your lectures. The resources can take a wide variety of formats, eg Word files, spreadsheets, presentations, video, audio etc.
To display the resources you must click on the line under the folder name. The result of opening the "Session 1 - " folder is shown below.
Three resources are shown, each dealing with a different aspect of the main topic. To view the file all you need do is click on the link associated with the file.
Opening and Saving Files
In addition to viewing the file contents online you can also save the file to your local computer for future reference and for printing. Click on the following link to view an animated description of how to open and save files.
Note: Although you can print the file from your browser window it takes much longer to do so and with particular types of files, eg those in PDF format, the time delay can be significant. Printing will be much quicker if you first save (download) the file to your local machine and then print.
Emailing from Blackboard
In addition to gaining access to module learning resources/materials you also have a number of system options that facilitate communication with your lecturer(s) and fellow students. Communication can take the form of email, discussion boards, chat (for online tutorials) and file exchange.
When you join the University you are allocated a default email address which takes the form of:
al123456@student.paisley.ac.uk
The first eight characters will be formed by a combination of your initials and the six digits of your matriculation number.
This is the email address that is entered into your Blackboard "Personal Information" record when your Blackboard account is first created and is the email address to which all email messages posted to you from within a Blackboard module, eg from a lecturer/fellow student, will be sent.
To ensure that you receive Blackboard email messages at the correct email in-box you must check that the email address in your "Personal Information" record in Blackboard is both accurate and your preferred email address for Blackboard issued email messages. You can check (and change) your email address in Blackboard by following the instructions given in the animated description of how to "check your email address".
After you have checked your email address you can begin sending emails from within your Blackboard modules. Please note that:
-
you can send email messages from within Blackboard to only those registered on the same module(s) as yourself,
-
Blackboard will automatically forward to you a copy of each message you send.
Click on the link, Send an Email, to view an animation of how to send an email message from within a Blackboard module.
Note: Details of how to access your university email address are given in the computer users guides located within the CLT Student Support website.
Discussion Boards
The discussion board facility is used to support online "conversations" about a variety of subject specific topics.
Conversations are conducted in forums. Each discussion board can have a range of forums, each dedicated to conversations about various topics relevant to the module materials you are studying. You contribute to a forum conversation by posting email messages to the forum.
Click on the link, Add a Message to a Discussion Board, to view an animation of how to send (post) a message to a Discussion Board forum.
The messages posted to a forum are grouped together according to the "Subject" of the message. Messages with the same "Subject" are said to form Threads (of conversations). Hence if you want your message to be part of a thread you must ensure that the subject of your message is the same as the other messages in the thread.
Click on the link, Managing your Discussion Board, to view an animation of how to manage the messages in a Discussion Board forum.
Leaving Blackboard
One last detail, ie having logged in to Blackboard you need eventually
to logout. You can do this in one of two ways:
If you require further assistance with understanding and using Blackboard at Paisley please ask at the Reception desk in CLT Computing.
Navigation Structure for Blackboard
