Faculty FAQ
FAQs provide answers to many commonly asked questions faculty may have concerning Blackboard Learning System CE.
Please Note: You can verify that your browser and other applications are up to date for use with Blackboard by clicking the [Check Browser] link located at the top of the Login Page or at the top of your main My Blackboard page. For a list of browsers that are compatible with Blackboard CE visit the Blackboard browser tune-up page.
Help with Logging In:
Help with Student Access:
Help with Blackboard Features:
Getting Help with Blackboard:
Help with Logging In:
What is my username and password on BLS?
Your username is your UAlbany Net ID and your password is your UNIX password.
Can I allow pop-ups for BLS only?
Yes. You can allow pop-up windows from UAlbany's Blackboard Learning System domain by setting an exception in your browser's pop-up blocker tool. Watch a tutorial to learn how to add an pop-up blocker exception:
Help with Student Access:
Who has access to my course?
There are different levels of access available in BLS. Below are the options and their descriptions. If you would like an individual to have special access to your course please send the required information to blshelp@albany.edu.
- Co-instructors listed in the UAlbany schedule of classes are added automatically. Those not listed in the schedule of classes can be added to your course with designer and/or instructor permissions. Send their name, NetID, and desired permissions.
- TAs can be added to your course with TA (grading only) or with TA/designer access. Sent their Name, NetID and desired permissions.
- Students registered for your course are added to the roster automatically.
- Auditor permissions can be given to students not registered for our course. Send their Name & NetID.
- Guests who are not part of the UAlbany community can be given access to your course. Contact blshelp@albany.edu.
How are adds/drops handled?
Student enrollments are updated every 24 hours. Students who have dropped a course will be removed from the BLS roster but they will not be removed from the grade book.
Help with Blackboard Features:
Why can't I see the "My Computer Icon" when trying to upload files?
This issue is often related to browser settings or Java.
After clearing your browser’s temporary internet history and cookies, we recommend that run the [Check Browser] and/or visit the Blackboard Browser Tune Up page. Please note that automatic updates may interfere with Java, the utility behind the file upload tool, so you should run the [Check Browser] regularly.
Also, when you login to BLS on an ITS computer (Information Commons, LC kiosk, or smart classroom computer), you will be prompted to accept the digital signature for Java software. Click “Run” when you see this prompt. The Java software digital signature has been verified and the software is needed to run the BLS tools.
Click here for a tutorial on setting the digital signature.
Why do email messages forwarded from BLS to my WebMail account contain HTML code?
To adjust your WebMail setting to properly display HTML in received email messages:
- Click Options at the top of the WebMail screen
- Click Display Preferences
- Under Message Display and Composition check Yes for Show HTML Version by Default:
How do I import and export grades to and from my Blackboard grade book?
To import files into the Blackboard grade book the spreadsheet must first be saved as a comma delimited (.csv) file. (Please note that this will remove some excel formatting. We recommend that you save the .csv as a separate file).
Once the file has been saved in the comma delimited format, go to your Blackboard grade book (Instructor Tools menu) and select the button to [Import from Spreadsheet].
Browse to the .csv file and set the [Separator] to "comma" and press the [Upload] button (see illustrations below).
Match the grade book column titles and/or add new columns and select the [Import] button.
To export your Blackboard grade book select the [Export to Spreadsheet] button. Select the appropriate setting and select the [Export] button. Open the spreadsheet on your desktop or save it for future use (see illustrations below).
Why I can’t I download files in Blackboard?
This issue is usually related to browser settings on the computer you are using. It is recommended that you run the [Check Browser] and also list http://bls.its.albany.edu/ as a site that you want to allow through your browser's pop-up blocker. In addition to browser pop-up blockers, your computer may also have other pop-up blockers running. These may be shown on your browser's toolbar. In such case, you should make a similar adjustment for these other pop-up blockers. Finally, depending on which browser you are using, there may be security settings that need to be adjusted to trust downloaded files from Blackboard.
For information about using BLS and MS Office 2007 >> click here.
When using Internet Explorer I get a prompt when downloading files that sends me back to the My Blackboard page. Do I have to do this for every file?
You can disable this in Internet Explorer. To do this, navigate to:
- Tools -> Internet Options.
- Click on the Security Tab and then click on the "Custom Level" button.
- In the new window that opens scroll the "Downloads" heading and select "Enable" next to the setting labeled "Automatic prompting for file downloads."
- Click OK to save the setting and close the window.
- Click the Apply button in the Internet Options window and click OK to close it. Refer to the graphic below for more guidance.
Why can’t I write and/or open BLS mail messages?
If you have run the [Check Browser] and passed, but are still unable to write and/or open a BLS mail message this may be due to your anti-virus software firewall. It is recommended that you review the security settings for your anti-virus software to accommodate BLS mail. (To test this, some users have opted to temporarily turn off their anti-virus software firewall to test their ability to write a BLS mail message. ITS does not recommend this action.)
Can I forward my BLS course mail to an external email address?
Yes, you can forward BLS mail to the email address designated in your BLS account profile. The default email address in this profile is your University at Albany email account. To forward mail in BLS CE, follow the pertinent instructions below.
· To change the e-mail address in your profile:
From the My Blackboard page, click My Settings. Then click the My Profile tab and click the Edit Profile button. Here you can edit the email address and save the changes.
· To forward your BLS mail to an external account:
From the My Blackboard page, click My Settings, then click on the My Tools Options tab; Scroll down and check the box labeled "Forward all mail messages to the e-mail address in my profile".
CAUTION: If you elect to forward copies of your BLS Course Mail to an external email address you can not reply to the messages from the external e-mail account. You can only reply to BLS CE course mail from within BLS CE.
Can I reuse my design next semester?
Requests to have content used in a previous semesters BLS course should be indicated in your course request. Requests to have content from a previously developed WebCT course will be done on a best effort basis.
How can I back up my BLS course?
A backup of a BLS course can be made from the build or teach tab. Select Manage Course and then select Backup. Please note that faculty cannot restore their own course, that must be done by FTR.
How can I "drag and drop" files into my course?
You can drag and drop files into the File Manager using its Web Folder window. You can then make links to these files in the Blackboard course for students to access. Note that this folder is a temporary network folder – you need to follow the instructions below each time you want to open a Web Folder of the File Manager. If you want to create a permanent network folder for File Manager on your computer, use the WebDAV set-up procedure.
Note: These instructions require you to use Internet Explorer.
How can I create a network folder for the course File Manager on my computer?
You can access and manage BLS course files and folders from your computer without logging in to the
BLS. To do this, you set up WebDAV folders on your
computer that mirror your folders in the Learning System. When you add, edit, copy, move, or delete files and
sub-folders using the WebDAV folders, these changes are made in
the Learning System. Conversely, when you add or modify files and
sub-folders in the Learning System folders, these changes are made
in the WebDAV folders.
Getting Help with Blackboard:
Who do I contact for help with BLS?
The [Help link] is in the upper right corner of every page in BLS. The help is context-specific, providing help on the tool that is currently displayed. There are also online tutorials that can be accessed from the My Blackboard page. If you are still having difficulties, the following resources are available to you:
- Submitting a Blackboard help request using the ITS Service Desk at www.albany.edu/its/help this is the best way for faculty to receive support for BLS. We can also set up a time to help you in person.
- Keep reading the BLS FAQs - this is a list of frequently asked questions provided by the UAlbany BLS faculty help desk.
- Open Workshops offered by FTR - check the schedule for workshop dates, times, and locations.
- Ask Dr.C - Blackboard hosts an online forum moderated by an expert group of trainers, instructional designers, administrators, and support specialists.
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