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The following are frequently asked questions about Bb @ F&M.
Who has access to Blackboard?
Blackboard @ F&M is a web-based solution for online delivery of course-based
instructional materials and is available to all Franklin & Marshall faculty
and students.
Why use Blackboard?
Blackboard is a powerful course-authoring tool that allows you to extend the
classroom to an online learning environment. Blackboard features include threaded
discussion forums, digital drop box for submission of student assignments, online
gradebook, document sharing and e-mail messaging.
Is my Blackboard password Case Sensitive?
Yes! Passwords for students and faculty are Case Sensitive in Blackboard.
That means, UPPER CASE letters are different than lower case letters.
Who can help me with my Blackboard username and password?
A Blackboard Username is the same as a College e-mail Username and you can
replace a lost password through the "Forgot your password?" option
when logging into Bb.
Other questions regarding Blackboard usernames and passwords should be directed
via e-mail to the Blackboard Administrator.
Include your complete name, email address, and the name of a Blackboard course
in which you are currently enrolled.
What web browser should I use?
The F&M college supports the use of Internet Explorer 5+ for web activities.
Blackboard functions in Netscape Navigator/Communicator 4+ and Microsoft Internet
Explorer 4+web browsers.
NOTE: Due to some current inconsistencies with Blackboard and Netscape Navigator
6 it is recommended that Macintosh Netscape versions beyond 4.8 not be used.
What types of files can be uploaded?
Some of the files formats that can be used with Blackboard are:
HTML
MS Word for MAC or PC
MS Excel for MAC or PC
MS Power Point for MAC or PC
Acrobat PDF
QuickTime Movies
AIFF Audio Files
You CAN NOT use these file types in Blackboard:
Appleworks/Claris Works
Where are my files stored when I uploaded them to Blackboard?
The files you want to share with your students start on your office computer.
When you upload your files to Blackboard they are stored on the F&M Blackboard
server.
Note: Even though the files are stored on an F&M server it is a good
idea to keep the original copy.
What are file extensions and do I need to use them?
The FILE EXTENSION is a period followed by a 3 letter code added to the end
of a file's name. This 3 letter code tells the computer what type of file it
is. For example a word file would appear as: sylab.DOC the .DOC is the extension.
It is important that nothing is typed after the file extension because it will
be treated as part of the file extension and may prevent the file from being
recognized by the computer. Yes, you will need FILE EXTENSIONS. Below are some
standard document files and the FILE EXTENSION that should be added to the end
of the document.
HTML = home .HTML
MS Word =syllabus .DOC
MS Excel =myspreadsheet .XLS
MS Power Point =PowerPointPresentation .PPT
Acrobat PDF = Printed_As_Acrobat .PDF
QuickTime Movies = my_Quick_time .MOV
AIFF Audio Files = my_audio_file .AIF
What happens to my course if I am not teaching it during the current
semester?
Only current courses being offered through the Registrar's office will appear
in the Course Catalog.
If it does not appear in the Course Catalog it does not mean the course has
been deleted. If the course is not offered the settings for the course are set
to "not available". Not available courses can still be accessed through
the unique URL assigned to the course.
How can I re-list an existing Blackboard course in the current course
catalog?
Current semester listings in the Blackboard course catalog are not automated.
At the end of every semester, ATS removes current listing from the Bb course
catalog to make way for the next semester's courses. Generally, only current
courses are listed in the Bb course catalog.
New course requests for the current semester are added to the Bb catalog when
they are created. Existing Bb courses ( i.e., Bb courses previously taught which
are being taught [used] again) can be added to the current catalog in one of
two ways:
A. Make a request to the Blackboard Administrator to re-list an existing
course.
B. Re-list it yourself:
1. Log-on to Blackboard @ F&M
2. Select a course under '"Courses you are teaching:"
3. Select CONTROL PANEL: COURSE SETTINGS: COURSE AVAILABILITY
4. Follow the on-screen instructions for making the course available.
How can I get my course "Cross-Listed" in several categories
of the Blackboard Catalog?
If your Bb course is listed in more then one discipline, according to the
college registrar, it can be cross-listed in the Blackboard course catalog.
The instructor will need to submit an email request to the Blackboard
Administrator stating that his/her course is listed in several disciplines.
The request should include the name and number associated with the course and
all of the category areas where it should be listed.
When the course is cross-listed the course's unique ID number (associated with
the course) will be assigned to each category where the course is listed.
Example:
The Course BIO240-01 needs to be listed under the following categories:
• Biology
• Biological Foundations of Behavior
• Psychology
New course ID numbers are only assigned to new courses not cross-listed
courses.
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