Navigating Blackboard at Florida National University: A Comprehensive Guide

Florida National University (FNU) utilizes Blackboard Learn as its online platform, providing students with access to course materials, assignments, exams, and communication tools. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to navigating Blackboard at FNU, covering various aspects from accessing the platform to utilizing its features effectively.

Accessing Blackboard

Every FNU student requires three key pieces of information to access Blackboard:

The web address of FNU’s Blackboard Learn site.
A username.
A password.

Students don't need to create an account, as accounts are automatically generated upon enrollment.

Resetting a Forgotten Password

In case a student forgets their password, they can reset it using the following steps:

Go to the FNU’s Blackboard Learn site.
Follow the password reset instructions provided on the login page.

Changing Your Password

After logging in, students can change their password to ensure security. It is recommended to change passwords periodically. When choosing a password, avoid using common personal information such as your name. Passwords are case-sensitive, must not contain spaces, and must be at least one character long.

Read also: Learn about Blackboard Learn at UD

Course Navigation

Courses in Blackboard vary in design based on the instructor, but common elements exist. Instructors control which tools are available to students.

Course Menu

The course menu is the panel on the left side of the interface that contains links to all top-level course areas. Instructors control the content and tools available on the course menu. Instructors can customize the style of the course menu by changing the color, adding subheaders and dividers, and choosing buttons or text for the links.

Submitting Assignments

Instructors can add assignments to different areas of a course. Students can typically access assignments from a link on the course menu called “Assignments,” or instructors might incorporate assignments into each week’s content.

Instructors can also create group assignments and provide access to them in the same areas as regular assignments. Group assignments may also appear in the My Groups panel after the course menu.

Some assignments may be available after a certain date or after a student completes a certain task. If an assignment is not visible when it should be, students should contact their instructor.

Submissions made after the due date are marked "LATE," and penalties may apply.

Submitting an Assignment: A Step-by-Step Guide

Access the Assignment: Click on the assignment link.
Review Instructions: On the Upload Assignment page, review the instructions, due date, and points possible. Download any files provided by the instructor. If a rubric is added for grading, view it.
Write Submission (Optional): Select "Write Submission" to expand the area where you can type your submission. Use the options in the editor to format the text.
Attach Files:
- Select "Browse My Computer" to upload a file from your computer.
- Alternatively, drag files from your computer to the "hot spot" in the Attach Files area. Files can be dragged individually and submitted again. The file name can be used or another name can be provided for the file.
Add Comments (Optional): Type comments about your submission in the "Comments" section.
Submit: Select "Submit." The Review Submission History page appears with information about the submitted assignment and a success message with a confirmation number. Copy and save this number as proof of submission. For assignments with multiple attempts, a different number is received for each submission.

Resubmitting an Assignment

Instructors may allow students to submit an assignment more than once. For example, an instructor may provide comments on a first draft so that students can improve their work. If a student realizes they made an error after submitting an assignment, they may contact their instructor to ask for the opportunity to resubmit. If another attempt is allowed, select the assignment link in the course.

Supported File Types

Users can upload file attachments in their course, such as to an assignment. Users select a link to open a file that appears in the course. After uploading a file, the link name to the file may be edited. This link title appears to users instead of the name of the document. For example, type “My Introduction” as the link title instead of the file name “introduction.doc."

Blackboard Learn allows the use of all characters in file names. However, a user’s operating system and the browser may limit the types of characters accepted. For example, some browsers don’t accept characters that are wider. Some browsers may not have the languages installed to display the special alphabetic characters specific to them.

The system recognizes several file types by default. These files open directly in the browser or an associated application.

Viewing Your Grades

Students can view grades for all their courses or one course at a time.

Viewing Grades for All Courses

To view grades for all courses, select the arrow next to your name in the upper-right corner. In the menu, select "My Grades." Grades can be sorted by "All Courses" or "Last Graded." If work hasn’t been graded, grade status icons appear. Select an item’s title to view details.

Viewing Grades for a Specific Course

On the My Grades page, students can view all the coursework and grades for the course they’re in. If work hasn’t been graded, grade status icons appear. The “My Results” page shows the status of gradable items, such as tests, assignments, and discussion posts. The “My Grades” page may include item names, details, due dates, student and instructor dates of activity, posted grades, points possible, and instructor feedback.

To access grades for any online courses, click on "My Results" under the "Tools" section on the Blackboard main page. Click on the course’s name to access grades. All grade information appears on the right, showing all the graded items (assignments, quizzes, midterm and final exam, etc.).

