Computing@JSRCC

Blackboard FAQs

• Orientation to Distance Education Enrollment

• Logon Problems

• Password - Resetting and Selecting new passwords

• Adding a class to your Blackboard course list

• Remove Course from Blackboard List

• Attachments in Blackboard's Send Email

• Attachments in VCCS Student Email

• Save an Attachment

• Blackboard Down

• Course specific questions

• Assignment Feature in Blackboard - Send and Add files

• Discussion Board

• Resize Text in Browser Window

• Time Out

• Proctored Tests

• Overrides

Orientation to Distance Education Enrollment

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Log On Problems

This may be a problem with your Internet Service Provider (example:  AOL, Earthlink, etc.).  Follow the steps listed below to try to log into Blackboard.

• Log onto your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and minimize the window.

• Then from your desktop, start up Internet Explorer.

• Type the Blackboard URL, https://jsr.my.vccs.edu/, into the address field.

• This should bring you into the Blackboard login page.

• Enter your Username and your password.

• Then click on Blackboard below My Tools on the Welcome page.

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Passwords - Resetting and Selecting

You will need to reset and select a new password. This password will be used to access your Email, Blackboard and VCCS SIS8 (PeopleSoft / Reynolds Online). The directions for setting your password are below. If the system does not recognize your Name, SSN, or Birth Date, it will not allow you to reset your password. In this case you may be entering the information incorrectly. To verify what information is in the system, please call the Call Center at 371.3000 

To Reset Your Password

• Go to https://jsr.my.vccs.edu

• Click Reset Your Password

• On the next page type your First Name, Last Name, Birth Date (MMDDYY), and SSN as they appear on college official documents

• On the next page type your NEW password, then type it again for verification

• You will then need to enter a security question and answer

• Click Next

• Your password has been changed and will be the same in Blackboard, Email, VCCS SIS8 (PeopleSoft / Reynolds Online)

Attention! New passwords must have 7 to 10 characters. Your password must contain a combination of:

• At least one UPPERCASE letter (A-Z)
• At least one lowercase letter (a-z)
• At least one number (0-9)

If you have forgotten your password

• Go to:  https://jsr.my.vccs.edu/jsp/userconfig.jsp?action=reset

• Enter your First Name, Last Name, Birth Date and Social Security Number

• Click Search

• You will then be asked to create a new password and select a security question and answer

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Adding a Class to your Blackboard Course List

The Blackboard System Administrator will be enrolling students who registered through PeopleSoft to Blackboard throughout the Add/Drop Period and at the 8-week mid semester point. Enrollments will be done after 5 PM each workday during these periods.

When you are added to a Blackboard class depends upon when you registered and paid for the course.  You will not automatically have access to your course on Blackboard immediately after paying your tuition. This process usually takes up to 24 hours during regular business days. If you complete registration and payment on Friday afternoon, you may possibly not be added to the course until the end of the day on Monday.

For immediate access, you can contact your course instructor and give your instructor your Blackboard Username. Your instructor will check PeopleSoft to confirm that you are actually enrolled in the course.  The instructor is then able to add you to the Blackboard course.  Instructors are able to add missing students to their courses on Blackboard at anytime IF the Blackboard Username is provided and the student is officially enrolled in the course.

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Remove Course from Blackboard List 

Please contact the instructor for the course you would like removed from Blackboard.  The instructor can remove you from this course. You can contact your instructor by entering the course and clicking Communication, then click Send Email. 

Include the following information in your email:   

• Subject:  Request for removal from course
• Your name as it appears on official college documents
• Blackboard Username
• Course prefix, number and section

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Attachments in Blackboard’s Send Email

• Log into Blackboard

• Enter your course and click Communication

• Click Send Email

• Select your chosen receiver; All Users, All Instructors, Single / Select Users

• Type your subject.   (Be sure to always include a specific subject.  If the email is related to a specific class, also include the course prefix, number, and section information in the subject field.)

