Health Services Management Centre School of Social Policy
“Once you have experienced the library you won't want to be without it” Chris Ham, Professor of Health Policy, HSMC & Chief Executive of the King’s Fund
Access a Goldmine of Information HSMC Library & Information Services Park House 40 Edgbaston Park Road Edgbaston Birmingham, B15 2RT
Introducing Blackboard
Tel 0121 414 3672/7060
Fax 0121 414 7051
Email hsmc-library@contacts.bham.ac.uk
Web site www.hsmc.bham.ac.uk/library
Ask a Librarian! Message us for an instant answer
RSS alert Subscribe to the Library’s RSS feed
Facebook Be the Library’s fan on Facebook
Twitter Follow us on Twitter
Skype account hsmclibrary
The Library Staff Rachel Posaner (Manager) Ann Evans (Librarian) Lucy Kelly (Library Assistant)
Opening Times
www.hsmc.bham.ac.uk/library
Library Training Materials: If you require this information in an alternative format (i.e. large print), please contact the Library staff who will make the necessary arrangements
Contents 1. Introducing Blackboard .............................................................................................. 1 1.1 What is Blackboard? ............................................................................................. 1 1.2 How do you access it as a user? ............................................................................. 1 2. Accessing Blackboard ................................................................................................ 1 2.1
Where to go ....................................................................................................... 1
2.2 Browser check ..................................................................................................... 2 2.3 Sorting Browser problems ..................................................................................... 2 2.4 lf the problem lies with Java .................................................................................. 2 2.5 To turn off your pop-up blocker.............................................................................. 3 2.6 Logging in ........................................................................................................... 3 2.7 Experiencing problems? ........................................................................................ 3 2.8 Still unable to get on to the site? ............................................................................ 4 3. What next? .............................................................................................................. 4 4. Guidance on submission of assignments ...................................................................... 4 5. HSMC Library Course on Blackboard ............................................................................ 6 6. Automatic Reading Lists ............................................................................................ 7 7. What Else Can Blackboard Do For You? ........................................................................ 7
1. Introducing Blackboard 1.1 What is Blackboard? Blackboard is a software package which lies at the heart of the institutional virtual learning environment (IVLE) used at the University of Birmingham. Using Blackboard is just like engaging with an interactive website, at its most complex; or reading material displayed on any website, at its simplest. 1.2 How do you access it as a user? Accessing Blackboard at the UoB is just like logging on to any other secure website. Once on the site, you then navigate your way round it as you would with any other site. You don't need to buy expensive software. You do need Java (which is freely downloadable from the internet), and you do need to turn off your pop up blockers, but you can do a 'browser check' when you logon to Blackboard and that will tell you what you need and how to get it. You log on to Blackboard using your normal student user name and password. 2. Accessing Blackboard 2.1
Where to go
You can log on via the University's e-learning support website known as Weblearn (www.weblearn.bham.ac.uk). As long as your browser (i.e. Internet Explorer, Firefox etc.) is compatible, you should be able to access Blackboard from any computer with an Internet connection.
Updated Thursday, 03 June 2010
1
Next, click on your year access link on the right hand side of the page. 2.2 Browser check The first time that you login to Blackboard, you should click on „Check Browserâ€&#x; (the first item in the pink box). This will allow you to check your browser to ensure that everything is everything is configured correctly and that you have everything enabled. You will then get a report. If you are lucky, everything will be ticked and you will just be able to close the window and proceed in the normal way.
2.3 Sorting Browser problems If you have one or two boxes which have an X against them (usually the Java check and pop-up blocker check) you should follow the instructions to upload Java and/or turn off your pop-up blocker for this website. If you do not follow these instructions you will be limiting your access to Blackboard. If you have problems in sorting out your access to Blackboard then you can ring the IT Helpdesk on 0121 414 7171. 2.4 lf the problem lies with Java It could be showing that either you do not have Java installed on your computer or that you have a version which is not compatible for use with Blackboard. You then need to go to http://java.sun.com/products/archive and download the latest JRE Version.
Updated Thursday, 03 June 2010
2
2.5 To turn off your pop-up blocker You will find this in the Tools section on the top bar of your browser. Also, if you have a search engine tool bar (e.g. Google) which you have installed on your computer you will probably find a separate pop-up blocker on that which you will have to switch off. lf your pop-up blocker allows you to add trusted sites, you should add www.bham.ac.uk to its trusted list. Otherwise, you would need to turn off your pop-up blocker when accessing Blackboard. The reason for this is that Blackboard sometimes uses small browser windows to deliver requested content and some pop-up blockers incorrectly interpret these small windows as pop-ups and block them. After completing this process, close the browser check and return to the original screen to log in.
