Date Last Reviewed:
08/26/2009
If your course instructor deploys a test timer, it now appears in a yellow area to the right of the exam questions, instead of the browser status area.
Blackboard 8 has an updated display for My Grades which is tied to the new Grade Center.
Your instructor now has the option to employ new self and peer assessment features.
If your instructor has set up electronic reserve materials for one of your Blackboard courses, you can access them in the following way.
Report any broken links to Sherry Patterson (spatters@niu.edu or 815-753-0163) to be fixed.
If your instructor has assigned electronic reserve materials but is not using the Blackboard course component, your instructor will have a direct web address (URL) to send you that will allow access to the materials. If you double-click on the URL in your e-mail, you will be asked to enter authentication credentials (unless you are already logged into Blackboard with the same browser) before the readings page will open for you. You will be asked for Username and Password. Use your z-id and the password you use to log into Blackboard. If you have problems, contact the ITS Helpdesk.
Internet Service Provider (ISP) browsers do not work with Blackboard. Access the Internet through your ISP, e.g. AOL, MSN, AT&T, etc. Minimize the ISP browser after you reach the Internet, open Internet Explorer (IE), and use IE to access Blackboard.
Click here to go to the full list of Blackboard Questions & Answers.
Blackboard is course management software. Blackboard courses are accessed using a web browser.
The web address for Blackboard at NIU is http://webcourses.niu.edu . You need your student Z-ID and password to log into Blackboard.
Your Z-ID is your AccountID for computer access at NIU including Blackboard access. Your Z-ID is permanent. If you forget your Z-ID, go to www.logonid.niu.edu . Click on "Look up Your Z-ID/AccountID." Enter your last name and click Next. You'll see your Z-ID under User Object.
Your Blackboard ID is the same as your student Z-ID. Your Z-ID is permanent. If you forget your Z-ID, go to www.logonid.niu.edu . Click on "Look up Your Z-ID/AccountID" and then scroll down to the Last Name Field. Enter your last name and click Next. You'll see your Z-ID under User Object.
Your Novell network password is also your Blackboard password. Your initial password is your birthdate in the form of YYYYMMDD. This initial password is temporary and must be reset at password.niu.edu .
You can change your password online at password.niu.edu or by calling 815-753-8100.
Set up your verification questions at password.niu.edu so you can reset your password yourself if you forget it or when it expires. Passwords must be eight characters long and contain a mixture of lowercase letters and numbers.
Firefox 2 and 3.0 running under Windows XP, Vista, or Mac OS X 10.4 have been certified for use with Blackboard Academic Suite Release 8.0.
Internet Explorer 7 and 8 running under Windows XP are considered compatible (but not certified) with Blackboard 8.0. IE 7 running under Vista has been certified for use with Blackboard 8.0. IE 8 running under Vista is considered compatible.
Safari 2 and 3 running under Mac OS X 10.5 have been certified for use with Blackboard 8.0.
If you have submitted an attached document to a Blackboard discussion board, drop box or assignment and can't view it. Also, when you click on the link, you get a HTTP 404 error.
The problem is probably due to using a "#" sign in the attachment file name. Blackboard interprets the "#" sign as HTML code and is unable to display the attached file. Rename your file then resubmit the post, drop box item or assignment.
Required browser settings for logging into Blackboard include the following:
In Internet Explorer, reset these settings by clicking on Tools in the menu bar at the top of your browser. Click on Internet Options and find and reset these features under the Security tab, Custom Level button.
If your instructor is using the Blackboard Virtual Classroom, your browser needs to have Java enabled. The plug-in can be downloaded from the page that appears when a user joins a Collaboration Session, or at http://java.sun.com/products/plugin/index.html. Blackboard recommends using version 1.5 of the Java 2 Runtime Environment for Windows XP. The Collaboration Tools may not work properly with the newer version 1.6, except under Windows Vista.
Only your First Name can be changed. To edit or add your First Name, click on Personal Information in the Tools box. Click on Edit Personal Information. Click Submit, then click OK twice to complete the edit of your personal information.
Your e-mail address can not be altered. Blackboard uses your NIU e-mail address, which starts with your Z-ID; for example, z999999@students.niu.edu. This helps insure secure and proper delivery of e-mail communications among Blackboard instructors and students.
Student addresses and phone numbers do not appear in Blackboard's User Directory.
For assistance, contact the ITS Helpdesk.