Aberdeen College Blackboard Learn 9.1 Online Helpdesk

Montie Health & Safety Videos (DRM)

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:57:18 GMT

Montie Health & Safety videos are available in the Content Management System (Equella) and cover a variety of topics including Fire Awareness, Electrical Safety, First Aid, Hazardous Substances, Manual Handling, Personal Protection and more.

These videos currently only work when using Windows Media Player on a Windows machine because of the use of Digital Rights Management (DRM).

In some cases you may need to reset your DRM folder in Windows if you are not able to play these videos in Windows Media Player. The BBC iPlayer also operates using DRM technology and they provide instructions on how to reset it and is available here.

If you are unable to complete this process then you can Helpdesk (x2233 / helpdesk@abcol.ac.uk) for assistance with this issue.

Return to Known Issues page.

Known Issues

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:58:43 GMT

With any new system, there are likely to be some initial technical problems.

The purpose of this section is to publicise any current issues, let you know what we are doing to fix any problems and when we aim to resolve the issue by.

If you identify an issue, which is not listed here, please email us and we will get on it!

Hyperlinks open in Blackboard frame

System running slowly

SCORM Player

QuestionMark Perception

Inquizitor

Drag and drop doesn't work

More Announcements button causes an error

Hidden course menu

Date picker calendar does not display dates correctly

Campus Pack - Pop up blocker causes problems

Errors when downloading Assignment Files from Grade Centre

Montie Health & Safety Videos - DRM issue

Discontinued features

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:47:57 GMT

The Electric Blackboard

The Electric Blackboard was a simple note taking tool.

Now Students can use Journals to complete these same tasks.

Digital Drop Box

The more robust Assignments tool and the Group File Exchange feature meets the needs of individual users and groups for completing and managing Course work.

These functions made the Digital Drop Box obsolete.

Offline Content

Offline Content can no longer be added to a Course.

The Offline content type will no longer be available when uploading content.

Return to Differences

Frequently Asked Questions

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:17:31 GMT

Please click on the question to view the answer:

What is different in Blackboard Learn 9.1?

What do I need to know to get started in a course?

How do I make the course available to students?

How do I show my Blackboard course again in My Courses after hiding it in the past?

How do I amend the course menu?

How do I use the Control Panel?

How do I add content to my course?

How do I set an announcement or use the scheduling tools?

How can I monitor student performance?

How do I use Adaptive Release rules to restrict access to content?

How do I use the Grade Centre?

How do I use the Test Manager?

How do I use Assignments?

How do I use Discussion Boards?

How do I use Groups?

How do I use the Reporting and Course Utilities Tools?

If you would like to add a question to these pages, please email us by clicking here.

Return to Lecturer Help page.

Why can't I see my course on Blackboard?

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:35:51 GMT

Your lecturers will use Blackboard appropriately for your course.

This means some courses will make less use of online resources than others.

If a unit that you are taking doesn’t appear in Blackboard, please contact your lecturer.

It could also be that the course has been hidden from your My Courses list. You can check this by following these instructions:

After you log into Blackboard, click the round gear icon at the top of the My Courses list:

This will display a list of all the courses that you are enrolled on.

Search for the course that you would like to enable / show again and tick the Course Name (and Annoucements, if required) box and click the Submit button.

This course will then display in your My Courses list.

If you still cannot find your course then please contact your Instructor / Lecturer.

Return to FAQ page.

Errors when downloading Assignment Files from Grade Centre

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:17:16 GMT

If you click the first link in the menu to download the files that were uploaded by students for an assignment then you may receive an error.

First link:

Error:

To get around this problem you need to click the second Assignment File Download link and you will not see this error:

Also, you may receive an error similar error to this when downloading all the student submission files via Assignment File Download:

Error

duplicate entry: Task203_<<studentnumber>>_attempt_2012-01-11-15-21-45_TASK203.doc

For reference, the Error ID is 4cbcbb4f-ee64-4ade-9480-eda2f7055f72.

Wednesday, 14 March 2012 08:28:34 o'clock GMT

This is caused by a student uploading two files that have the same name (in this example Task203.doc).

You can identify which student's files are causing the error by checking the student number (shown as <<studentnumber>> above). You can download all the other student files by selecting all the other students from the list in Assignment File Download and then manually download this student's files from the View Attempt link from the Full Grade Centre.

