Blackboard

Blackboard is the primary software program used by TWU for online course development.
Blackboard may be accessed from any computer with Internet access.
Course materials and communication features are integrated in the program, and you will be able to access course materials posted by your instructor, view announcements, take online tests and check grades, communicate with faculty and peers, and participate in collaborative or group assignments.
Please be aware that the Blackboard Learning System is a customizable interface so the titles, screen captures, and features shown and discussed here may not match exactly with those your instructor has chosen to implement.

Accessing Your Course Course Overview Navigating a Course Course Assignments Communication Tools Student Tools

Accessing Your Blackboard Course Step 1: Go to http://online.twu.edu
Step 2: Click on the Login button



Step 3: Enter your Username and Password in the boxes



Step 4: Click the name of your course from the personalized list in the "Courses" box.

Navigating Your Blackboard Course

There are 2 types of navigation
1. Navigating between content areas
2. Navigating within a content area
To navigate between course areas, click on the link in the navigation menu.



When you navigate within a content area, you can use internal navigation to move between documents and folders.
Internal navigation links will appear at the top of each page within a course.
Clicking on a title will take you to that area of the course:
i.e. the course name will take you to the entry page.



To open folders, click on the title.



To open a file, click on the document link

Completing Course Assignments

Your instructor may create Assignments for you to complete online.
Links to these assignments will appear within a content area, and will contain some basic instructions and a link to View/Complete the assignment.
Step 1: Click on the View/Complete link.



Step 2: If your instructor has attached a file to the assignment, you can open that file and review the contents by clicking on the file name.



Step 3: Follow your instructor's directions for completing the assignment.
Step 4: After the work is completed, Browse to attach files related to this assignment.



Step 5: Submit the assignment.

Communication Tools The Communication area is customizable by your instructor on a course-by-course basis. All of the options listed here may not be available for your particular course. The Communications area will enable you to send e-mail, view student web-pages, and participate in synchronous (real-time) and asynchronous communication. New information about the course. Synchronous Virtual Classroom & Lightweight Chat tools allow for a chat room, whiteboard, web browser & Q&A area. Asynchronous tool with discussion threads & responses Listing of groups in the course and access to private group areas. Gives each course a private & secure system for communication that functions similar to email. Messages cannot be sent or received outside of the users in the course. List of student's names & their email address, & links to the Student Web Pages in that course. Send email to other students & instructors in the course.

Student Tools

The Student Tools area, like the Communication Tools, is customizable by course based on instructor preference. All options here may not be available for your course. These tools allow for such actions as: electronic file exchange, checking your grades, building a course Web page and viewing calendar events.

AOL

In order to access courses in Blackboard, you must have an Internet browser that fully supports both Java and JavaScript. The standard browser that comes with AOL does not. Many Blackboard features such as the digital dropbox do not work properly when using the browser in AOL. AOL users must download a version of either Netscape 4.X or Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.X. Please consult the Help page for download instructions. You should also check with AOL to find out which browser is compatible with your operating system as versions of each browser are operating system specific.
After you have downloaded and installed the browser of your choice, you will need to reboot your machine and sign back onto AOL. You must then minimize the AOL browser and launch the browser that you have downloaded.
If you are experiencing any problems after following this process, please contact the TWU Helpdesk at Helpdesk@twu.edu.