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Frequently Asked QuestionsIf you can't find what you are looking for here, please email your question to Service Desk.
Blackboard will not load in my browser.
Firefox 3.5 and IE 8 on the PC are having issues with Blackboard's Assignment uploads and viewing the Grade Center. Make sure your FireFox 3.5 and IE 8 is ran through the browser checker.
Test your browser with one of the TWO Browser Checkers.
Go to the new Browser Checker within the Support Site.
Or
From the My Blackboard home page...
- Click on the My Blackboard Home Page link on the bottom of the Blackboard Access Channel.
- Click on the Test Browser button in the Browser Checker channel.
- If the browser was not compatible, click on the (?) More Information button (on the top) left for instructions.
Blackboard seems to hang or freeze. Page will not load.
The browser will not display the Blackboard page. Blackboard seems to be frozen or the page will not display.
Browser Requirements
Please review the Technical Requirements page on how to modify your browser settings.
Internet Explorer 6 & 7 (PC)
Firefox 2.0 & 3.0 (Mac & PC)
Apple Safari 2.0 & 3 (Mac)NOTE: FireFox 3.5 and IE 8 are not supported browsers, yet.
- JavaScript must be enabled
- Cookies must be enabled
- Allow pop-up windows
- Trusted site
When the web page is not loading completely you may need to update your Java Run Time. Please review the Technical Requirements page on how to update your Java(Sun).
The Browser Window asks that I trust the Certificate. OR The browser page will not load.
If your pop-up blockers are on within your browser, this window will not appear and the page will not load.
I cannot upload an attachment to a Blackboard Assignment.
If your trying to access the HTML editor (text box), your browser may ask you to Trust the Java Applet Certificate. The HTML editor uses the Java Applet to work. Click on the Trust button to approve the certificate. If the page doesn't load, the pop-up blocker on the browser may prevent this window from appearing. Turn off the pop-up blocker and try the HTML editor again to Trust the Certificate.
If you are unable to upload an attachment to an Assignment in Blackboard either because selecting "Browse" creates an error or the page fails to completely load, try waiting 1 to 2 minutes for the Java Applet Certificate pop-up window to appear. The Java Applet Certificate window appears to pop-up slower on some machines. Do not close the browser if the Java Applet Certificate window has not popped-up. Until it has appeared and you have selected "Trust," the page will not load completely. The Applet must be "Trusted" in order for you to upload attachments.
If you have not seen or "Trusted" the Java Applet, verify that your pop-up blocker is turned off and that the Java Applet pop-up window hasn't fallen behind other programs/ windows you have open.
The Elapsed Time Box Covers Test/Survey Submit Button
The Elapsed Time box covers the height of the Blackboard quiz window in Internet Explorer 8, as a result students cannot click on the Save button or Submit their quiz answers. "Compatibility View" must be turned on in IE 8 to view the quiz correctly.
Internet Explorer 8 needs to be in "Compatibility View" in order for students to have access to the Save and Submit buttons on a Blackboard quiz. If "Compatibility View" is turned off on a students browser, the Elapsed Time box in the upper right corner of the window covers the length of the quiz window, completely blocking the Save and Submit buttons. If you are using IE 8, verify that "Compatibility View" is turned on before taking a Blackboard quiz, changing it midway through a Blackboard quiz may lock you out of the quiz entirely.
To turn "Compatibility View" on in Internet Explorer 8 BEFORE taking a Blackboard quiz:
- Open IE 8, and enter a Blackboard course (calpoly.edu must be in the URL search bar).
- Go to the top toolbar and click on Tools.
- Scroll down to "Compatibility View" and click on it. Calpoly.edu is now added as a "Compatibility View" website and will remain compatible unless turned off by the user.
The Grade Center Columns and Settings will not Copy. The Grade Center settings seems to not copy with the Course Copy tool if you only choose “Grade Center Columns and Settings”.
From the Control Panel:
- Click on the Course Copy link in the Course Options section.
- Click on the Copy Course Materials into an Existing Course link.
- Click on the Browse button.
- Type the Course ID (ENGL-101-01-2098 - course you want to copy files to) into the "Search for Course" window and click on the Search button.
- Click on the Select button on the right of the course.
- Click on the check boxes next to the sections you want to copy from this course.
- Choose “Calendar”
- Choose “Glossary”
- Choose “Grade Center Columns and Settings”
- Choose "Pools, Tests & Surveys"
- Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Submit button.
Note: you need to choose more than one option. The Calendar and Glossary are usually empty, but helps the Grade Center settings to copy over."Blackboard 6 Grade Book VS Blackboard 8 Grade Center"
What is the difference between the OLD and the NEW?
