Student FAQ - Questions about BlackBoard Answered

BlackBoard Student FAQ

How do I sign on to Blackboard?

What other ways can I login to Blackboard?

What if my email account is not activated?

I forgot or misplaced my username and/or password! OR I am having problems logging into Blackboard!

After I sign on to Blackboard, what do I do next?

My instructor’s course is missing from my list of “Courses in which you are enrolled”! What can I do?

How do I navigate inside Blackboard?

How can I find my syllabus in Blackboard?

My teacher asked me to post a response on a discussion board. What do I do?

Can I log into Blackboard from home?

When I am ready to send a file to my instructor what rules must I follow?

How do I sign on to Blackboard?

What other ways can I login to Blackboard?

• Go to the EKU web site in your favorite browser:  http://www.eku.edu
• Type in this web address:  http://learn.eku.edu/

What is my username and password?

• If you have activated your student email account, your Blackboard username and password match your EKU email account.
• If you lose your username or password, call 859-622-3000 for help.

What if my email account is not activated?

• Go to EKU web site  -- http://www.eku.edu
• Click the link at the left edge that says Activate Student Email and follow the steps.
• Read the Code OF Ethics for Computing and Communications
• Enter your EKU ID number
• Enter your PIN.  Your six-digit birthday is used as your PIN when you first set up your account! (mmddyy).
• If you have completed the above steps and you are still unable to activate your account, call 859-622-3000 (Option2) for additional help.

I forgot or misplaced my username and/or password!  I am having problems logging into Blackboard!

• You can get the help you need by calling 859-622-3000 (option 1).
• Email us at onlinelearning@eku.edu.
• Visit us at Combs 209.
• Go to the main campus computer labs.

After I sign on to Blackboard, what do I do next?

• On your WELCOME screen look for the MY COURSES list on the right-hand side.                                       (this side is right)

• The list will show all the courses your instructors have made available for the semester.
  
  click a course name to ente
• “MY EKU” tab returns you to the WELCOME screen.

My instructor’s course is missing from my list of “Courses in which you are enrolled”! What can I do?

• Contact the instructor to find out if Blackboard will be used.
• Ask the instructor if the course has been made available. (This is something the instructor must do, before you can see the class on your list.)
• Have the instructor check to make sure you are actually registered for the class.
• After completing the above steps, and if other students are able to get into the Blackboard site for this class, but you cannot, you may call 859-622-3000 for assistance.

How do I navigate inside Blackboard?

• After selecting your course, use the menu buttons located on the left hand side.
• Located under the course menu buttons is a Course Map that will give you a bird’s eye index of the course materials.

Each class you are enrolled in will have a menu like this on the left hand side.

How can I find my syllabus in Blackboard?

• Most instructors will place their course syllabus in the Course Information area.  Some instructors will change the names on their menu buttons to help you know what is available.
  
• Click “Course Information” or Course Documents (or something similiar) to read course materials.
• These buttons are all found on the left hand side menu (see above).

My teacher asked me to post a response on a discussion board. What do I do?

• Click on Communication Menu Button and then choose Discussion Board.
• Look for the forum your instructor has assigned and click its title.
• If you are asked to post a new message click Add New Thread and your screen will look like this
• Fill in a subject and a message and then click Submit.
• If you need to reply to a thread, locate the message and click its title to read it. At the end of the message click the Reply button, and you will see an editing screen like the one above.  Be sure to click Submit to get your information recorded.

Can I log into Blackboard from home?

• Yes, no special software is needed. 
• Internet Explorer 7, Firefox 2.x, Apple Safari 3.x (Other browsers sould work but are not supported)
  
• HEY! Your gonna need Java: Get it here! Java Download
  
• If you need assistance with browser upgrading or configuration, call 859-622-3000.

When I am ready to send a file to my instructor what rules must I follow?

• File names can contain only letters, numbers, hyphens and underscores.  It is always a good idea to include your last name in the filenames.
• File names NEVER may contain spaces, number signs, parentheses, apostrophes, slashes, dollar signs, brackets, or any punctuation marks except a single period.
• The single period is always followed by the correct “extension” such as .doc or .txt that helps Windows computers to identify which program will open the file.
• Most programs now attach the extension automatically when saving a new file; Macintosh users may need reminding to make sure their software adds it.
• For best results with “typed” documents exchange files in the following formats (only):

1. Microsoft Word (.doc extension)
2. Rich Text Format (.rtf extension)
3. Plain Text (.txt extension)

• Note: Files created with other Microsoft programs such as Excel and PowerPoint are transmitted easily and reliably through Blackboard.  However, files in WordPerfect (.wpd) or Microsoft Works (.wks, .wps) formats are not suitable for transmission through Blackboard.  You may still use Works or WordPerfect, but you must remember to save your files into one of the acceptable formats, through FILE – SAVE AS, before it is sent to instructor.By clicking “Save,” the file is transmitted to your system and can be worked on outside the Internet browser.