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Blackboard Tutorial for Distance Learning Classes at Calhoun


Please click on the issue or feature for which you would like some extra help:

Blackboard Overview

Blackboard allows students access to their online courses and some components of hybrid and traditional courses as well. Much like a traditional classroom, Blackboard offers features that allow students to learn course material through lectures and class discussion, to take exams through timed assessments or submitted assignments, and to interact with their teacher and other students through email and class discussion. Click here to log in to Blackboard.

Logging in to Blackboard: How to Access an Online Class?

Your Blackboard username is your first initial, complete last name (up to 19 characters), and the last four digits of your student ID (i.e. jsmith3579 , all lower-case). Your initial password is "cal" plus the last four digits of you student ID number (i.e. cal3579 , all lower-case).

You will see a list of all the courses you are currently registered for, as well as a list of the courses you were registered for last semester. Click on the one that you wish to access.

Click here to log in to Blackboard.

If you need log-in assistance with Blackboard, please e-mail us at blackboard@calhoun.edu .

Navigating Blackboard: How to Move Around an Online Class

It is important to become familiar with your Blackboard course and the way your instructor has set it up. Your instructor will have an Orientation lecture available for you to read or view on the first day of class, so do make sure that you attend to that promptly. This lecture will provide you with information about the instructional tools the course will use and give you specific instructions for moving through the course material in an organized, systematic, and successful way. If you have any questions about the course set-up and the course policies, please contact your instructor immediately.

Blackboard Features: What Instructional Tools Does an Online Class Use?

Some of the features that your instructor might use in a Blackboard course include:
  • Course Content: This is the "home page" for your course, where your instructor will offer easy access to some of the most important course material.
  • Syllabus: Your 'contract' for the course, the syllabus lists course policies and important course schedule information.
  • Calendar: The calendar is an additional resource for important course schedule information.
  • Announcements: Your instructor alerts students to new and important course information.
  • Assignments: This feature provides information about assignments and due dates. It also allows you to submit your work electronically.
  • Assessments: Assessments are quizzes and tests.
  • Email: Bb allows students and instructor to email within the course itself.
  • Learning Modules: Your instructor will create units for instruction, and these units are called Learning Modules. Learning Modules are where you can access class lectures and discussions.
  • Discussions: Many instructors use discussions to help enhance learning of course material. You can access the discussion questions, and post your responses to them, in this area of the course.
  • Chat: Some instructors offer students the opportunity to have student/student and student/teacher 'live' conversations.
  • Web Links: A listing of all the required and optional links to useful sites, an instructor often update this area of the course throughout the semester.

Other Questions: Who Else Can Help?
Course Questions:    Contact your instructor
     
Technical Assistance:
  blackboard@calhoun.edu
HELP DESK: 256-306-2700 (Option 1)
Hours: 7:45 a.m.-7:00 p.m., Monday -Friday
     
Distance Learning Questions: 
  DL@calhoun.edu

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