How to use Blackboard to get your roster and send email to your class:

Simple instructions for those who have never used Blackboard

1. You can only use Blackboard to get your roster and email your students after student names have been uploaded. In Spring 2008, that is Jan. 7 - one week before classes begin. Before that, you have a "class" in Blackboard for each class you are teaching, but it has no students. After that date, the student names are added and, I understand, updated daily.
2. Use your ACCeID and password to log in to Blackboard at http://acconline.austincc.edu/
3. Choose the class you want.
4. In the left-hand menu, choose Control Panel.
5. To email your students, choose Email students. You'll be given several choices. You can choose All Users, which is easiest. The only other reasonable option at this point is Single / Select Users. There you will be able to choose which ones to email by checking boxes. (You, yourself, are listed as a user, so you can just email to yourself as a test case if you want.)
6. In the resulting box, write your message. I strongly recommend that you include your course number in the subject line and end your message by signing your full name, since the message that is sent will have neither of those unless you include them.
7. To get a course roster, choose Control Panel and then Gradebook. (Do not choose Gradebook Views, which is another option.) When you get the gradebook open, along the top are six options. The fifth option is Download Grades. Choose that.
8. Then you are led to a screen asking you to Select Delimiter. Choose Comma. Then Submit.
9. That will open a box telling you that the file has been saved and asking you to choose the Download button. After that, you can Save As or, depending on how your computer is set up, you may have the option to open it immediately in Excel or another spreadsheet program.

Last updated January 11, 2008 Mary Parker