Blackboard Information

How does an online class work?

Many students ask if online classes are conducted via email. Online courses are not conducted by email and are not independent study courses. Cochise College uses the Blackboard software as our online learning system (More details on Blackboard later). Although communication is generally asynchronous (i.e., you don’t have to log in at a certain time), the actual course content is very structured. Normally assignments will be grouped by weeks or by modules and will be due on certain dates chosen by the instructor. Online classes are not easier than on-campus classes; in fact, many times they are more difficult because the student has to be very self-motivated.

In order to be successful in online courses, a student needs to have some basic computer skills. Having already taken a computer literacy course such as CIS 116 or CIS 120 is ideal but not a requirement. Examples of needed skills: use of a search engine, use of email (send, receive, use of attachments), and use of a word processing program (such as Microsoft Word).

Students have the option of completing an Online Readiness Assessment before registering for an online class. Go to: http://cconline.readi.info.

Username: students
Password: amiready?

How do I enroll in Blackboard?

Students do not need to enroll themselves in Blackboard. This is done automatically once you register for classes.

How do I get to Blackboard? (**Students will not be able to login to Blackboard until the day before class session starts, and the course link will not be available in Blackboard until the first day of class session.)

Go to http://solo.cochise.edu/

How do I log into Blackboard?

Your username is your Cochise College Student ID (EXAMPLE: c0000000)

Your password is your birth date in a six-digit format (mmddyy). For instance, if you were born in 1970, make sure you put only “70” and not the “19." You should change your password to something more secure when you first log into Blackboard. You can change the password if you click "Personal Information" in the "Tools" area on the left side of your main page.

If you previously had a Blackboard account under a different username, please note that it is no longer active. Even if you can access it, this is not where your classes will appear.

I’m in Blackboard now. How do I view my classes?

Your courses will appear no sooner than one week prior to the start date. Usually classes will appear only on the day it is scheduled to begin.

You will notice that your classes will be listed by title and course number.

Please note that if you have previously taken courses in Blackboard, these might continue to appear, but are not active. Also, some on-campus courses may have a site in Blackboard and will appear in your list of classes. The instructor will let you know if they intend to use the Blackboard support.

To view your active courses, you will simply “click” on the title of the course.

Now that I am in my online classes, how do I navigate them?

(Please note that the following are descriptions of the more commonly-used Blackboard tools. Your instructor may use only a few of these tools or others not listed here. Also, your instructor may have listed the tools used in a different order.)

The first tool (left hand side) you will see is “Announcements." You will likely see the first welcome message from your instructor here. Please note at the top of section, you have a choice of which announcements to view: View Today, View Last 7 Days, View Last 30 Days, View All.

The next tool on the left hand side (below “Announcements”) should be “Course Information”. This section will often contain a course description, the course objectives, and the syllabus.

Next you will find “Staff Information." This will contain the instructor’s name, office hours, etc. The instructor might also choose to insert a picture or biographical information.

“Course Documents” will be the next tool on the left. This might include a number of things your instructor would like you to view or use during the class. An example might be journal articles.

“Assignments” is the next tool on the left. Here you will find folders containing tests and various assignments. An instructor will often categorize it by week or course module.

“Communication” is next and contains many options once opened. When you click on this choice you will find:

Announcements - This is the same feature listed as the top choice on the left hand side of the screen. This is simply another way to access the same information.

Collaboration - Here you will find such items as Virtual Classroom and Lightweight Chat. These are tools which allow communication between instructors and students in real time. This feature is not often used by instructors simply because many students are in different time zones. You can generally expect your communication to be asynchronous.

Discussion Board - This is where you will post your discussion questions and answers (not in real time) and communicate with other students. This is normally how your participation is judged by the instructor. An instructor may or may not give a formal grade for participation, but it is almost always a vital portion of an online course. Please note you can also access this section from the left hand side option.

Group Pages - If you are assigned a group project by your instructor, you will use this area to communicate privately with your group. Otherwise, you will not have a group available.

Roster - Here you can look for a specific user or all users.

Send an email- This is a very important function in your online class! Once you click on the ‘send an email’ option, you will be asked to choose the recipients. You will type your message (you can also attach a file/files if needed) and submit.

To check your own email, you will need to check your inbox in whatever account you use. Typically, instructors will use your Cochise College student email address. If you have not yet accessed your Cochise College student email account, you will need to do so. Go to the main Cochise College website: www.cochise.edu and click on “Check My Email." Then click on Outlook Web Access for Students. You will be asked to enter your username, which is your Cochise College email address (If you do not know your Cochise College email address please contact Student Services.) Your password is your birth date in the format: mmddyy [6 digits]. If you have any problems, contact the Online Support Technician at cochiseonline@cochise.edu.

“Discussion Board” is the next item listed on the left hand side. This is the same “Discussion Board” you were able to access under “Communication."

