I cannot logon to Blackboard?

• Watch this VIDEO with instructions for logging on to Blackboard - from Professor Ott
• Are you using this URL access: https://epbcc.blackboard.com
• Did you have all green checkmarks for the Browser Check? Browser related issues
• Only one version of Java on your system and remove any other versions?
• DO NOT use Bookmarks or saved passwords
• Access available to all paid students three (3) days before the class start date. After the dates, allow 24 hours after payment date.
• Password Resets: please allow one (1) hour before re-logging on to Blackboard.
• If you personal computer prevents you from using Blackboard, go to a PBCC student computer lab to access your class materials.

Internet Explorer 8 is not currently listed as a supported browser for Blackboard - is there a possible workaround? What do I do if the specific webpage I am on displays incorrectly, has visual flaws or displays, or is not functional?

There are some issues associated with IE8 (compatibility mode or not).
These issues are intermittent and dependent on some tools used in Blackboard as noted below:

• Chat and discussion postings may not complete.
• Pop-up blockers - when pages open in a new window, the processing may not complete.
• Quizzes/ tests - when clicking on save and/or save all during the assessment or if the assessment opens in new window - processing may not complete even though successful message is displayed. Since the processing from the browser does not complete (may remain in cache), tracking is not updated.
  
  REMINDER FOR STUDENTS - important to use a supported browser for our version: Supported Browsers
  HOW TO CONFIRM ACTIVITIES -
• Students can check their My Grades tool for assessments.
• Students can check the Submission tab for assignments.
• Student can check the discussion tool for the posting.

When trying to logon, I remain in a loop, what do I do to logon?

• Use a supported browser and all updates are complete.
• Enter the URL directly into your web browser: https://epbcc.blackboard.com/
• Check the computer date and time for accuracy.
• Delete temporary Internet files and cookies. Set the browser to refresh every visit.
• Remove Internet web accelerators: Earthlink Accelerator, BellSouth Accelerator, Google Web Accelerator (often come with dial-up services).
• Remove any third party toolbars such as Google, Yahoo, Alexa toolbars
• Do not logon behind a proxy server.
• Run a spyware check and virus protection update.

My course in missing when I logon to Blackboard?

• Logon to Pantherweb, review your class schedule/ confirm your Blackboard course.
• Make sure your course fees are paid, allowing 24 hours from the time of payment.
• Access begins 3 days before the start of the class (not the term).
• Help? Contact the Blackboard Administrator with student number and reference number.

I see my course listing but I am denied course access or cannot access a specific part of my Blackboard course?

• Contact your instructor for assistance. The instructor has chosen to deny access to the course site or a specific portion of the class.

I can logon to Blackboard but get this error "A system exception has occurred during the processing of your last request. You may attempt to return to the My Blackboard page. If further problems occur, try logging out of the system, then logging back in."

• Right click on the JAVA CONTROL PANEL (in systems tray area), under temporary internet files click on SETTINGS, click on DELETE FILES. Then click on OK and OK again.

My e-PBCC page has classes that I dropped or should not be there?

• If a student "drops" a class - the class is removed automatically.
• If a student "withdrawals" from a class or the class is from the previous term, the system will automatically remove the class 30 days after the end date of the class.

Need Help Accessing 2007 Office file or Uploading files?

• Office 2007 applications automatically save to new formats that are not backward compatible with previous versions of Office applications. Microsoft offers a compatibility pack that can help.
  • Users of the Microsoft Office XP and 2003 programs Word, Excel, or PowerPoint-please install all High-Priority updates from Microsoft Update before downloading.
  • How to install MS Office Compatibility Pack so you can use earlier versions to open/save files from 2007 Office programs.
• File names for files on the web must follow two important rules:
  • Use only letters and underscore. Close the file before trying to attach.
  • Do not use these characters in any file name: : ~ [ ] ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) + ‘ { } | \ < > / ? ; ‘ ".
  • Additional Information: Attaching Files (scroll to bottom of page)

Microsoft Security Bar - users can choose to allow the download, but then are directed back to the MyCourses page. Upon re-entering the course and clicking the link again, now they can download the file without intervention

• Create "Trusted sites" - use *.blackboard.com
• On a web page - Go to Tools, Internet Options, Security tab, Custom Level then Scroll down to Downloads section - Enable the "Automatic prompting for file downloads" and "File download." The option to Open or Save the file should now be available.