Return to Known Issues page.

How do I use Adaptive Release rules to restrict access to content

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:46:45 GMT

How do I use Adaptive Release rules to restrict access to a content item?

Adaptive Release gives you the ability to restrict access to a content item (e.g. Assignment, File, URL, Item, Folder) to selected students / group of students, only show item if a certain grade has been achieved in an assignment or limit it by date.

Please note that you should check that the user that you want to restrict access to is already enrolled on the course since Blackboard will allow you to add any user in the system in the membership category even if they are not currently enrolled on the course.

Click here to view a video about setting up Adaptive Release rules.

Return to FAQ page.

Licensing / Copyright

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:56:00 GMT

Blackboard Learn 9.1 Online Helpdesk by Phil Richards is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

Based on a work at http://abcol-ac-uk.campuspack.eu/Users/Phil.Richards/Blackboard_9.1_Helpdesk/Licensing_Copyright

The screenshots containing images of the Blackboard system, in this wiki or any of its attachments, are used with permission. The images are owned by and used with permission of Blackboard.

They may not be copied or modified without the written permission of Blackboard.

QuestionMark Perception

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:38:36 GMT

QuestionMark Perception (QMP) is an assessment tool, which is used by a number of colleagues in preference to Blackboard's own tool.

We had to upgrade QMP to version 5 over the summer, as support for the previous version was coming to an end.

Since the upgrade, there has been a number of issues, which have prevented full use of the software, and these have now been resolved.

If you would like any more information about QMP and how to have your assessments converted then please contact Iain Henderson.

You can get more information about Questionmark Perception in the Blackboard One Stop Shop (BOSS) on Blackboard.

Return to Known Issues page.

Announcements and Scheduling Tools

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 13:52:41 GMT

This package contains a number of short videos produced by Blackboard, which deal with:

Creating Announcements
Creating a Course Task
Creating Staff Information Contacts
Send Emails
Sending Blackboard Messages

Please click here to view the package in a new browser window.

Return to FAQ page.

How do I make the course available to students?

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:37:31 GMT

How do I make the course available to students?

Click here to view a PDF document which shows you how to make your course available or unavailable to students.

Click here to watch a video showing you how to make your course available to students.

When a new course is created it is unavailable to students by default and you need to make it available so that students can see the course materials.

Return to FAQ page.

Building Course Content

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 13:31:17 GMT

This package contains a number of short videos produced by Blackboard, which deal with:

Using the Text Editor
Editing the Course Homepage - called My Progress in our Blackboard set up
Creating a Learning Module
Adding a Glossary
Creating a Blank Page
Creating a Tool Link
Add a URL / Hyperlink
Adding Mashup Content
Attaching Course Files
Using Course Files
Uploading a Zip Package
Adaptive Release Content

Please click here to view the package in a new browser window.

Return to FAQ page.

How do I submit an assignment in Blackboard?

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:31:46 GMT

How do I submit an assignment in Blackboard?

This video tutorial shows you how to submit an assignment in Blackboard and covers these areas:

Download assignment files
Add / attach files
Upload assignment submission to Blackboard

Click here to view this video tutorial.

Return to FAQ page.

Where can I access Blackboard?

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:31:36 GMT

You can use any computer which has access to the Internet in classrooms, in the IT Centre and from home or work.

Wherever you access Blackboard from, you will need your College username and password, which is the same as your College network account.

When accessing Blackboard from home or work, we advise the following:

1. A broadband Internet connection

2. When using a PC, the recommended browsers are Internet Explorer 8.0 or Firefox 3.6.

Later versions of Internet Explorer and Firefox have not been tested with Blackboard Learn

Google Chrome is not yet supported by Blackboard Learn.

3 When using a MAC, the recommended browsers are Safari 5.0 or Firefox 3.6.

Later versions of Internet Explorer and Firefox have not been tested with Blackboard Learn.

For full details on recommended browers please use this link

4 Software such as: Microsoft Office Suite / Open Office, Adobe Reader, Windows Media Player installed on your computer as well as the Adobe Flash and Java plugins.

Make sure that pop-up windows are not blocked when using Blackboard.

Return to FAQ page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:29:27 GMT

Please click on the question to find the answer.

Where can I access Blackboard?

How do I log into Blackboard?

What if I have trouble logging in?

