Students must first enroll in courses and their accounts must be validated (NCAT tuition and fees paid) before they can establish an NCAT email. If you do NOT already have an NCAT email account, then after 24 hours of validating your account, students can apply for an NCAT Email Account. This email account will serve as the username for Blackboard. The username consists of all characters up to the @ sign in the email account. To establish your NCAT email account, please visit: http://www.ncat.edu/accounts/request.php.

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What is my username and password?

Your Blackboard user name is the same as your NCAT email username (for example, if your email address were waters@ncat.edu, then your user name would be "waters”.

Beginning Spring 2008, your login information for Blackboard will change. You will login using your email username and your email password. You will NOT use your Banner ID and PIN. If you do not have an NCAT email account, please contact Aggie Tech Support at 334-7195 or visit http://www.ncat.edu/~cit/registration/acct_req.html to create an account.

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Do I need to have a NCAT account in order to access my Blackboard course?

Yes. Your account needs to be established through NCAT Computing Services so that there are no duplicate user IDs created.

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I'm taking more than one course in Blackboard. Do I have more than one Blackboard user account?

Students should have only one Blackboard user account, which is used to access all Blackboard courses in which they are enrolled.

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Why do I get the message "Authorization failed. Retry." after entering my user name and password?

The username and/or password are not valid. See below for possible reasons.

Possible Reason 1: You do not have a Blackboard user account. Students should click CANCEL and login to: http://www.ncat.edu/accounts/request.php, to set up an account.

Possible Reason 2: You have a Blackboard user account, but you may have typed an incorrect username and/or password for this course. Remember passwords are case sensitive. Click OK. Reenter your correct username and password.

Possible Reason 3: You are not enrolled in the course. If you believe you should have access, first login to Aggie Access Online and check your course schedule. If the course is not listed you should re-enroll (if the course is not full) in the course and with the next system update – you should have access to the course.

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I typed in the correct username and password, but I still get an Authorization Failed message.

Passwords are case sensitive. Your password is all lowercase. Make sure you enter your password with the correct case. If you continue to have problems logging in, contact the Center for Distance Learning. Also see information under FAQ under ERROR MESSAGES.

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I am getting errors while trying to log into the Blackboard web site.

Make sure you allow your Internet browser (Netscape or Internet Explorer) to accept cookies.

NETSCAPE USERS:

1. Click on the Edit Menu and select the Preferences option.

2. Click on the Advanced option on the left.

3. Select the Accept all cookies option.

4. Click on OK.

INTERNET EXPLORER USERS:

1. On the Tools menu in Internet Explorer, click Internet Options.

2. Click the Security tab.

3. Make sure the Security Level is set to Medium.

4. Click on OK.

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Why do I get the error message "Error Level 404: File not found" when I try to access the course Web site?

There are several possibilities, including:

1. You may have typed the incorrect URL (Web site address). Remember: The URL is case sensitive and contains no spaces.

2. You can also access your class from the Blackboard Gateway at http://blackboard.ncat.edu (Effective Spring 2008)

3. You may be using a 3.0 Browser. Remember: You must use a 5.0 browser or higher to access the Blackboard software. The browser can be either Netscape or Internet Explorer.

4. If you are using AOL, you may not have the latest version of AOL installed. You must run the full version of AOL 4.0 and be a paying account holder. You cannot use the browser that is included on AOL's "100 free hours" CD-ROM. If you are not actually paying for the service, your Internet service will not enable you to access Blackboard.

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I'm getting a Java or JavaScript error.

Your browser may not be able to handle Java properly (e.g. older AOL browser). Go to the Netscape or Internet Explorer download site to get the latest version.

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I'm getting a "Site Unable to read" message.

Your browser may not be able to read frames. Go to the Netscape or Internet Explorer download site to get the latest version.

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I can log into my professor's Blackboard site but when I click on the Communication button or the Student Tools button; I get an "Access Denied" message. Why can't I enter these areas?

You have an account on the Blackboard system, but you have not been "enrolled" into that particular site. Contact the Blackboard System Administrators (336-256-1258) about adding you to the course site.

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What are Plug-ins and why do I need them?

Plug-ins are mini-applications that help your browser read certain kinds of files. If your browser needs a plug-in that it can't find on your hard drive, it will tell you. If it does find the plug-in it needs, it will open it automatically and display the file. You don't have to do anything.

