Basic Information for Instructors

If you do not see a Blackboard site for your class, or if you need a site for a future class,  email onlinelearning@eku.edu and we will make appropriate arrangements

Username and Password

•   Your instructor username is same as your email account username,

     example:  thompsonj and adamsth.

•    The password for that account always matches your email password. You may change this password at any time through the OWA interface; you can not change your password from inside BlackBoard.
  

•    You also have a “pretend-student” account on Blackboard. This is done automagically for you.  Your "pretend-student" account name is simply your user name with a zero in front of it. So, for example, if epplym wanted to log in to her "pretend-student" account, she would login using 0epplym. 
  

•    The password for your pretend-student account is set initially to the last four (4) digits of your Social Security number. You may change this password at any time, by logging into that account and using the Personal Information menu from any Tools area. Lastly, Instructors can change the password on the "pretend-student" account by going into the user list and clicking Password.
  

You can not change another students password this way!

Students Username and Password

•     Students’ usernames and passwords for Blackboard is the same as their email username and password.

•    Students use the same username and password for email, Blackboard, off-campus use of library resources, and access to ITDS computer labs.

•     Students who do not know their usernames and passwords should visit the EKU Web site at http://www.eku.edu and click on EKU Email. On the next page there is a link (in red) that will allow then to activate their mail.
  
• If they have problems they may call 859-622-8400 for assistance.

  How long will my courses stay on the Blackboard system?

  Can my students see courses from past semesters?

     For academic courses, we keep all the Blackboard materials and student records in your course on the system for two years. That policy preserves all your course materials and students' work (so you can retrieve them as needed). Near the beginning of every semester we change the "availability" setting on all of the previous semester's courses, making them Unavailable to students. This helps students see only their current courses on Blackboard. If you need to give students access to a previous semester's course--to take care of incomplete work, or for multi-semester courses--you are free to make such courses Available again.

    Although your courses stay on the system for two years, you don't have to see them all! You always have the option to remove them from the list on your Welcome! window. ( See: This page at the bottom) If you ever need to see an old course that you have removed from the list, send email to onlinlearning@eku.edu and your access will be restored.

Let your students introduce themselves!

    Advise your students to create a Homepage.
    These HOMEPAGE profiles are linked to the student’s names in the Roster from the Communications menu button.  Students cannot “copy” homepages from one course into another.
        Directions for students to create their Homepages are:

•    Click TOOLS menu button
•    Select “Edit Your Homepage”
•    Click “Submit” when completed
Note that only “students” can contribute homepages this way. You can use your pretend-student username to add your information, or use the Staff Information area to record your profile.

A Note about Pictures: 

If your picture appears to big on your home page, you must make it smaller.  Blackboard will not resize it for you.  You can do this in Photoshop or Paint or any other image editing software you may have. 

When you click Tools > Homepage, you will be able to edit the page again. You will have to scroll down (below the big picture) to see the button that says “Remove image.” Then you can Browse to the new file.

Midterm grades and Banner

    This is a very important issue, and deserves strong emphasis:

You must use the Banner/EKU Direct system to submit official student grades. 

There is no direct connection between Blackboard and Banner for the recording of grades.

  How do I add or remove students from my Blackboard courses?

•     The connection between Banner and Blackboard allows us to enroll all the students automatically.

•     Check your list of enrolled students within your course(s) - select your course -    Control Panel—User Management---List/Modify Users.

•     If your list includes students who are no longer on your official roster, use the Control Panel—User Management ---Remove Users from the Course to delete them.

•     In rare situations you may need to add a student, which you can do through Control Panel—User Management ---Enroll User.

•     Ask students for their correct usernames so that you make the appropriate selection.

•     If you cannot find a student through your Control Panel—User Management---Enroll User contact onlinelearning@eku.edu  for help.