Blackboard (Bb) is a Web-based learning management system designed to allow students and faculty to participate in classes which are delivered as Web-enhanced courses (to complement face-to-face teaching) or as hybrid courses (partially online and partially in the classroom) or as completely online courses.

Blackboard is an application that provides a set of educational tools to facilitate learning, communication and collaboration using the Internet and the computer. At UTSA, Blackboard is used for content delivery, email and discussion, tests and assignments, and other administrative functions that assist the instructor in the process of instruction and course management for http://www.hartloan.com/. Blackboard provides a secure location where faculty can place course materials, such as the class syllabus, assignments, lectures, presentations, assessments, grades, etc. In addition, Blackboard provides tools to facilitate communication between students and faculty and among students, including discussion boards, chat rooms, and messages. Blackboard is accessible to faculty and students from any location via the Internet.

In order to use Bb you will need an Internet connection, a Web browser, and a properly configured computer. In some cases you might need a headset with a microphone.

Here some quick steps to help you get started with Blackboard

1. Configure your computer: Before logging in to Blackboard for the first time, you should perform a browser check to make sure your computer is properly configured.
   • Click on Checked your browser?
     
     
   • Follow instructions if you need to make changes or adjustments.
     
     
2. Connect to Blackboard at utsa.blackboard.com
   • Note that not all instructors use Blackboard in their courses. Please check with your instructor to make sure your course has a Blackboard component
     
     
3. Enter your myUTSA ID and Passphrase
   • Your ID (or user login name) is your myUTSA ID ("abc123" format)
     
     
   • Your passphrase is your myUTSA ID Passphrase. To reset your passphrase. go to the UTSA Passphrase Portal at https://passphrase.utsa.edu
     
     
4. Accept the Java Security Certificate
   
   
   • After logging into Blackboard, you will be prompted to accept a Java Security Certificate. This is a standard security process on your computer. You must click "Yes" or "Always" to ensure that Blackboard tools using Java (such as file manager, chat, mail, etc.) will work properly in your browser
     
     
   • You will now see a dialogue box saying The application's digital signature has been verified. Do you want to run the application? Check the box "Always trust content from this publisher" and then click "Run"
     
     
5. Access your courses

   • Once you are logged into Blackboard, you should see your courses listed in the "Course List" box. To access a speciifc course, click on the course title link.

   • To go to another course, click on the My Blackboard tab in the upper left part of the screen to return to the view that shows all your courses. To access another Blackboard course, click on the course title link.

   • You will not see your course links listed until the start of the semester.

6. Other Things to Know
   
   
• Third party cookies are allowed by default on all supported browsers.If you experience problems staying logged into Blackboard, please check your browser settings to make sure you allow third party cookies.

• Some content within courses may require the installation of third party plug-ins such as Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash Player, Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, and others. In each case, there should be a notification and link informing you that you need to install a new plug-in when you run the browser check. Be careful that you only install trusted plug-ins that are necessary for the course content.
  
  
• It is extremely important that you Log Out and close the browser completely when you finish each session with Blackboard. This is the only way to protect your sensitive data. Make sure you Log Out when you are finished with your session, especially if you are in a public lab, library, or any other location where a computer is shared with other people. To be extra safe, close the browser as well.
  

 

Your Blackboard emails are sent to your preferred email selected in ASAP.

If wish to change your preferred email, please make the change in ASAP . Your new email will been updated in Blackboard Learn within 24 hours.

If you are a student and staff then you will need to make the changes in ASAP as well as in UT Direct.

In case you experience difficulty please contact OIT Connect at (210)-458-5555 or email mail them at [email protected]

 

Unfortunately, the information is probably lost permanently. You will need to recreate the information. If you experience problems during a test and cannot continue, contact your instructor immediately.

Here are some reason why you might lose information that you are entering in Blackboard Learn:

• The internet connection dropped.
• The browser was refreshed.
• Your browser timed out due to inactivity. Blackboard has a security setting that logs you out if it doesn't receive any input for a period of time. That period of time is different from institution to institution.

The following tips can help you avoid this issue in the future:

• Use a wired connection if possible when taking a test. Wireless internet connections are less reliable.
• Do not refresh the browser page.
• Do not close the browser window
• Do not click the browser's back button.
• If possible, write out the text in an external application and then paste it into Blackboard Learn. Working offline first ensures that your work in progress will not be lost.
• If you are working in assignments, save your work in progress. Saving often helps avoid any browser timeout issues.