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If I need a Plug-in, where do I get it?

All recommended Blackboard Plug-ins are available for free. To download them to your hard drive, go to the “System Requirements” link. If you have trouble downloading a plug-in, go to the Aggie Help Desk in the Bluford Library (lower level) or call 336-334-7195 or 1-866-224-7509 (NCAT 24/7 Helpdesk).

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What is a Viewer and why do I need one?

A viewer is a helper application for your browser. If you are unable to open a Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint document in Blackboard because you don't have the right application on your hard drive, you can download a corresponding viewer that will allow you to open and print (but not edit) the document. All Microsoft viewers are available for free.

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If I need a Viewer, where do I get it?

If you need to download a Microsoft viewer, go to Microsoft Download Center: Office (for PC) & Microsoft Download Center: Mactopia (for Mac). If you have trouble downloading a viewer, please contact Aggie Help Desk in Bluford Library (lower level) or call 336-334-7195 or 1-866-224-7509 (NCAT 24/7 Helpdesk).

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I am unable to open a linked document in my professor's course site.

Possible reasons:

1. You may not have the right (compatible) software program for the document.

2. The software version you have may be too old. Find out from your professor what software and version were used to create the document (i.e., Word 2000, PowerPoint 2000, etc.) For example, earlier software versions are usually unable to open files created in later versions.

Possible solutions:

1. If the document is Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, you can download a corresponding helper application called a viewer (free) that will let you open, print, and download the document, but not edit it.

2. You may need to get or upgrade a plug-in (free) for your browser, especially for sound files, movie files, and Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) files. Ask your professor about this. To download plug-ins for Blackboard, go to System Requirements on the Student Blackboard Training site.

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I have the right plug-in, but I still can't open the document.

Check to make sure you have the most recent version of the plug-in. You may need to download an upgrade. Go to System Requirements on the Student Blackboard Training site to download the plug-in.

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I have downloaded the right viewer, but the document still won't open.

This may be due to your browser settings. You may need to tell your browser which program to use to open the file. If you do NOT have the full Microsoft PowerPoint application already loaded on your hard drive, you may need to register a mime type for the PowerPoint viewer.

In Netscape:

1. Click EDIT, then click PREFERENCES

2. Click APPLICATIONS, then click NEW TYPE

3. Next to DESCRIPTION of TYPE, type PowerPoint

4. Next to FILE EXTENSION, type PPT

5. Next to MIME TYPE, type application/vnd.ms-PowerPoint

6. Click BROWSE to find the viewer application

7. Navigate to the viewer location (default is c:\ProgramFiles\PowerPoint Viewer)

8. Click on PPVIEW32.EXE, then click OPEN

9. Click OK to close the Edit window, then click OK to close the Preferences window

If you already have an older version of PowerPoint loaded on your hard drive, and you want to use the viewer instead, you may need to change your browser settings.

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I am having problems with the Chat Tool.

Chat is actually a separate application written in Java, and runs on Macintosh only if you have an Internet Explorer browser. Windows-based machines (PCs) work in either Netscape or Explorer. Go to the Netscape or Internet Explorer download site to get the latest version.

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How do I know which browser version my computer is running?

To have your computer display the browser version, begin by accessing your Internet browser. Once your browser's home page appears, select Help (apple icon on Macs), which is located at the left-top menu bar of any browser. In the submenu listed under Help, click on either "About Netscape" or "About Internet Explorer". The version you are running will then display.

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I tried to print a Blackboard screen, but only the navigation buttons printed.

Blackboard uses frames. Only one frame can be active at a time, and Blackboard prints the active frame. Click in the main document area (the right side) to activate that frame before using the PRINT command. If you are using Netscape, you can choose FILE and then PRINT PREVIEW before printing to see what it will look like. If you just want to print a linked document, another option is to right-click on the document link (click and hold on Macs) and choose OPEN IN NEW WINDOW. This opens a new browser window, which makes it easier to view and print the document. When you're done with the file, remember to close the new window to return to Blackboard.

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Within PowerPoint, I want to print multiple PowerPoint slides on a single sheet of paper, but when I try to print that option doesn't appear.

Your printer may not have that particular capability. Try using a different printer.

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What types of files will be stored in my Blackboard course?

