Blackboard Support

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Blackboard Support

What is Blackboard Learn 9.1?

Blackboard Learn 9.1 is the Internet platform The Michener Institute uses to host all of its online courses for Full-Time and Continuing Education programs. This platform will allow you to access essential course documents, as well as the ability to communicate and collaborate with your fellow students and instructor(s).

Getting Help With Blackboard Learn 9.1

Blackboard Support Hours of Operation :
Monday to Friday 9:00am – 9:00pm
Weekends 9:00am – 5:00pm
E-mail: bbsupport@michener.ca

Getting Help With Outlook e-mail and PowerCampus Self Serve:
Contact Help Desk on the next business day at 416-596-3101 x.3369 or via email helpdesk@michener.zendesk.com

IMPORTANT! When submitting an email request to Blackboard Support, please ensure that you provide:

  • Your first and last name
  • The course code for the course in which you are experiencing problems
  • Your student ID number
  • Your username on Blackboard
  • Details of the problem you are experiencing, including: Any error messages and steps the support staff can take to re-create the problem and the location of the content or assessment in question in your course

Note: Your inquiry will be acknowledged as soon as possible on the day it is received

How Do I Access Blackboard Learn 9.1?

Since Blackboard Learn 9.1 is an internet platform, you will need access to an internet connection and a supported web browser.

Recommended Software

  1. Adobe Acrobat Reader
  2. VLC Player (free to download media player)
  3. USB headset with microphone (for courses where web conferencing will be used)
  4. Blackboard App for Students (free download for iOS and Android)
  5. Blackboard App for Instructors (free download for iOS and Android)
  6. Browser Support for Blackboard Learn 9.1
    Microsoft Windows: Mozilla Firefox*, Google Chrome*, Microsoft Edge
    Mac OS: Apple Safari, Mozilla Firefox*, Google Chrome*
    *Michener recommends Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome for both Windows and Mac OS

Resources for Students and Instructors

Listed in the table below is a selection of video tutorials and PDF documents available on Blackboard’s On Demand Tutorials for students and instructors. A complete listing of video tutorials for students and instructors is available at Blackboard’s On Demand Learning Centre (the first link is each column below). The streaming video tutorials are either linked from Blackboard’s YouTube Channel or in Flash Player format linked from Blackboard’s On Demand Learning Centre. See the Recommended Software section for the plugins.

Tutorial Resources for Students


Blackboard Learn: for Students

Managing your Blackboard Account:

  1. Global Navigation & My Blackboard
  2. Change Your Password
  3. Editing Your Personal Information
  4. Adding an Avatar to Personalize Your Course

The Blackboard App for Students:

Content:

  1. Using the Content Editor
  2. Show & Hide Course Menu (PDF)

Assessments:

  1. Submitting an Assignment
  2. Taking a Test in Blackboard
  3. Checking Your Grades



Akindi Online Bubble Sheet Assessments:

Participating in Discussions:

Wikis Blogs & Journals:

  1. Creating & Editing a Wiki Page
  2. Creating a Blog Entry
  3. Create and Comment on Journal Entries

Communicating in Blackboard:

Groups:


Tutorial Resources for Instructors

Blackboard Learn: for Instructors

Managing your Blackboard Account:

  1. Global Navigation & My Blackboard
  2. Editing Your Personal Information
  3. Change Your Password
  4. Adding an Avatar to Personalize Your Course

The Blackboard App for Instructors:

  1. Blackboard Instructor App Tour

Managing Your Course:

  1. Your Course Environment
  2. Creating Announcements
  3. Show & Hide Course Menu
  4. Make Your Course Available to Students
  5. Select the Course Entry Point

Working With Content:

  1. Using the Content Editor
  2. Building a Learning Module
  3. How to Create a Mashup
  4. Turning Statistics Tracking On for a Content Item
  5. Student Preview

Blackboard Collaborate Ultra Web Conferencing:

  1. How to Enable Blackboard Collaborate for Your Course
  2. Blackboard Collaborate Ultra Interface tour
  3. Best Practices for Web Conference Participation (PDF)
  4. How to Create a Session in Blackboard Collaborate(Video)
  5. Create a Session in Blackboard Collaborate(PDF)
  6. Session Settings in Blackboard Collaborate Ultra
  7. Configuring Audio Devices for Web Conferencing in Windows 10 (PDF)
  8. Sharing PowerPoint and PDF Files in Blackboard Collaborate Ultra
  9. How to Record Sessions in Blackboard Collaborate (Video)
  10. Polling in Blackboard Collaborate Ultra
  11. Breakout Groups in Blackboard Collaborate Ultra
  12. Private Chat in Blackboard Collaborate Ultra