2.6 Logging in When requested, enter your user name and password. (These will be the ones you in your registration pack and which you will be using during your life as a student.) If you don't know your log in details then ring the IT Helpdesk on 0121 414 7171. Next is the Java Security Certificate. After logging in to Blackboard, you may be prompted to accept a Java Security Certificate. You must click ‘Yes’ or ‘Always’ to ensure that Blackboard functionality using Java will work properly in your browser. If you don't get this prompt, don't worry. 2.7 Experiencing problems? Browser check-up. Have you done the browser check as described above? Viruses. Some viruses can cause problems with access to the Internet. lf you are having problems accessing Blackboard, update your virus software and then scan your computer for viruses. Spyware/Adware. Some unscrupulous websites install files on your computer without your knowledge, typically to collect information about your browsing habits or display advertisements when you are trying to use the Internet. lf you find that you get redirected to a third-party site, particularly one with a search engine, when attempting to access Blackboard, then it is likely that a piece of spyware/adware is hidden on your computer. To remedy the problem, it is recommended that you use a spyware removal utility such as the following: o o
Spybot (www.spybot.info/en/index.html) Ad- aware (www.lavasoftuse.com)
Pop-up blockers. Have you turned off your pop-up blockers for this site -see detail above?
Updated Thursday, 03 June 2010
3
2.8 Still unable to get on to the site? Make a note of how far you have got and what error message you are getting, then ring the eLearning Helpdesk on 0121 414 7171. 3. What next? Once you have logged on you will be taken to your Course List page. In the centre of the page is a list of courses (or 'sections' as they are known on Blackboard) to which you have access. You can change the appearance of this page by clicking on the Channels button on the top toolbar. You can also make other changes by clicking on „My Settings‟ at the top of the screen. Once in My Settings you can go into My Tools Options to make further changes (for example, if you want to make the font size bigger on screen). Remember to click on save after making any changes you want to keep.
Looking at your Course List, you will see Postgraduates-HSMC-Graduate Programmes To go back to the Home Page click on the ‘breadcrumb’ trail near the top of the screen. The browser back button will not work in Blackboard. 4. Guidance on submission of assignments Students are able to submit their assignments electronically via Blackboard, using the Assignments tab. Assignments should not be posted, faxed or sent directly to University staff, or submitted in any other way. The Assignments tab is located on the left hand side of Blackboard under „Course tools‟ and will help you manage your assignments on Blackboard. When you select the „Assignments‟ tab you will see the following screen:
Inbox: Lists new assignments which you can select to view more details and submit your completed assignment Updated Thursday, 03 June 2010
4
Submitted: Lists details of your submitted assignments Graded: Contains feedback and grades on submissions that have been marked Once a new assignment has been released, it will be available to view from the „Assignments‟ tab under „Inbox‟. Assignments may also be made available from individual module pages on Blackboard.
By selecting the assignment title, full details of the assignment requirements will be available to view. Students can upload their completed assignments by selecting the „Add Attachments‟ button and then submit them by selecting the „Submit‟ button. Please note that assignments must be uploaded as a PDF document, and if this is not possible then you must still submit electronically via Blackboard (e.g. standard Word document) but also send one hard copy to the Postgraduate Office, to arrive no later than 48 hours after submission deadline.
For instructions on how to save a standard Word document as a PDF file, please refer to the „Assessment‟ section on Blackboard. It‟s important to allow plenty of time to submit assignment files and to never leave it till the last minute, especially if a slow or intermittent connection to the internet is being used. You can check that an assignment has been successfully submitted by going to the „Submitted‟ tab (shown above) which lists the assignments you have submitted. Updated Thursday, 03 June 2010
5
In the event of being unable to submit an assignment due to a system failure you must (a) notify the Postgraduate office by telephone - Jose Adkins (0121 414 2280) (b) submit a hard copy of the assignment to the Postgraduate office, and (c) submit the assignment electronically as soon as your access is restored.
5. HSMC Library Course on Blackboard Following your initial log on you arrive on the Courses List page. Click on Social Policy HSMC - Health Services Management Centre Library link. You arrive on the Home Page of the HSMC Library. There are 6 sections for you to choose from. These following sections will provide you with all the information you need for your course regarding to the HSMC Library
To go back to the Home Page click on the ‘breadcrumb’ trail near the top of the screen. The browser back button will not work in Blackboard. About The Library covers FAQs, a collection of forms for the library, a virtual tour of the library, a calendar of library opening times and, an introduction to the services we provide. Learning Resources covers information relating to; books, journals, electronic information resources, online demonstrations and podcasts and the automated reading lists. Study Skills provides guidance and advice on; training, database guides, referencing, plagiarism, copyright and much more. It also has the presentations given at the beginning of your course, a few activities to help you learn and a Literature searching “Tip of the Month!” Current Awareness introduces you to all the services you will be entitled to during your time as a student. These include; email bulletins and news alerts, Snappy Searches, as well as guidance and advice on how to set up electronic journal content pages (Zetoc) as well as monthly database searches. Common Room is a section of forums in subjects that you will find of interest. Meet the Library Staff introduces you to the Library team and provides you with all our contact details.
Updated Thursday, 03 June 2010
6
6. Automatic Reading Lists The reading lists for your modules have been automated and added to the „Learning resourcesâ€&#x; section. For each item on the list a link has been added to show you where the resource is available. Many documents that are not available elsewhere have been loaded onto Blackboard for you. 7. What Else Can Blackboard Do For You? You can use Blackboard to access online training provided by the University. To see what is available log out and go back to the original log in page.
Click on Self Enrolment (the second item in the yellow box). This will take you to a list of courses. You might find some of the library courses (or IT skills training) online particularly useful.
Updated Thursday, 03 June 2010
7