Taking Tests and Quizzes

All assessments like Quizzes, Midterms and Final Exams are posted in the “Assignments” section. Students should click on the link to start taking the test.

Test-Taking Guidelines

Plan Ahead: If an instructor makes a test available for three days, plan to take the test early on the first day. This allows time to contact Blackboard Support and the instructor if any issues arise.
Read Instructions: Carefully read all instructions before starting the test.
Contact Instructor: If there is any trouble with the test or understanding test questions, contact the instructor immediately.
Avoid Refreshing/Closing: Do not refresh the page, close the window, or use the browser’s back button while taking a test.
Immediate Completion: Once a test begins, students are required to work until they finish it. As soon as they leave the test, whether or not they have actually clicked the “Submit” button, their attempt is recorded in their Grade book (Results Center) as completed.
No Returning: If a student leaves the quiz without completing it, they will not be able to come back and finish it.
Save Answers: Each question has a “Save Answer” button next to it. Save each question as it is answered to help protect against technical difficulties.
Time Limits: All tests are timed. The instructor has set a time limit. The elapsed time appears at the top of the test, and a 1-minute warning is given when the time is up. The test must be finished before the time elapses to prevent technical problems.
Timer Status: If a test is timed, students are informed of the instructor’s time choice. The timer status bar keeps students updated on the time left.
Auto-Submit: The test or survey saves and submits automatically when time expires. The Submitted page appears. Alternatively, students may continue beyond the time limit, but final scoring decisions are made by the instructor. The total time spent on the test or survey is recorded and available to the instructor when the test is submitted.
Submission: When finished, select Save and Submit. The score may be visible immediately if all questions are auto-graded and the instructor releases this information.

Blackboard Collaborate

Blackboard Collaborate is a real-time video conferencing tool that lets instructors add files, share applications, and use a virtual whiteboard to interact with students. It enables online meetings with instructors or classmates using a completely web-based interface.

Accessing Blackboard Collaborate

To meet with an instructor, check their virtual office hours posted in the “Your Instructor” section. Click on Bb Collaborate in the course. There is an open Collaborate session dedicated to the course. This session can be joined any time. Click on "Join Room" to join the session. This generates a unique link to help the session identify the user. Each link is unique to an individual session and a user in that session. This means that the link only works for that user in that session. The link cannot be used to join the session again or shared with another user. Session links expire after 5 minutes. When a room is joined, it opens in a new window or browser, depending on browser settings.

Available Tools

My Settings: Add a profile image, set up audio and video, set notifications, and get help. Point to the avatar to open My Settings.
Audio and Video: Turn audio and video on. A line through the microphone or camera icon means that they are off. Click Share Audio and Share Video to turn them on. Audio and video availability is determined by the moderator.
Hand Raise: Raise a hand to answer a question or get the moderator’s attention.

Discussion Board

Blackboard’s Discussion Forums are a way for instructors and students to communicate. In discussions, students can share thoughts and ideas about class materials. In Blackboard Learn, course members can have the thoughtful discussions that take place in the traditional classroom, but with the advantages of asynchronous communication. Participants don’t need to be in the same location or time zone, and students can take the time to consider their responses carefully.

Replies can be edited or deleted if allowed by the instructor. If a reply is posted in error and the options to edit or delete don’t appear, contact the instructor.

Accessing the Discussion Board

The discussion board can be found in two places:

On the left-side of course menu, select “Discussions Board.”
On the course menu, select "Tools" and then “Discussions Board.”

Types of Forums

Introduction: Meet with peers for collaboration and social interaction.
Questions & Concerns: Post questions about homework assignments, readings, and course content.
Optional Forums: Depending on the instructor’s needs, these are used to demonstrate the understanding or application of course material. Usually, these forums are graded.

Click on the forum title to view the messages. Forums containing unread posts appear in bold. View data on the number of posts and participants. Click the number in the Unread Posts column for one-click access to a forum’s unread messages.

Virtual Blackboard Support

FNU offers Blackboard support virtually to all of its students.

Student Portal Account

Course enrollments are handled by the Registrar Office. To access the Student Portal, students may need to create an account. If so, click “Yes.” The system will generate a Username. A Password will need to be entered and confirmed. It is very important to remember the Username. The Student Portal’s credentials are not the same as Blackboard’s credentials. Once a password has been input and confirmed, click “Submit.” The Student Portal account has successfully been created. However, this account must be activated.

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