On this page: - What is Blackboard and how is it used at McDaniel?
- How do I log onto Blackboard?
- What is my Blackboard username and password?
- How do I change my Blackboard password?
- Is my Blackboard username/password the same as my Archway one?
- What browser should I use?
- What are the browser specfications?
- What are the minimum system requirements to run Blackboard?
- Do I have to enable cookies and JavaScript?
- I have my Internet Explorer set on "High" Will I have trouble with Blackboard?
- Should I trust the certficates that pop-up when I'm using Blackboard?
- I logged into Blackboard, but my course was not listed. Why?
- Will I keep this Blackboard account for my years at McDaniel?
- I use a Mac. Will I have any problems?
- My professor can't read the file I uploaded to the drop box.
- I'm having problems taking a test in Blackboard.
What is Blackboard and how is it used at McDaniel?
Blackboard is the leading course management software system used by colleges and universities across the U.S. and worldwide.
Here at McDaniel, Blackboard allows faculty to distribute course content and organize out-of-class communication using the Internet. The system combines many online tools and resources, including e-mail, chat, and online discussions, and helps faculty organize them for individual academic courses. Blackboard is designed to enhance student-centered learning and increase peer-to-peer connections.
At McDaniel, Blackboard is also used to enhance communication and the distribution of information for several campus organizations and initiatives, including Honors, Residence Life, alumni as well as several academic departments, majors and clubs.
Our initial orientation to the college also occurs on Blackboard. First year students will be directed to a specific site ("My First Year"), where they select first year seminars, connect with advisors, take online placement exams, submit housing and medical forms, register for fall classes, introduce themselves to their classmates, and more.
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How do I log onto Blackboard?
Go to:
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What is my Blackboard username and password?
Your Blackboard username is the combination of your last name and first name with no spaces between them.
Username examples:
- Christopher Smart would be: smartchristopher
- Manfred O'Toole would be: otoolemanfred
- Loretta Jackson-Smith would be: jackson-smithloretta
- Note that hyphens are included, but apostrophes are not. Note also that the official full name is used (not "Chris" or "Manny")
Your initial Blackboard password is your StudentID (without the first zero).
After you first login, you should change your password.
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How do I change my Blackboard password?
You can change your password by going to TOOLS (top left of welcome screen) -->Personal Information -->Change Password.
You can also access TOOLS --> Personal Information inside most classes via the main menu (buttons or links on the left).
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Is my Blackboard username/password the same as my Archway one?
No. They are different.
- Your Archway and your email usernames are the same. (e.g. prs005)
- Your Blackboard username/password is different. (e.g. samsonpatricia)
We plan eventually to have a single signon. But for now, these are separate databases with separate usernames and passwords.
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What browser should I use?
If you are using Windows XP or a Mac OSX, the most recent versions of Internet Explorer, Safari and Firefox will work just fine. Netscape may work but is NOT recommended
Do not use AOL SE 9.0. This "security edition" browser disables scripts. Blackboard is a database driven site that uses Java and JavaScripts.
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What are the browser specfications?
Browser Configuration Guide for Blackboard 7.1
Blackboard 7.1 uses the latest Web technologies to provide a rich interactive Web experience. These applications do not function well, if at all, in older browsers. For Blackboard 7.1, your browser also needs to be Java 2 enabled which is done when you install the supported version of Java Runtime Environment (JRE) for Windows or Macintosh Runtime for Java (MRJ). Therefore, it is likely that you will need a software tune-up. When doing that, upgrade your browser first; then uninstall any older version of Java before installing the supported version. The table below includes the supported browsers and Java 2 applications for the operating systems specified.
| Windows XP | Mac OSX |
| Internet Explorer | 6.0 - 7.0 | N/A |
| Mozilla Firefox | 1.5+ | 1.5+ |
| Safari | N/A | 1.2 (Mac OS 10.3)
2.0 (Mac OS 10.4) |
| Netscape | 7.1 (browser is compatible but not recommended. All areas have not been fully tested and may not be supported) | 7.1 (browser is compatible but not recommended. All areas have not been fully tested and may not be supported) |
| Java | | |
Note: Older versions of operating systems and browsers have not been tested by Blackboard, but are expected to work properly. For best performance, the ITS recommends the platforms listed here.