Students submitting assignments and faculty tracking?

• Students: The student uploads a file, but never submits the assignment. The student assumes after they click OK, they're done. Important: Students MUST also submit.
• Faculty: If you look at the student tracking, it shows details about student accessing the assignment, if they upload files, and if they submit the assignments.

Students taking an quiz/ test and the answers appear to be changing. What is happening?

From the Blackboard Dr C Discussion Board --- The most likely scenarios are:

The most likely scenarios are (from Bb discussion panel):

1. The instructor set the questions to randomize the answer choices, and the student remembers their letter selections but not the content of the answers they chose. When displaying quiz results, WebCT restores the original order of the answer choices rather than displaying the choices in the randomly-selected order they were presented to each student. This leads the student to say, "Hey, I know I chose (b) for question 17, but WebCT says I chose (c) and marked it wrong."

2. The other most likely problem is the student accidentally spinning the mouse wheel, thinking they're scrolling down the page, but actually selecting different answers because they were sitting in the answer area when they spun they wheel. This is especially problematic if the instructor has chosen to display all the questions at once rather than one question at a time. As they scroll down a very long quiz page with their mouse wheel, possibly as a last review before submitting the quiz, the student doesn't realize she is changing answers as she spins the wheel.

3. Another possible scenario, in the words of one professor: "We found an issue that occurred with a student using Mac (unknown OS version). The student would click on an answer and while reviewing the question let the cursor hover over one of the other answers. The student's system performed an automatic 'click' on the answer that was hovered over by the cursor. The student simply clicked save answer without double checking the answer selected and eventually submitted the test."

4.  Assessment Recording Box on Right - a couple of students thought the "checkmark" in the recording of answers - meant they got it right - then receive their score and think something changed their answers.  The checkmark only tells the student the answer is recorded.

5.  Students forget to "Save" their answers after each question, especially if they are allowed to revisit a question.

I cannot access the Chat Tool - help?

Add the Blackboard server to your trusted sites (*.blackboard.com) in both browser security settings and any firewalls, anitvirus, spyware software.

I cannot access my course videos - error message:"Page Cannot be Displayed"

• Check for updates to your video player software.
• For Real Player, click on Tools and select Preferences - a new box should appear click on Content then Media Types - click Settings - place a check in "Real Time Streaming Protocol" - click OK - click OK
• Remember to clear your cache (temporary Internet files) - logoff Blackboard - close your browser - then bring up a new web page and enter the Blackboard web address: https://epbcc.blackboard.com/

I am told there are 15 items on the class homepage or on the discussion board, but I only see 10. What can I do?

• Go to My Settings on Course list page and change the paging option found in My Tool Options to something larger than the number of discussions. I always keep mine at 999.

Session Timeouts?

• Blackboard has session timeouts after 60 minutes. However, your ISP provider may have session timeouts less than Blackboard - or your instructor may only allow a certain amount of time for exams.
• Web browsers do not count typing as an active activity. If working in the HTML creator, or typing in a text box such as discussions, email, and/or assignments without switching to a new tab, saving a message or a posting in "draft" form - your session will be timed out/ logging off. Recommendation - Assignments submitted as attachments generally do not have this issue. Alternative: type your responses into a word processing software then copy and paste into your Blackboard course. Be sure to submit/ post your work to your instructor by the deadlines.
• FYI - for students taking assessments - everytime an answer is saved, the session timeout is not an issue.

Need Help?

Contact the Blackboard Administrator or the Student Helpdesk is also available to help students with logon and browser related issues via e-mail or phone us 561-868-4000. Helpdesk: Hours of Operation.

Please provide the required information below so we can locate your records:

• Student Name
• PBCC Student Number
• Course AND Reference Number
• Payment date - allow 24 hours for information to be sent to Blackboard
• Description of assistance needed as well as any error messages