Blackboard

What is it?

Blackboard is a software system designed to facilitate the management of and access to educational information delivered via the Internet. The Blackboard system runs on a server and displays course information to students and instructors in the form of web pages. The Blackboard system also features tools to conduct online communication, including live chat and bulletin board style discussion, and automated assessment, and file sharing.

Where to get it?

If you are teaching a course for University credit, as part of a degree program:
Contact the ITS Helpdesk at 701-231-8685, Option 1, or by email at ndsu.helpdesk@ndsu.edu, IACC 150.
If you are 1) offering a 600 course for professional development or training, OR 2) a non-credit only option course, OR 3) you are not a University staff or faculty member:
Contact Karen Murie, 701-231-8638 or by email at: Karen.Murie@ndsu.edu. She will verify your course status and assist you in completing the process to request Blackboard access and a course website shell.

How to use it?

Quick Guides Online:

Personalized Training from the Distance and Continuing Education Instructional Design Team
Our team provides personalized training, often to the convience of your own schedule from the comfort of your own office space. Contact Lyn DeLorme to schedule an appointment.

Schedule of Distance and Continuing Education Training Events
See a schedule of our upcoming training events for faculty and staff.

Training Resources from ITS

Select this link to view a schedule of Live Workshops Offered by Information Technology Services (ITS)
ITS "All About Blackboard" page
Includes helpful links to tutorials and technical support for instructors and students.
Online Tutorials Created by ITS
View short Flash movies demonstrating the most commonly used features of Blackboard. To view, visit Blackboard online at https://bb.ndsu.nodak.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp and select "Login." Supply your Username and Password and select the "Login" button. On the next screen, select the "Help" icon at the top center of the screen. You will see a menu of "Quick Tutorials for NDSU Bb." Select a title from the menu to view a tutorial.

Training Resources from Blackboard, Inc.

Quick Tutorial Videos (Flash) produced by Blackboard: online at http://www.blackboard.com/quicktutorials/
Official User Guides from Blackboard, Inc.
Blackboard Academic Suite Instructor Manual Release 8.0 (PDF Format)
Blackboard Academic Suite Instructor Manual Release 8.0 (HTML Format)

Course Template for Blackboard

The DCE Instructional Design Team has created a template that is available to all DCE course instructors upon request. This course template is customizable and intended to speed the design and setup of a new course website in Blackboard. Personalized training and assistance in setting up the template is also available. Contact Lyn Delorme by phone at 701-231-6371 or by email at lyn.delorme@ndsu.edu.

Blackboard Technical Support

Already using Blackboard, but need Technical Support? Choose one of the following for further assistance:

If you are offering a course through Distance and Continuing Education:
Lyn DeLorme, Instructional Designer, 701-231-6371 or lyn.delorme@ndsu.edu; Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM CST
NDSU Help Desk: See contact information above (available during extended hours to NDSU staff and faculty).
- NDSU Help Desk (ITS) page about Blackboard and Resources
Blackboard (Corporate) Reference Center - Access to Official Instructor and User manuals
ND University System Help Desk
- More information about common student issues listed here

Blackboard FAQ's

Listed here are some of the most commonly asked questions about Blackboard. See contact information above if your question is not listed here.

How do students get access to my class in Blackboard? How are they notified?

If you are offering a course for University credit, as part of a degree program:
Your students will automatically be added to your Blackboard roster when they register for your course through Campus Connection. Please note that students who add your course after the registration period of the course term may not automatically be added to your Blackboard roster. As the Instructor, you are advised to periodically compare your CampusConnection course roster to your Blackboard roster and adjust student permissions and/or remove students who have dropped.
If you are offering a 600 course for professional development or training, or a non-credit course:
Your students may not be automatically added. Distance and Continuing Education staff will manage your course registration and manually provide your students with access to your Blackboard course site. Notification by email will also be sent to your students.

How do students login to Blackboard?

In general, students may use the following steps to login to Blackboard:

Begin with the NDUS Enrollment Process, to verify that the student has access to the system:
- Go to the NDUS Enrollment web page at https://secure.ndus.nodak.edu/services/
- Select the "Continue" button to verify agreement with the terms of use
- Supply student last name and EMPLID in the text boxes provided
- Follow on-screen prompts to complete the enrollment process

Following completion of the enrollment process:
- Go to the NDSU Blackboard site at https://bb.ndsu.nodak.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp
- Select the "Login" icon at the top of the screen.
- On the next screen, enter a Username and Password:
  - Username is the first portion of the NDSU email address, generally in this pattern: firstname.lastname
  - Password is the same as is used to access NDSU email OR if the student has not received this password, the default password pattern is Mmmssyyyy where:
    - Mmm = 1st 3 letters of the birth month, 1st letter CAPITALIZED
    - ss = middle 2 digits of the social security number
    - yyyy = 4 digit birth year

Students enrolled in a 600 course through Distance and Continuing Education are manually enrolled in your course website by DCE staff. Please contact Karen Murie, Karen.Murie@ndsu.edu, for more information.

How do students evaluate my course? Where do I get a copy of the course evaluation for my course site in Blackboard?

Complete information about evaluation policies and procedures for DCE courses can be found in the "Course Maintenance" section of this site. Select this link to learn more...

Re-Using or Migrating a Blackboard Course

If you are offering a course for University credit, as part of a degree program, use these steps to re-use or "migrate" your course site for another course term.

Log into Blackboard and select the "My Blackboard" tab.
Select the "Course Create" utility. You should see a listing of your courses.
Choose the course you wish to migrate by selecting the corresponding radio button.
Select either option: "Create" or "Copy." "Copy" will re-use the content from an existing Blackboard course; "Create" will open a new, blank course shell.
If you choose "Copy," select the course from the dropdown menu.
Select "Submit" to complete the process.
Repeat these steps for each course to be copied.

What if my course isn't listed?
The ITS Blackboard Team must manually create a course shell for you, in such an instance. To request assistance, select the "Bb Help" tab and choose "Create a New Course" or "Reuse old content for a new semester" and complete the online form provided. You may also contact the ITS Help Desk (see contact information on this page).

If you are: 1) teaching a 600 course for training or professional development, OR 2) a non-credit course, OR 3) you are NOT NDSU staff or faculty:
You will not need to complete this process; Distance and Continuing Education staff will provide assistance in migrating your Blackboard course for re-use.