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Frequently Asked QuestionsIf you can't find what you are looking for here, please email your question to Service Desk.
When will I have a Blackboard Course?
On the first day of the preceding quarter, courses will be created for the next quarter (Course Shell) in Blackboard. For example, on the first day of Fall 2007 (Sep. 17, 2007), Winter 2007 course shells will start appearing in Blackboard. More Information
Where is my Blackboard Course?
I am teaching a course, but do not see the course listed in the Blackboard Access channel. Where is the course link?
If the instructor of record for the course is listed as "STAFF," then the course does not have an instructor assigned to it and you will not have access to it. More Information. To verify that your course is assigned to STAFF, log into the Portal http://my.calpoly.edu.
Use PASS to check for Instructor of Record:
- Click on the Registration & Enrollment tab
- Click on the View Schedule of Classes link in the Enrollment Planning channel.
- Type in the Term number. (Fall 07 = 2078)
- Click on the Basic Search button.
- Type in the Subject (ENGL) and Catalog Number (102).
- Click on the Search button.
- Look in the Instructor listing on the right "INSTR" for STAFF.
If you are teaching more than one section of your course (ENGL-101-01-2078 & ENGL-101-04-2078) there are a multiple of ways to develop them.
- A developed course (ENGL-0101-01-2068) from a past quarter can be copied into the current course (ENGL-101-01-2078) with the Course Copy tool within the Control Panel. Make changes (Syllabus, etc.) in that course (ENGL-101-01-2078) and then use the Course Copy tool to copy the content into the other sections (ENGL-101-04-2078).
- If there isn't a full course to copy: add the files to your course (section 1) then use the Copy button on the right of the folder or item to copy the full folder or individual item to another course (section 4).
- Add all the users into one section (1). Only make that one section available and keep the other courses off.
Note: This will create a large Gradebook (all students from multiple sections).
My students say they can't see my course link in the Portal.
Your course is not turned on. All courses / each quarter are unavailable by default. From the Portal, if this
icon is next to the course then you...
...you will need to make your course available.
I use Netscape or Internet Explorer and I cannot access Blackboard.
Blackboard pages in Internet Explorer do not load completely and I am unable to access the course.
Browser Requirements
Please review the Technical Requirements page on how to modify your browser settings.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0, 5.5 or 6 (PC).
Netscape Navigator 4.7or 7.1.
Mozilla Firefox 1.0
JavaScript must be enabled
Cookies must be enabled
Allow pop-up windowsWhen the web page in IE is not loading completely you may need to update your Java Run Time. Please review the Technical Requirements page on how to update your Java(Sun).
IE 7 will not allow me to access Blackboard files.
I am unable to open an PDF file within IE 7.Not only do you need to make sure that all the browser settings have been modified for your new IE 7 browser, you will also need to reinstall the Acrobat Reader plug-in.
Add Blackboard to your IE 7 Trusted Sites.
Vista IE 7 will not allow me to type text into the Discussion Board, Quiz, or Assignments (any) text area. The HMTL (WYSIWYG) editor will not work in Vista IE 7. The box where you type your text is so small that your curser will not appear and nothing will type. To allow yourself and your students to type text within Blackboard...
You don't have Admin access to the computer (campus lab):
- Turn on the Personal Information tool
- from the Manage Course Menu tool
- click on the Modify button on the right of Student Tools
- click on the Available radio button on the right of Personal Information
- scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Submit button
- Students will change their Personal Information > Visual Text Box Editor Options. If you can't type text you can also follow step 2.
Note: Once the instructor has turned on the Personal Information tool, the student will need to modify the Visual Text Box Editor themselves.
We recommend that you use the Firefox Browser (no issues within this browser).
It is your computer and you have Admin access:
- Click in the HTML Text Box to activate the yellow bar with the message and select 'Run ActiveX Control'.
"This website wants to run the following add-on: 'Microsoft (R) Dynamic HTML Editing Control' from 'Microsoft Corporation'. If you trust the website and the add-on and want to allow it to run, click here..."
- Right-click on the yellow bar with the message and select 'Run ActiveX Control'.
- Click on the Run button.
The browser window will not load the Blackboard page.
Browser error:
- Can't find the page
- Time out, server not found.
Blackboard is currently (as of 8/1/06) running on two servers. If you get these errors, just reload or refresh your browser window. For more information.
After clicking on an uploaded file I get a HTTP Status 404 error...
I am having problems attaching files.
When placing files into Blackboard as a Discussion Board attachment, Email attachment, Course Materials link, Assignment attachment or as an attachment in the Digital Dropbox, it is important to name the files properly before attaching them. Below are a few file-naming conventions that should be followed. File names should not be longer than 32 characters including the file extension (.doc).