You may find several different types of files in your Blackboard course. Go to the Blackboard Supported File Types page for a list of the file types supported by Blackboard. You can store any type of file in Blackboard by first zipping it and you can unzip the it whenever you want to retrieve the file.

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What's the best way to open a linked document in my Blackboard course?

Generally, you can left-click (option-click on Macs) on most documents to view them (except .exe files, which should be downloaded). Depending on your browser and its settings, the file may open in the same browser window, a different browser window, or may launch the application associated with the file. If the document opens in the same browser window and it's difficult to view it, you can right-click the link instead (click and hold on Macs), and choose "Open in new window" to open the document in a new browser window.

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What's the best way to download a linked document from my Blackboard course?

Generally, to download a document to your hard drive, you can right-click on the document (click and hold on Macs) and choose SAVE LINK AS... Choose the location where you want to save the file. The filename automatically appears in the File Name box.

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How do I get to the NCAT Blackboard Course Site?

Effective Spring 2008,

1. Go to the site http://blackboard.ncat.edu (Please bookmark or add to favorites addresses)

2. Click on "Login"

3. Enter your NCAT username and password. Your login is your NCAT Email Username and your Password will be your email password, which is the first four characters of the username plus the last four digits of your Social Security Number (SSN). See the example below.

EXAMPLE

Email address: waters@ncat.edu
SSN: XXX-XX-1234

Username: waters
Password: wate1234

4. Press ENTER or click OK.

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How do I Navigate in Blackboard Courses?

Once you have entered the Blackboard site, click on the left-hand menu bar to link to the "page" you want to display. For example, to access Communication tools, click the Communication button at left. Similarly, click the Back button adjacent to the menu bar to go back to a page previously displayed. Another way to go back is to access the History function. You can find HISTORY by going to the top of the Netscape browser, look for "Communicator," -> Click on it -> Scroll down until you see "History." Click on History and you will see all the web pages you have visited within a period of time. When you are done LOG OUT! Close your Browser! It is possible for someone else to use your information in your class if you do not close your browser when finished with your Blackboard Course.

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How do I log out of a Blackboard Course Site?

You must exit your browser to log-out.

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How do I find the Blackboard Student Manual?

The Blackboard Student Manual is available online. To view it from inside your Blackboard course, click on STUDENT TOOLS, and then click on STUDENT MANUAL.

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Where do I go if I need help with Blackboard?

- If you need help getting to Blackboard, call the Center for Distance Learning at 1-888-498-6752 (toll free) or 336-256-0355.

- If you are enrolled in courses and your account is validated and you experience technical difficulties with Blackboard, you can contact Blackboard System Administrators at 336-256-1258.

- If you have questions about your Blackboard course content, contact your professor (from inside your Blackboard course, click on COMMUNICATION and choose SEND email). The Blackboard Student Manual is available online. To view it from inside your Blackboard course, click on STUDENT TOOLS, and then click on STUDENT MANUAL.

- If you have other questions about using Blackboard, please refer to the FAQs (which you are reading now!).

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I know I can send email from inside Blackboard, but I don't see a way to read email from inside Blackboard.

You cannot read email from inside Blackboard. You will receive Blackboard email in your regular NCAT email account.

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Why don't I get copies of email that I send in Blackboard?

When you use Blackboard to send email, Blackboard does not keep a copy of your message. If you use Blackboard to send email and you want to keep a copy, remember to send the message to yourself as well as to the other recipients.

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Why doesn't my instructor get my email?

You should send email through the "Communication" tools by clicking the "Send Email" icon.

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My professor has posted some online quizzes in Blackboard. Whenever I try to take them, my scores aren't recorded. Am I doing something wrong?

If you are using an older browser, you are likely to encounter problems with quizzes and other areas in Blackboard. For best results, you should be using Netscape 6.0 or Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher. Current versions of both browsers can be downloaded from System Requirements or from the Internet.

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Why aren't messages I post on the discussion board displayed?

To display your message and those of others click the EXPAND ALL icon on the top right of your screen.

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Why can't my instructor access my documents I have "dropped" in the Digital Drop Box?

You must upload your documents in a format that your instructor can read (Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint only). We have further instructions about the Digital Drop Box. We recommend that you save your documents in text format or rich text format, as these are readable on most platforms.

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