• Type your message in the textbox

• Click ADD under Add Attachments

• Click Browse under Select File

• Locate your document on your computer or disk

• Click Open

• Click Submit

• Click Submit again in the email window

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Attachments in VCCS Student Email

 To attach files to email follow the steps listed below: 

• Open your VCCS Student Email

• Click Compose to begin a new email

• Type the email address of the person to whom you are writing in the “TO” field

• Put your own email address in the “CC” field.  (This will provide you a record of what you sent and when you sent it.  Also, if you do not get a copy of the email, this may alert you if there is a problem with delivery of your email.)

• Type your subject.  (Be sure to always include a specific subject.  If the email is related to a specific class, also include the course prefix, number, and section information in the subject field.)

• Type your  message in the textbox

• Click Browse to the right of Attachments

• Locate your document on your computer or disk

• Click Open

• Click Add to the right of Attachments

• You will see your attachment at the bottom of the email

• Keep a copy of any attachments

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Save an Attachment in Blackboard

Follow these steps to save an attachment that is posted in your Blackboard course. 

• Place your cursor over the attachment link
• Left click your mouse
• In the File Download Window choose Save As
  
   
• OR place your cursor over the attachment link
• Right click your mouse
• From the drop down menu choose Save Target As
• Choose the location where you would like to save the attachment on your computer or disk and click Open

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Blackboard Down

When Blackboard is experiencing technical difficulties a large team of both ITS technical staff and managers work on this problem exclusively and continue to do so until it is resolved.  This is a top priority. We suggest you contact your instructor if you were taking an online test, quiz or posting to the Discussion Board.

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Course Specific Questions

Course-related questions can be best answered by your instructor. Contact your Instructor directly.

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Send files Using Blackboard's Assignment Feature

Follow the instructions listed below to send files from or add files using the Assignment link which may be found in your course. 

• Enter your course and click the link for your specific assignment.
• Click >> View/Complete Assignment:   which can be found near the bottom of each assignment
• Scroll down to "Attach local File" and click "Browse" for the file you'd like to submit.
• Find your file on your local computer or storage media, select, and "open"
• You'll notice your file will be listed in the box next to the "browse" button
• Now you have the option of adding additional files
• (NOTE: there is a comment box for comments to the instructor.  Do not put your entire assignment in the comment box.  Your instructor will also have the option to leave you comments once the assignment has been graded.)
• Click "submit" if you are finished attaching files and there are no other files to submit.  If you want to attach additional files at a later time, you can click on "Save", then return and add those files.  Your instructor will not receive anything until you finally hit "Submit".
• (NOTE:  You can only submit files one time through this system.  If you've made an error and need to submit additional files, or another file, you need to contact your instructor to clear the original submission, and then you’ll be able to resubmit.)
• When you check your grade, you should see a "!" which indicates the file has been submitted and is ready for grading.
• After your instructor grades the assignment, the "!" will then be a grade.

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Using the Blackboard Discussion Board

Follow the instructions listed below to participate in a discussion forum. 

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Resize Text in Browser Window 

• Go to the Menu Bar in Internet Explorer

• Choose View

• From the dropdown menu, select Text Size and then select Medium

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Time Out

The system will “time out” if it is inactive for a period of time and all work that is not saved will be lost.  Contact your instructor if you were taking a quiz or a test.

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Proctor Test Request

Our policy does not permit employers, co-workers or friends to proctor tests.  All tests must be proctored at a community college, four-year college or university. 

Once you have contacted a proctor at (nearest community college or college/university), you must have the proctor submit the Proctor Request Form.  Here is the web address:  http://www.reynolds.edu/jsr_cde/DE_Testing.htm where you will find the proctor request form that must be completed by the proctor at the college you select.  Once we receive and verify the completed request form, we will send the tests to the proctor.

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Overrides

Overrides are usually not granted for distance education courses. If an administrative error was made by the college that hindered your registering for a course, you should contact the Academic Dean of that School. 

The other option is for you to keep checking the course enrollment.  Students who have not paid by the end of the business day during the Add/Drop period will be dropped from the course, thus creating an open space.  Remember that you must pay immediately after registering to ensure that you can keep your space in the class.

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