CORRECT
- Dog.doc
- theDogRan.doc
- thedogran.doc
- Dog1.doc
- Dog_1.doc
INCORRECT
- dog ran.doc
- dog-ran.doc
- dog&ran.doc
- Dog#1.doc
- dog/ran.doc
- dog.ran.doc
- the dog ran over the fence across the field.doc
There is a web tool that lets Cal Poly instructors update email addresses. Log-in to the Cal Poly portal at http://my.calpoly.edu/ and use the Personal Info tab.
Click here for more information.
Depending on the browser (Netscape, IE, Safari, or Firefox) computer (Mac or PC), and mouse you can print a frame by:
- Right-Click in the frame and choose: This Frame > Open this frame in new window.
- Option/ Alt, Left-Click : This Frame > Open this frame in new window.
- Right-Click in the frame and choose: Open frame in new window.
- Control, Left-Click: Open frame in new window.
- Right-Click in the frame and choose: Print.
If you are unable to download a file (link) by clicking on it...Depending on the browser (Netscape, IE, Safari, or Firefox) computer (Mac or PC), and mouse you can download it by:
- Right-Click on the link: Download to Disk.
- Right-Click on the link: Save Link Target As.
- Right-Click on the link: Save Link As.
- Option/ Alt, Left-Click : Save Link As.
- Control/ Left-Click: Download Link to Disk.
- Control/ Left-Click: Save Link As.
When I try to view a file by clicking on it in Blackboard, it opens a web page with gibberish. If the file opens in the browser as gibberish, depending on the browser (Netscape, IE, Safari, or Firefox) computer (Mac or PC), and mouse you can download it by:
- To Save/Download the file to your desktop.
- Right-Click on the link: Download to Disk.
- Right-Click on the link: Save Link Target As.
- Right-Click on the link: Save Link As.
- Option/ Alt, Left-Click : Save Link As.
- Control, Left-Click: Download Link to Disk.
- Control, Left-Click: Save Link As.
- Remove the ".html" from the end of the file name.
- Click on the Save button to save the file to the Desktop.
- Start the program that will open the file (ex: MathType).
- File > Open the file from the program.
I am unable to access my files. When I click I see a Forbidden 403 or a security warning. What can I do to get my files?
After installing SSL (secure socket language) on Sunday 2/27 some Internet Explorer users may see a Forbidden 403 or a security warning and not be able to access their files. Try adding the URL to the Security tab or use another browser (Netscape or Firefox).
In Internet Explorer (PC)
- Click on the Tools menu.
- Click on Internet Options.
- Within the Security Tab...
- Click on the Trusted Sites icon.
- Click on the Sites button.
- Type the URL (https://blackboard.calpoly.edu) into the text field.
- Click on the Add button.
- Click on the OK button.
When I click on the Portal Blackboard link a white web page appears. How can I access my Blackboard courses?
Some users may have the old Bb 5.5 cookie or cached files in their browser which will show a white/blank page. By clearing cookies, cache and files the Blackboard course will display.
Also the security settings can prevent Blackboard from loading. Try changing the settings to default.
In Internet Explorer (PC)
- Click on the Tools menu.
- Click on Internet Options.
- Within the General Tab...
- Click on the Delete Cookies button.
- Click on the Delete Files button.
- Within the Privacy Tab...
- Drag the slider to the Medium Level.
- Within the Security Tab...
- Click on the Default Level button.
When I try to " Enroll User", Blackboard can't find the username I searched for (user name was not listed).
How can I add this user?
1. The user may be already listed in the course but had dropped. As the instructor you are unable to view the dropped students in Blackboard. Please submit a HelpDesk Request via the Cal Poly Portal (tutorial).
2. Your are combining sections by adding students from section 2 into section 1. Again if the student had dropped section 1, you will not be able to add him or her until the dropped users are removed from Blackboard. All dropped users are removed the day after the Add / Drop deadline.
If you are still unsure of your Cal Poly password or continue to have problems with login, try resetting your password.
I need a TA, Grader, or Course Builder in my course.
Blackboard will allow instructors to change the role of a user to a Student, Teaching Assistant, Grader, Course Builder, or Instructor.
The easiest way is to use the Course Copy tool. You will need to make the person an instructor of your course, or they will need to make you an instructor. With both courses viewable, you can copy content. Once the process is done, the new instructor can be removed from the course.
I cannot get the Virtual Classroom (Chat) tool to work on my home computer.
We have found that some users at home (off campus) cannot access the Blackboard Virtual Classroom (Chat) tool. Besides Cookies and Java enabled (more info top of page) in your browser , some users may have the wrong TCP/IP properties. more information on Technical Requirements, DSL, and Virtual Classroom connection problems.
If you added "()" charters in the Faculty Information form, the image you imported will appear to be a broken link and not display.
[ex: First name: Michael (Mike)]
Fix: if you replace the () with "" (ex: First name: Michael "Mike") then the image will appear.
Course Copy