Communicating in Blackboard:

  1. Sending E-mail

Working With Discussions:

  1. Create a Discussion Board Forum

Working With Groups:

  1. Getting Started With Groups (PDF)

Blogs, Wikis and Journals:

  1. Creating a Journal
  2. Creating a Blog
  3. Creating a Wiki

Grading:

  1. How to Customize the Grade Centre
  2. Viewing Grade Details
  3. Working Offline with Grade Centre
  4. Creating a Smart View
  5. Using Item Analysis in Blackboard Learn
  6. Inline Grading for Assignments
  7. How to Grade Student Collaboration Inline
  8. How to Create a Rubric
  9. Grading Using a Rubric

Creating Tests:

  1. Creating a Test
  2. Setting Test Options
  3. Uploading Test Questions from Microsoft® Excel
  4. Creating a Random Block and Adding it to a Test
  5. How to Build a Pool of Questions
  6. Create Question Sets from Blackboard Help for Instructors

Akindi Online Bubble Sheet Assessments:

  1. A Full Guide to Akindi Online for Faculty
  2. Online Bubble Sheet Assessments (Complete tutorial listing)

Creating an Assignment:

  1. Getting Started with Assignments




Web Conferencing

Michener currently uses Blackboard Collaborate Ultra and GoToMeeting for web conferencing and delivery of online classes, labs and office hours.  This section will provide helpful resources that will facilitate successful participation in either a Blackboard Collaborate or GoToMeeting session.

Blackboard Collaborate Ultra

Blackboard Collaborate Ultra is a browser-based web conferencing tool that is available in all courses in Michener’s Blackboard system.

Pre-session checklist:

  1. Have a USB headset with microphone
  2. Ensure your Headset is selected as the default input (microphone) and output (speakers) device
    Windows 10: Configuring Audio Devices for Web Conferencing in Windows 10  (PDF)
    Mac OS: Dock > System Preferences > Sound > Output (select headset) > Input (select headset)
  3. Where possible, for the most stable connectivity, use a hard-wired Internet connection
  4. Supported browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge (Chromium), Apple Safari 13 or greater

Joining a Blackboard Collaborate Session:

You can join a Blackboard Collaborate session via a supported browser on a desktop or laptop computer by clicking into the Blackboard Collaborate section of your course, click the link for your session and select Join Session.  Your course Instructor may send you a link to the session via e-mail.  Alternatively, you can use the Blackboard App for Students to access a Blackboard Collaborate session on a mobile device.  Note: Because the Blackboard Collaborate experience in the Blackboard App is a somewhat limited, a desktop/laptop computer is recommended for session participation.

Getting Started in a Blackboard Collaborate Session:

  1. Blackboard Collaborate Video Tour
  2. Set up your audio and video
  3. Be seen and be heard
  4. Audio and network icons

Blackboard Collaborate Best Practices:

  1. Best Practices for Web Conference Participation (PDF)

Troubleshooting Information:

  1. Google Chrome
  2. Mozilla Firefox
  3. Microsoft Edge (Chromium)
  4. Apple Safari
  5. Network Connection Issues

Unsupported browsers: Microsoft Edge (original), Microsoft Internet Explorer, Apple Safari 12 and older

GoToMeeting

The GoToMeeting web conferencing product is also available to Michener faculty for online meetings, lectures and labs.

System Requirements for GoToMeeting:

  1. System Requirements for Attendees

Pre-session checklist:

  1. Have a USB headset with microphone
  2. Ensure your Headset is selected as the default input (microphone) and output (speakers) device
    Windows 10: Configuring Audio Devices for Web Conferencing in Windows 10 (PDF)
    Mac OS: Dock > System Preferences > Sound > Output (select headset) > Input (select headset)
  3. Where possible, for the most stable connectivity, use a hard-wired Internet connection
  4. Supported browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge (Chromium), Apple Safari 13 or greater

Joining a GoToMeeting Session:

To participate in a GoToMeeting session, your Instructor will post a session link with the meeting ID number in an announcement in a Blackboard course or forward it to students via e-mail.

  1. How to Join a Meeting
  2. How to Join a Meeting (Video Demonstration)

Troubleshooting Information:

  1. Test Your Microphone and Speakers
  2. Test Your Webcam
  3. Audio Help and FAQ