What is Blackboard?

The Blackboard Learning System is Philadelphia University's online, web-based learning platform. It provides faculty and students an innovative way to share information and ideas and to communicate with each other outside of the classroom experience.

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What can I do with Blackboard?

Blackboard can help you manage the day-to-day operations of your course; deliver course materials in an anytime, anywhere fashion; streamline the homework process through electronic submissions; manage course grades; communicate with students via e-mail and discussion boards; facilitate communication between you and your students and among your students; create online assessments, both graded and ungraded; and post links to online information resources.

For more specific ways to use Blackboard in your course, contact Mark Clauburg, Instructional Design Specialist (clauburgm@philau.edu, x6332) and take a look at this resource created by the staff at Carnegie Mellon University.

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How do I use Blackboard?

A series of Blackboard workshops are offered each semester. Topics range from basic Blackboard usage to online assessment and discussions. For a list of workshop descriptions, times and locations, click here.

In addition, you can access a series of online resources by clicking on your browser's Back button to return to the Blackboard Resources for Faculty web page. Select a topic that you would like to learn more about to access a variety of step-by-step guides, video demonstrations, and many other resources created by myself, colleagues at other institutions, and Blackboard Inc.

For more in-depth inquiries, general questions about Blackboard, or questions specific to your course, please contact Mark Clauburg, Instructional Design Specialist (clauburgm@philau.edu, x6332).

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How do I get a Blackboard site for my course?

Faculty wishing to use Blackboard to support their teaching and their students' learning should fill out the Blackboard Course Request Form. Requests are typically fulfilled within 1 to 2 business days.

Faculty who wish to reuse material from a previous semester may do so by indicating on the Blackboard Course Request Form the Course ID and Semester of the material to be copied into your new Course Site. Course material that is more than 1 year old is not stored on the Blackboard Server and the faculty member will be requested to submit an archived copy prior to course creation.

If you are teaching more than one section of a course, but would only like one Blackboard site, please indicate this in the Special Instructions/Requests section.

You will be notified by e-mail when the course has been created and is available for you to edit.

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How do I access Blackboard?

If you wish to access a Blackboard course, point your web browser to the following URL: http://bb.philau.edu

To login, enter your PhilaU UserID, and the default password is: philau. If you do not know your password, please contact the OIT Help Desk.

Once you have logged in, you will notice a list of courses in which you are teaching and participating in on the right hand side of the screen (My Courses). Click on the appropriate course to get started.

Watch a video on this topic!

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How do I change my password?

After logging in to Blackboard, click on Personal Information, under Tools on the left side of your screen. Select Change Password. Enter your new password twice and click Submit.

A couple of words about passwords. Whether you are creating a password for Blackboard or your e-mail account, always try to create a password that is easy for you to remember, but difficult for others to guess. A few simple rules for creating a password:

1. Always make your password at least 6 characters.
2. Mix characters and numbers (e.g., blue12berry, h0bbit, phi11y).
3. Mix capital and lower case letters (e.g., Phi11Y, bAtMaN21).
4. Don't use the same password for every account.
5. NEVER use your Debit/Credit Card Pin as your password.
6. Avoid using your birthdate, name, parents' or child's name, or their birthdates.
7. Try to keep the same password for all online resources that require passwords.

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What e-mail address does my Blackboard e-mail go to?

By default, all Blackboard accounts are set up to send e-mail to your PhilaU account. We STRONGLY encourage you to use your PhilaU e-mail account for course-related and University-related communications.

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I Forgot/lost my password. How can I get it reset?

If can't remember your Password or lost it, click on the Forgot Your Password? link on the Blackboard Login Screen. A new screen will appear prompting you for your First Name, Last Name and either your UserID or your e-mail address. Fill in the information for one of the two prompts.

After clicking on Submit and e-mail will be sent to the e-mail account on file for you in Blackboard (your PhilaU e-mail account). Follow the directions in the e-mail to reset your Password and then login.

If after following these directions, you are still unable to login or receive an error stating that your account does not exist click here.

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What if I have problems logging in, accessing a course, etc.?

If you are experiencing difficulty with your Blackboard course, getting an error message when performing an operation, or can't login, please complete the Blackboard Assistance Request Form or contact Mark Clauburg, Instructional Design Specialist via e-mail (clauburgm@philau.edu) or phone (x6332).

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