"External Links” is the next item and is where you instructor will leave links to important sites. For instance, you could be asked to link to one of the sites and use the info to help complete an assignment. You simply click on the appropriate link after opening “External Links." A new window will open and you will be linked to the website.

“Tools” is the last item on the left. When you click on this, you will discover many choices of tools. The following is a brief description of the tools:

Calendar - This allows one to view events by day, week, month, or year. Students my not add events when it is accessed through a course.

Digital Drop Box - This tool enables students and instructors to exchange files. To send a file, first click on the Digital Drop Box. Then click “Add File." Click “browse” to locate your file. Enter any comments in the “Comment” section. The file will then appear in your Digital Drop Box. Please note you must click “Send” before the file is sent to your instructor! Otherwise, you will have just added a file that appears only to you. Become familiar with this item, as most instructors use the tool as the standard way to submit work. You may also receive a file from your instructor from the Digital Drop Box.

Edit your Homepage - Every student has this tool. When created, it is blank, so you can choose to post information about yourself here, if you wish. It is then available within that course. For instance, you may put basic information and upload an image.

Electric Blackboard - The Electric Blackboard allows users to save notes for a particular course within the course. Users can write notes on the Electric Blackboard, save them, and then return later to add to and review them.

Glossary - The function must be enabled by the instructor. If the instructor chooses, she/he may enter term and accompanying definitions for students to view.

Personal Information - Users manage personal data and privacy settings from the Personal Information Page. For instance, you may change your password or change your email address. Please note that with this function it would be changed for all classes. Also note that most instructors will only allow the Cochise College student email address.

Student Manual - You can use this tool to help you explore and learn more about Blackboard! Simply click on Student Manual and then choose your subject.

Tasks - The tasks page organizes projects (referred to as Tasks), defines task priority, and tracks task status. Instructors can post tasks to users participating in their course.

View Grades - Users can check their grades within a course by accessing the View Grades page through the Course Menu.

The View Grades page includes information on the following:

The user’s average assessment grade.

The total number of points the user has accumulated.

Details about each assessment.

Information about the class average on each assessment.

Grade weighting. This is the relative importance of the item when determining a final grade.

If you have other questions or just want to learn more about Blackboard, please refer to your Student Manual, which is listed under “Tools." You may also contact the Online Technician at cochiseonline@cochise.edu if you are having trouble or need help.

The best way to succeed in an online class is to:

Make sure you are prepared by taking the Readiness Assessment

Be self-motivated.

Check your Blackboard account daily!

Take the initiative to communicate regularly with your instructor, fellow students, and fellow group members.

