December 2007 Framingham State College upgraded Blackboard, the college learning management system, to version 7.3. If you are new to Blackboard or an experienced user we invite you to review our new Blackboard Student Tutorial. View the tutorial online or download the PDF file.
Blackboard is used to complement and supplement our web-based course offerings. Ease of use is a major characteristic of the e-learning system. Students who used Blackboard experience an improved course navigation, enhanced online collaboration tools and control over their Blackboard learning environment.
The features in Blackboard make it easy to move around the course site and access information. Use this list as a quick reference guide to learn how to customize your personal settings. Click here to read more. New Features in Blackboard 7.3 include the following.
Go to
http://framingham.blackboard.com to access the Blackboard
server:
1. Click Login
2. Enter your assigned username and password
To access a course site:
1. Click the course title under Courses in which you are enrolled
2. Use the options on left side of the course site to access course
information. » more
Contents and Layout buttons
The Contents and Layout buttons appear on the right side of the Blackboard
7.3 home page. Select Contents to change what information is posted on the page. Select Layout to change home page colors or rearrange the page layout. » more
My Courses Box
The Courses Box is your access to the courses in which you are enrolled. It lists the courses for the current semester as well as classes you have taken in the past. To manage the list of courses listed in this box, click the pencil icon as shown above. Uncheck course you do not want listed.
Blackboard Navigation Options. In Blackboard 7.3 instructors have the option to change the initial appearance and organization of their course site. Course navigation may appear as a button or text list and is customized by the instructor to match naming conventions and course material. » more
Students use the arrow in the upper left corner of the navigation panel to hide or reveal course options. When the panel is collapsed there is more room to display course information on the page. » more
Announcements. Access announcements in three ways; select the course name on the home page, click Announcements from the navigation panel or by choose Announcements from the list of Communication options. When announcements are accessed through the Home Page, all Announcements of interest to the user appear. These include Announcements from all courses in which the user is enrolled and system-wide announcements. Users can sort the Announcements by category or post date. » more
Real Time. Chat Features The Collaboration Tools in Blackboard 7.3 allow the instructor and students to hold real time, synchronous, discussions as well as access web sites or course materials. The Collaboration resource is split into two separate applications; a Lightweight Chat and Virtual "Lecture Hall" Classroom. » more
Both tools are used most effectively when the number of participants is limited to a small group of no more than 6 participants. Examples of how these tools are used include; group project discussions, virtual office hours or conversations with a guest speaker.
Note: Both Collaboration applications require a download of a Java Applet the first time anyone joins the Lightweight or Virtual Classroom feature. This application is free and available within the Blackboard course site.
Student Tools. An online Student Manual, Electric Blackboard, and Address Book are three tools available to students in their online courses. Use the Manual for online assistance, the Electric Blackboard as a note pad and the Address Book to store contact information separate from the Blackboard list of names. Note: Instructors have the option to change the navigation label as well as the list of available student tools. » more
Blackboard Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online or by calling our toll free support line 1-866-361-8970. To access Blackboard support tools, chat with a technician or report a technical problem visit our Blackboard Online Resource Center. If you are new to Blackboard or are interested in learning the features of Blackboard we also invite you to walk through our student tutorial. View the tutorial online or download the PDF file.