The biggest change to Blackboard 8 is the NEW Grade Center. For those of you who have been using the Bb 6 Gradebook for years, here is a quick comparison of the two tools to help you learn the NEW Grade Center. Complete / Incomplete Survey Scores are Not Calculated in my Grade Center Totals!
Surveys provide Instructors with an Assessment tool that is useful for polling purposes, evaluations, and random checks of knowledge. However, survey questions can neither be assigned points nor can a survey itself be automatically assigned points for completion.
If you would like the Surveys in your course to provide points for your students, you have two options...
- Include the Survey in Grade Center Score Calculations
- Modifying the Survey Grade Column to Display a Point Value AND Complete/Incomplete in Grade Center
Please review the Grade Center Tips for how to change your settings.
There may be TWO "Letter" options in your Grade Center. How do you know you chose the CORRECT one?
Until we can determine why LETTER schemas are copying over from course to course (creating multiple LETTER options), it is important for you to check that you are using the correct one.
Please review the Grade Center Tips for how to check your settings.
There can be many reasons for this. So far the reasons that have been discovered are settings that were used incorrectly. The NEW Grade Center is completely different that before and does require certain settings to be set based on its NEW schema.
What are the settings that can make the TOTAL add up wrong?
In Blackboard 8, the Gradebook is now 100% different and is now called the Grade Center. For more information about the Grade Center, please view the online tutorials.
Selecting Auto will attempt to detect the Delimiter Type but does not work well and is not recommended for use. Instead, always use the Comma / tab Delimiter Type. More Information.
Select the Delimiter type of the Grade Center being uploaded:
- Comma
- Tab
On the first day of the preceding quarter, courses will be created for the next quarter (Course Shell) in Blackboard. For example, on the first day of Fall 2007 (Sep. 17, 2007), Winter 2007 course shells will start appearing in Blackboard. More Information
Where is my Blackboard Course?
I am teaching a course, but do not see the course listed in the Blackboard Access channel. Where is the course link?
If the instructor of record for the course is listed as "STAFF," then the course does not have an instructor assigned to it and you will not have access to it. More Information. To verify that your course is assigned to STAFF, log into the Portal http://my.calpoly.edu.
Use PASS to check for Instructor of Record:
- Click on the Registration & Enrollment tab
- Click on the View Schedule of Classes link in the Enrollment Planning channel.
- Type in the Term number. (Fall 07 = 2078)
- Click on the Basic Search button.
- Type in the Subject (ENGL) and Catalog Number (102).
- Click on the Search button.
- Look in the Instructor listing on the right "INSTR" for STAFF.
If you are teaching more than one section of your course (ENGL-101-01-2078 & ENGL-101-04-2078) there are a multiple of ways to develop them.
- A developed course (ENGL-0101-01-2068) from a past quarter can be copied into the current course (ENGL-101-01-2078) with the Course Copy tool within the Control Panel. Make changes (Syllabus, etc.) in that course (ENGL-101-01-2078) and then use the Copy Course Materials into an Existing Course tool to copy the content into the other sections (ENGL-101-04-2078).
- If there isn't a full course to copy: add the files to your course (section 1) then use the Copy button on the right of the folder or item to copy the full folder or individual item to another course (section 4).
- Add all the users into one section (1). Only make that one section available and keep the other courses off.
Note: This will create a large Gradebook (all students from multiple sections).
My students say they can't see my course link in the Portal.
Your course is not turned on. All courses / each quarter are unavailable by default. From the Portal, if this
icon is next to the course then you...
...you will need to make your course available.
The browser window will not load the Blackboard page.
Browser error:
- Can't find the page
- Time out, server not found.
Blackboard is currently (as of 8/1/06) running on two servers. If you get these errors, just reload or refresh your browser window. For more information.
After clicking on an uploaded file I get a HTTP Status 404 error...
I am having problems attaching files.
When placing files into Blackboard as a Discussion Board attachment, Email attachment, Course Materials link, Assignment attachment or as an attachment in the Digital Dropbox, it is important to name the files properly before attaching them. Below are a few file-naming conventions that should be followed. File names should not be longer than 32 characters including the file extension (.doc).
CORRECT
- Dog.doc
- theDogRan.doc
- thedogran.doc
- Dog1.doc
- Dog_1.doc
INCORRECT
- dog ran.doc
- dog-ran.doc
- dog&ran.doc
- Dog#1.doc
- dog/ran.doc
- dog.ran.doc
- the dog ran over the fence across the field.doc
There is a web tool that lets Cal Poly instructors update email addresses. Log-in to the Cal Poly portal at http://my.calpoly.edu/ and use the Personal Info tab.
