What is Blackboard?
Blackboard is a Web-based learning, discussion, and class administration tool designed specifically for
faculty and students that provides a secure, pre-made Web site for a class.
How do I get a Blackboard Account?
Blackboard accounts are not automatically generated for every student. In order to get a Blackboard account,
you must be enrolled in a class where the instructor is using Blackboard. Your Blackboard username and password
will be the same as your Nicholls user account. Once you receive a Blackboard account, you will have it until you
graduate or resign from the university. Students use their Blackboard accounts to check online assignments, take quizzes,
and turn in homework, just to name a few features.
How do I log onto Blackboard?
Go to http://blackboard.nicholls.edu and click on the
login icon, then enter your Nicholls username and password and click login to continue.
What is my blackboard password?
Your blackboard username and password will be the same as your Nicholls account.
What do I do if I forget my Blackboard password?
Click the link here and follow the instructions.
I tried using the "Forgot your password" link, but it didn't work.
What should I do?
The "Forgot your password?" link on the login page will only work if your e-mail address is correctly listed in the Personal
Information section of your Blackboard account. When student accounts are created, Blackboard uses the e-mail address we have for
you on record in the University's database. If we have no e-mail address, or an old e-mail address, the "Forgot your password?"
feature will not work. Additionally, this feature will not work if a Blackboard account has not yet been created for you.
If you've filled out the "Forgot your password?" form and have not received your Blackboard password by e-mail, please e-mail
Ms. Dian for assistance at Dian.Leger@Nicholls.edu.
Can I use Blackboard from home?
Yes, any computer with an Internet connection and a version 4 or above browser with Javascript enabled can access Blackboard.
As long as you have your Nicholls username and password you will be able to log in as normal.
Blackboard, as with anything, will not work as fast down a modem as it does on the campus Public Workstations. If there are files
that simply will not load you should ask your tutor to check that they are of a reasonable size.
When I try to print out one of the course documents, I get a printout
of the Blackboard frame and not the document?
There are two common ways of putting texts online. If the professor has posted the text as a separate, downloadable document
(similar to an e-mail attachment), download it normally (right-click or control-click) and open it and print it out using the
appropriate program, e.g. Acrobat Reader for PDF files.
If the professor has chosen simply to display text in the main browser window, the printing method depends a lot on your computer
and your browser. On a Windows PC, right-click on the area of the page you wish to print and proceed normally. On a Mac, control-click
on the desired area of the page and look for a command such as Open Frame in New Window. Click on the new window and print normally.
Finally, you can always cut and paste from the web page into a word processing program such as Word or Notepad.
How do I change Blackboard’s record of my e-mail address?
Keep your e-mail address updated by clicking on Personal Information in the Tools box at the left of your homepage (the one that
appears first after you have successfully logged in). Then, click on Edit Personal Information to gain access to your e-mail and
other data. Click on Submit at the bottom of the page after you make any necessary revisions.
How can I send files from school to my home machine or send a file
to the instructor?
Every Blackboard course has the possibility of a file server to store files and retrieve them at a later moment. This tool
is called the Digital Drop-box. This is a private storage area where only you have access to the files you upload. The Digital
Dropbox also gives you the capability of sending files to the instructor. You can access your Digital Dropbox through the TOOLS
section of the course you are taking. This is a good tool to use for especially large files that could cause potential errors by
trying to send through email communication.
What is the digital dropbox?
The Digital Dropbox allows you to exchange files with the instructor.
Within the Digital Dropbox, what is the difference between Add
File and Send File?
Add File allows you to upload files to the Drop Box, but nothing is sent to your instructor. Send File will add and send
the file to your instructor. By the way, Remove will remove a file from the Drop Box provided it hasn't been sent already.
Once a file has been sent to the instructor, it cannot be removed from the Drop Box.
How do I create a homepage in Bb?
Blackboard allows you to create your own homepage for each course you are enrolled in. To create a homepage,
go into the course in which you want to create it, then do the following:
- Click on the “Tools” button on the left hand side of your screen.
- Click on “Edit Your Homepage”
- Enter information in the text fields.
- Enter up to three of your favorite Web sites by filling in the appropriate fields.
- Click "Update Homepage" to enter your changes.
You can then view your homepage by doing the following:
- Click the "Communication" button on the left side of the page.
- Click "Roster" on the right side of the page.
- Type your last name in the "Search" field, and click the "Search" button.
- When your name appears, click on it.
I have a problem that I can't solve using this FAQ.
What should I do?
First, contact your instructor. He or she may be able to answer your question. If you instructor can't help
you, please e-mail to Ms. Dian at Dian.Leger@Nicholls.edu
