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Blackboard FAQs for Students
How can I get help with Blackboard?
Check the UCR Extension online study page for online help. If you can't resolve your problem there, call Student Services at 951-827-3555 (8 am-10 pm, M-F and 8 am-5 pm on weekends). Student Services can assist you with login problems and other issues related to the use of Blackboard, but the Blackboard system is managed by the UCR Computing and Communications department and some technical problems can only be addressed by UCR C&C during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 am-5 pm.
What is Blackboard?
Blackboard is a course management system which is used by instructors for many UCR Extension courses. This includes face to face and hybrid format courses as well as courses offered online. How instructors use Blackboard varies from course to course, but you may find announcements, the course syllabus and other handouts, links to readings or other resources, and class discussions in the Blackboard course area. Your instructor should provide information on how Blackboard will be used at your first class meeting.
How do I access my Blackboard course area?
You can access Blackboard from any computer with an Internet connection. High-speed Internet access is preferable, but depending on the course, you may find dial-up access will be sufficient. Once you are online, use your Web browser to go to the iLearn site. Click Login under University Extension and Community Users to get started.
What is my username and password?
You will receive an e-mail message with your username and password prior to the start of your course. This message will be sent to the e-mail account you included when you registered for your class. If you do not receive this message prior to the start of class, check your junk mailbox in case it was mistakenly blocked. If you can't find the e-mail message, please call Student Services (951-827-3555) to have the e-mail resent. If you have enrolled in other UCR Extension courses which used Blackboard, your username and password will be the same.
I can't log in to ilearn.ucr.edu. What should I do?
Make sure you have caps lock turned off – your password is case sensitive – and try again. If you still can't log in, call Student Services and ask for help. Your password can be reset, but this will take at least one business day. For example, if you request a new password on Monday morning, your request will be processed by noon on Tuesday. If you make your request on Friday, it will not be processed until Monday at noon.
What do I do once I've logged in?
Once you log in, you will be at the MyUCR page. This page lists any courses you are enrolled in, along with other materials like a calendar and announcements. Under My Courses you should find your Blackboard course area listed. Click on the title of your course to get started. If you don't see your course listed, check with your instructor to be sure the course has been made available on Blackboard.
Once I'm in the course area, what do I do?
Click on one of your courses. You will enter each course area and you may see announcements or other information about what you should do. Navigation buttons are on the left side of the screen – these may be organized differently for each course. If there is a Syllabus or Course Information button, you may find your course materials there. Check with your instructor for more information.
How do I change my password?
Once you have logged into your Blackboard course, click on the Course Tools link, then click Personal Information. Click the Change Password link, then enter your new password twice. Click Submit to save your new password.
If you can't enter the Blackboard course area to change your password, you can change your password using the iLearn password reset form. Your password will be reset within 24 hours, except on weekends or holidays when it will be reset by the following business day. Once your password is reset you will receive an e-mail with your new password at the address that you supply in the form.
Where can I get more information about using Blackboard?
Take a look at UCR Extension's online study page for help. You can find basic information about what you will need to get started using Blackboard as well as links to tutorials and other information. UCR Computing and Communications department also has several links to Blackboard information on their help page.
Blackboard has a student support site with various documents and animated tutorials.
How do I use Blackboard's e-mail feature?
Blackboard has built in e-mail which allows instructors and students to e-mail the entire class, groups or individuals. Students and instructors are automatically added to the e-mail list when they're enrolled in the course. The e-mail address you use when you register for your first course at UCR Extension is the one which will be used by the Blackboard e-mail system. You can't change this e-mail address yourself, but if you need it changed, contact Student Services.
You can send Blackboard e-mail through the MyUCR screen by clicking on Send E-mail and then choosing your course and then selecting All Users, All Groups, Select Users or one of the other options. You can include attachments with your e-mail.
Blackboard e-mail is also available in the course area. Click on Communication under Tools, then follow the steps as above.
What kind of browser do I need to use Blackboard?
You need a browser that supports JavaScript (such as Netscape 8, MS Internet Explorer 7, or Firefox 2). Your browser should also support frames in order to view Blackboard sites. It is a good idea to use the most recent version of your Web browser with Blackboard. You can download the latest versions of
Firefox (PC/Mac/Linux)
Internet Explorer (PC)
Netscape (PC)
Safari (Mac)
Opera (PC/Mac/Linux)
I logged in to Blackboard, but I don't see any courses listed.
There are several possibilities why your course may not be listed:
- Your class may not use Blackboard.
- The area for your course may not have been created yet. Check with your instructor.
- Your course area has been created but has not been made available to students. Check with your instructor.
- You have not yet been added to the Blackboard course area, although you have enrolled in the course. It will take at least one business day after you have registered before you are added to the Blackboard course area.
How do I increase the size of the text displayed in Blackboard?
If the text is too small, you can adjust the size in your browser. Check your browser settings which vary depending on which browser you are using.
I don't see all the options when I'm using the Text Editor in the Discussion Board.
Some features in the Visual Text Box Editor are dependent on the browser you are using. For example, the Safari browser (Mac) does not support all of the features of the Visual Text Box Editor.
You can turn off the Visual Text Box Editor if you choose. On the MyUCR page, click Personal Information under Tools. Then click Set Visual Text Box Editor Options. You can choose to make the Visual Text Box Editor available or unavailable. Click Submit to save your changes.
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