Click here for more information.
Depending on the browser (Netscape, IE, Safari, or Firefox) computer (Mac or PC), and mouse you can print a frame by:
- Right-Click in the frame and choose: This Frame > Open this frame in new window.
- Option/ Alt, Left-Click : This Frame > Open this frame in new window.
- Right-Click in the frame and choose: Open frame in new window.
- Control, Left-Click: Open frame in new window.
- Right-Click in the frame and choose: Print.
If you are unable to download a file (link) by clicking on it...Depending on the browser (Netscape, IE, Safari, or Firefox) computer (Mac or PC), and mouse you can download it by:
- Right-Click on the link: Download to Disk.
- Right-Click on the link: Save Link Target As.
- Right-Click on the link: Save Link As.
- Option/ Alt, Left-Click : Save Link As.
- Control/ Left-Click: Download Link to Disk.
- Control/ Left-Click: Save Link As.
When I try to view a file by clicking on it in Blackboard, it opens a web page with gibberish. If the file opens in the browser as gibberish, depending on the browser (Netscape, IE, Safari, or Firefox) computer (Mac or PC), and mouse you can download it by:
- To Save/Download the file to your desktop.
- Right-Click on the link: Download to Disk.
- Right-Click on the link: Save Link Target As.
- Right-Click on the link: Save Link As.
- Option/ Alt, Left-Click : Save Link As.
- Control, Left-Click: Download Link to Disk.
- Control, Left-Click: Save Link As.
- Remove the ".html" from the end of the file name.
- Click on the Save button to save the file to the Desktop.
- Start the program that will open the file (ex: MathType).
- File > Open the file from the program.
I am unable to access my files. When I click I see a Forbidden 403 or a security warning. What can I do to get my files?
After installing SSL (secure socket language) on Sunday 2/27 some Internet Explorer users may see a Forbidden 403 or a security warning and not be able to access their files. Try adding the URL to the Security tab or use another browser (Netscape or Firefox).
In Internet Explorer (PC)
- Click on the Tools menu.
- Click on Internet Options.
- Within the Security Tab...
- Click on the Trusted Sites icon.
- Click on the Sites button.
- Type the URL (https://blackboard.calpoly.edu) into the text field.
- Click on the Add button.
- Click on the OK button.
When I click on the Portal Blackboard link a white web page appears. How can I access my Blackboard courses?
Some users may have the old Bb 5.5 cookie or cached files in their browser which will show a white/blank page. By clearing cookies, cache and files the Blackboard course will display.
Also the security settings can prevent Blackboard from loading. Try changing the settings to default.
In Internet Explorer (PC)
- Click on the Tools menu.
- Click on Internet Options.
- Within the General Tab...
- Click on the Delete Cookies button.
- Click on the Delete Files button.
- Within the Privacy Tab...
- Drag the slider to the Medium Level.
- Within the Security Tab...
- Click on the Default Level button.
When I try to " Enroll User", Blackboard can't find the username I searched for (user name was not listed).
How can I add this user?
1. The user may be already listed in the course but had dropped. As the instructor you are unable to view the dropped students in Blackboard. Please submit a HelpDesk Request via the Cal Poly Portal (tutorial).
2. Your are combining sections by adding students from section 2 into section 1. Again if the student had dropped section 1, you will not be able to add him or her until the dropped users are removed from Blackboard. All dropped users are removed the day after the Add / Drop deadline.
If you are still unsure of your Cal Poly password or continue to have problems with login, try resetting your password.
I need a TA, Grader, or Course Builder in my course.
Blackboard will allow instructors to change the role of a user to a Student, Teaching Assistant, Grader, Course Builder, or Instructor.
The easiest way is to use the Course Copy tool. You will need to make the person an instructor of your course, or they will need to make you an instructor. With both courses viewable, you can copy content. Once the process is done, the new instructor can be removed from the course.
I cannot get the Virtual Classroom (Chat) tool to work on my home computer.
We have found that some users at home (off campus) cannot access the Blackboard Virtual Classroom (Chat) tool. Besides Cookies and Java enabled (more info top of page) in your browser , some users may have the wrong TCP/IP properties. more information on Technical Requirements, DSL, and Virtual Classroom connection problems.
If you added "()" charters in the Faculty Information form, the image you imported will appear to be a broken link and not display.
[ex: First name: Michael (Mike)]
Fix: if you replace the () with "" (ex: First name: Michael "Mike") then the image will appear.
Course Copy