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CC Home Online Learning Home	Blackboard Information How does an online class work? Many students ask if online classes are conducted via email. Online courses are not conducted by email and are not independent study courses. Cochise College uses the Blackboard software as our online learning system (More details on Blackboard later). Although communication is generally asynchronous (i.e., you don’t have to log in at a certain time), the actual course content is very structured. Normally assignments will be grouped by weeks or by modules and will be due on certain dates chosen by the instructor. Online classes are not easier than on-campus classes; in fact, many times they are more difficult because the student has to be very self-motivated. In order to be successful in online courses, a student needs to have some basic computer skills. Having already taken a computer literacy course such as CIS 116 or CIS 120 is ideal but not a requirement. Examples of needed skills: use of a search engine, use of email (send, receive, use of attachments), and use of a word processing program (such as Microsoft Word). Students have the option of completing an Online Readiness Assessment before registering for an online class. Go to: http://cconline.readi.info. Username: students Password: amiready? How do I enroll in Blackboard? Students do not need to enroll themselves in Blackboard. This is done automatically once you register for classes. *How do I get to Blackboard?* (Students will not be able to login to Blackboard until the day before class session starts, and the course link will not be available in Blackboard until the first day of class session.) Go to http://solo.cochise.edu/ *How do I log into Blackboard?* Your username is your Cochise College Student ID (EXAMPLE: c0000000) Your password is your birth date in a six-digit format (mmddyy). For instance, if you were born in 1970, make sure you put only “70” and not the “19." You should change your password to something more secure when you first log into Blackboard. You can change the password if you click "Personal Information" in the "Tools" area on the left side of your main page. If you previously had a Blackboard account under a different username, please note that it is no longer active. Even if you can access it, this is not where your classes will appear. *I’m in Blackboard now. How do I view my classes?* Your courses will appear no sooner than one week prior to the start date. Usually classes will appear only on the day it is scheduled to begin. You will notice that your classes will be listed by title and course number. Please note that if you have previously taken courses in Blackboard, these might continue to appear, but are not active. Also, some on-campus courses may have a site in Blackboard and will appear in your list of classes. The instructor will let you know if they intend to use the Blackboard support. To view your active courses, you will simply “click” on the title of the course. *Now that I am in my online classes, how do I navigate them?* (Please note that the following are descriptions of the more commonly-used Blackboard tools. Your instructor may use only a few of these tools or others not listed here. Also, your instructor may have listed the tools used in a different order.) The first tool (left hand side) you will see is “Announcements." You will likely see the first welcome message from your instructor here. Please note at the top of section, you have a choice of which announcements to view: View Today, View Last 7 Days, View Last 30 Days, View All. The next tool on the left hand side (below “Announcements”) should be “Course Information”. This section will often contain a course description, the course objectives, and the syllabus. Next you will find “Staff Information." This will contain the instructor’s name, office hours, etc. The instructor might also choose to insert a picture or biographical information. “Course Documents” will be the next tool on the left. This might include a number of things your instructor would like you to view or use during the class. An example might be journal articles. “Assignments” is the next tool on the left. Here you will find folders containing tests and various assignments. An instructor will often categorize it by week or course module. “Communication” is next and contains many options once opened. When you click on this choice you will find: Announcements - This is the same feature listed as the top choice on the left hand side of the screen. This is simply another way to access the same information. Collaboration - Here you will find such items as Virtual Classroom and Lightweight Chat. These are tools which allow communication between instructors and students in real time. This feature is not often used by instructors simply because many students are in different time zones. You can generally expect your communication to be asynchronous. Discussion Board - This is where you will post your discussion questions and answers (not in real time) and communicate with other students. This is normally how your participation is judged by the instructor. An instructor may or may not give a formal grade for participation, but it is almost always a vital portion of an online course. Please note you can also access this section from the left hand side option. Group Pages - If you are assigned a group project by your instructor, you will use this area to communicate privately with your group. Otherwise, you will not have a group available. Roster - Here you can look for a specific user or all users. Send an email- This is a very important function in your online class! Once you click on the ‘send an email’ option, you will be asked to choose the recipients. You will type your message (you can also attach a file/files if needed) and submit. To check your own email, you will need to check your inbox in whatever account you use. Typically, instructors will use your Cochise College student email address. If you have not yet accessed your Cochise College student email account, you will need to do so. Go to the main Cochise College website: www.cochise.edu and click on “Check My Email." Then click on Outlook Web Access for Students. You will be asked to enter your username, which is your Cochise College email address (If you do not know your Cochise College email address please contact Student Services.) Your password is your birth date in the format: mmddyy [6 digits]. If you have any problems, contact the Online Support Technician at cochiseonline@cochise.edu. “Discussion Board” is the next item listed on the left hand side. This is the same “Discussion Board” you were able to access under “Communication." "External Links” is the next item and is where you instructor will leave links to important sites. For instance, you could be asked to link to one of the sites and use the info to help complete an assignment. You simply click on the appropriate link after opening “External Links." A new window will open and you will be linked to the website. “Tools” is the last item on the left. When you click on this, you will discover many choices of tools. The following is a brief description of the tools: Calendar - This allows one to view events by day, week, month, or year. Students my not add events when it is accessed through a course. Digital Drop Box - This tool enables students and instructors to exchange files. To send a file, first click on the Digital Drop Box. Then click “Add File." Click “browse” to locate your file. Enter any comments in the “Comment” section. The file will then appear in your Digital Drop Box. Please note you must click “Send” before the file is sent to your instructor! Otherwise, you will have just added a file that appears only to you. Become familiar with this item, as most instructors use the tool as the standard way to submit work. You may also receive a file from your instructor from the Digital Drop Box. Edit your Homepage - Every student has this tool. When created, it is blank, so you can choose to post information about yourself here, if you wish. It is then available within that course. For instance, you may put basic information and upload an image. Electric Blackboard - The Electric Blackboard allows users to save notes for a particular course within the course. Users can write notes on the Electric Blackboard, save them, and then return later to add to and review them. Glossary - The function must be enabled by the instructor. If the instructor chooses, she/he may enter term and accompanying definitions for students to view. Personal Information - Users manage personal data and privacy settings from the Personal Information Page. For instance, you may change your password or *change your email address. Please note that with this function it would be changed for all classes. Also note that most instructors will only allow the Cochise College student email address. Student Manual -* You can use this tool to help you explore and learn more about Blackboard! Simply click on Student Manual and then choose your subject. Tasks - The tasks page organizes projects (referred to as Tasks), defines task priority, and tracks task status. Instructors can post tasks to users participating in their course. View Grades - Users can check their grades within a course by accessing the View Grades page through the Course Menu. The View Grades page includes information on the following: The user’s average assessment grade. The total number of points the user has accumulated. Details about each assessment. Information about the class average on each assessment. Grade weighting. This is the relative importance of the item when determining a final grade. If you have other questions or just want to learn more about Blackboard, please refer to your Student Manual, which is listed under “Tools." You may also contact the Online Technician at cochiseonline@cochise.edu if you are having trouble or need help. *The best way to succeed in an online class is to:* Make sure you are prepared by taking the Readiness Assessment Be self-motivated. Check your Blackboard account daily! Take the initiative to communicate regularly with your instructor, fellow students, and fellow group members.
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