All browsers need to have Cookies, JavaScript and Java 2 enabled. Click on the link in the chart above to find instructions for the platform and browser you are using.
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What are the minimum system requirements to run Blackboard?
Blackboard, Inc. recommends:
* Windows XP
* Mac OS X
* Minimum 64 MB RAM, 1 G of free disk space
* 150 MHz or higher processing speed
* 56K modem or better
* Monitor capable of at least 800 x 600 resolution
Additional Suggested Software
Microsoft Office 97 of higher (or Microsoft Office Converters and Viewers), Adobe Acrobat Reader, Windows Media Player or equivalent, QuickTime plug-in, Real Player plug-in.
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Do I have to enable cookies and JavaScript?
Yes. Blackboard is a database driven site and requires cookies and JavaScript to be enabled.
Enable cookies. To do this in IE (will be similar for other browsers):
1. Click the Tools menu
2. Click Internet Options
3. Click the Privacy tab
4. Slide the bar down to medium or low
5. Click OK
NOTE: You may need to ensure that other security programs on your machine are not blocking cookies.
Allow popups for McDaniel Blackboard site. To do this in IE (will be similar for other browsers):
- Click the Tools menu
- Click Internet Options
- Click the Privacy tab
- In the Popup Blocker area, click the Settings button
- Type *.blackboard.mcdaniel.edu in the area marked Address of Web Site to Allow
- Click Add
- Click Close
- Click OK
NOTE: You may need to follow a similar procedure to allow popups for McDaniel Courses in third-party popup blocking software.
Enable Java scripting. To do this in IE (will be similar for other browsers):
- Click the Tools menu
- Click Internet Options
- Click the Security tab
- Click the Trusted Sites icon if you've added McDaniel Blackboard to your trusted site zone (otherwise, click the Internet icon)
- Click the Custom Level button
- Scroll until you see Scripting of Java applets and set that option to Enable
- Click OK
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I have my Internet Explorer set on "High" Will I have trouble with Blackboard?
Yes.
Because these settings affect how scripts are read, you might not be able to log in to Blackboard. If you do get in, you won't be able to use most of the features (Discussion Board, Tests, etc.)
We suggest:
- click on Tools-->Internet Options-->
- click on the Security Tab
- then click on "default level"
- make certain the bar is set at medium or medium low (not high).
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Should I trust the certficates that pop-up when I'm using Blackboard?
Yes.
You may get messages on your screen about trusting (or accepting, or running) an applet that is a third-party product used by Blackboard. If you choose to always trust content from the publisher, the message should not re-appear. If you do not trust the content then you may have problems running certain features in Blackboard.
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I logged into Blackboard, but my course was not listed. Why?
Your instructor has the option to use Blackboard or not. If you are in a Blackboard class, your instructor will announce it. Even then, your instructor needs to make it available to his/her students (which may not occur for several weeks into the semester).
If you know you are in a class currently using Blackboard, and you don't see it listed under MY COURSES on your welcome screen, contact Steve Kerby at skerby@mcdaniel.edu or Kate Ensor at kmensor@mcdaniel.edu.
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Will I keep this Blackboard account for my years at McDaniel?
Yes. You will use this username/password for all McDaniel classes with online components.
Back to Top I use a Mac. Will I have any problems?
- If you are using a Mac, you MUST include the appropriate extension for the file (e.g.. .doc, .rtf, .ppt) when you use the digital drop box. You will have to do this manually when you save the file.
- Many Mac computers automatically put files you try to download (including audio metafiles) on the desktop. That means after you have clicked on a file to download it, you then need to then navigate to your desktop and click on it once again to open it. If you click on a streaming audio file, for instance, your Mac will automatically place a link to the audio on your desktop. In order to hear the audio, you need to find that link on your desktop and click on it.
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My professor can't read the file I uploaded to the drop box.
It may be that you had the document open on your computer at the time you uploaded it. Save, then close the file. Then upload.
Or....it may be that you used a character in the file name. Stick with letters, numbers, and the dash or underscore when naming your files.
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I'm having problems taking a test in Blackboard.
This page from the University of Illinois at Springfield provides tips and solutions for many known issues with Blackboards Assessment feature: http://otel.uis.edu/blackboard/support/AssessmentIssues.htm