What do I need to use Blackboard?

What devices can I use Blackboard with?

What sort of materials can I use in Blackboard?

Why can't I see my course on Blackboard?

What is the Acceptable Use Policy?

How do I submit an assignment in Blackboard?

If you would like to add a question to these pages, please email us by clicking here.

Return to Learner Help page.

Campus Pack

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:11:16 GMT

Campus Pack is the software which provides journals, blogs and wikis in Blackboard course areas. It also provides Personal Learning Space via the Tools menu on Blackboard's My Courses page.

A short Student Guide can be accessed here.

A comprehensive guide to using Campus Pack can be found by clicking here. This will open in a new window.

The pop up Blocker in Internet Explorer can cause a problem with Campus Pack. Please click here to learn more.

Contact Us

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:01:27 GMT

If you would like to ask a question or suggest additions to this helpdesk, please email us by clicking here.

Inquizitor

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:39:07 GMT

Inquizitor is a quiz tool, which creates multiple choice questions in a games like environment.

Inquizitor files have their own file extension - 3pt.

An issue has been identified with playing these files in Internet Explorer.

The easiest solution is to use Firefox - file will be downloaded and run in the Inquizitor player.

In Internet Explorer, the files do not open and the user is offered the choice of saving the file locally. If the file is saved the file extension is changed to .zip.

You can change the file extension back to .3pt manually:

right-click on the file name and select Rename

change the file extension to .3pt and confirm thta you want to change it.

The file should now run in the Inquizitor player.

Return to Known Issues page.

What if I have trouble logging in?

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:34:04 GMT

First of all, check that you have entered your username and password correctly.

Further information on passwords can be seen on StudentNet

Check that CAPS LOCK is not on.

If you still cannot log in, please contact: your lecturer, a member of IT Centre staff or Guidance Tutor.

If they are unable to help or you think you may have a technical problem, please go to the RM Helpdesk in the College Information & Booking Centre or e-mail helpdesk@abcol.ac.uk.

Please make a note or screenshot of any error messages you see.

Return to FAQ page.

Pop up blocker causes a problem with Campus Pack

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 11:07:14 GMT

The pop up blocker in Internet Explorer can cause a problem with Campus Pack.

When a user wishes to add content such as an image, video etc, Campus pack opens a new dialog window.

If the pop up blocker is not switched off, the user has to move away and content which has not been saved is lost.

The pop up blocker can be switched off easily. Please click here to see how. This animation will open in a new window and has sound.

Date Picker Calendar

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:08:49 GMT

There is a known issue with the date picker calendar when you apply a date restriction for Blackboard items when using certain browsers in Compatibility Mode.

Screenshot of issue (when in Compatibility Mode) showning top row of Calendar table out of line with the dates:

Screenshot of normal Calendar (with Compatibility Mode switched off):

Extract from Blackboard Known Issues list:

Description:
When an instructor has set Date/Time restrictions on a content item or announcement, the dates are not being displayed correctly when viewed in the Calendar.
In the Control Panel/Course Tools/Course Calendar/View Month or My Calendar Module/more calendar events.../View Month, the days of the week are offset by one day and there are no date sin the Sunday column.
In the Content Item Edit mode, Date picker Calendar the days of the week are offset by one day and there are no dates displayed in the Saturday column.
This issue affects only IE 7 and IE 8 with compatibility mode turned ON.

Steps to Replicate:
00. Ensure you are running IE7 or IE8 in Compatibility Mode.
01. Log into blackboard as an instructor/sysadmin
02. Go to System Admin Tab
03. Click Courses
04. Create new Course
05. Enter Course
06. Create a Content Area if one does not exist
07. Enter Content Area Click Build Content link >> Choose Item to create
08. Fill out data
09. Set Date and Time restrictions on the Content Item
10. Submit Content

Workaround:
Turn off Compatibility mode.
Utilize optional browsers.

Hidden Course Menu

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:57:27 GMT

We have had some reports from students that they were unable to see the Course Menu on the left-hand side of the course. Therefore they would usually only see the Announcements section since that is the default starting page on most courses.

To resolve this you can click the small button (shown circled in image below ) to the left of the Announcements page then it will show you the Course Menu which gives you a link to the course / Unit Materials.

BEFORE (with Course Menu hidden):

AFTER (with Course Menu showing):