Be aware that I am the administrator of these discussion boards and chat rooms, and can read and reply to all postings, so show your good net etiquette! I will post announcements, stay in touch with the discussion threads, and reply as needed to any postings.
I welcome your feedback about this system. Just post your comments, questions, replies, etc. on the Discussion Board in the General Comments and Information discussion link for your course.
The following information will allow you to use the features of the Blackboard System that you will need for your biology class. Get in touch with me if you have any problems. The ACC Blackboard site has information on logging in and printing a Blackboard Student Manual.
Information on other Blackboard features which are available (checking
your own grades, keeping a personal calendar, keeping an address book,
etc.) will appear here later. Stay tuned!
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Click the Login button.
Enter your username and password. The very first time you log in your username will be your ACC Student Number, and your password will also be your ACC Student Number. This is a seven-digit number (that starts with a zero), and is not your Social Security Number. You can find this number on your fee paid receipt or printed ACC schedule, or ask me, since I have that information as well. Enter all seven digits for both your username and your password, then click on the Login button.
The system already recognizes that you are enrolled in the course and
will take you to your very own Blackboard home page (called My
ACC)!
Be sure to return to these Blackboard instructions
and finish them. All BIOL 1308 and 2306 students are expected to use the
Blackboard system regularly. Blackboard may be accessed from any computer
with web access, including those in the ACC computer labs for student use.
Choose Edit Personal Information, and make appropriate changes to the information in the boxes provided. It is very important that you enter your correct e-mail address. You are responsible for receiving all e-mail messages which I send. When you are finished, click on the Submit button in the lower right corner of the page.
Now you should be back to the Personal Information page (if not, click on the My ACC tab, then on Personal Information). Click on Change Password, and change your password right away! This will prevent anyone else from entering your page.
Return to the Personal Information page, click on Select Privacy
Options, and indicate which information you want to make accessible
to other users (e.g., other students in the course).
Notice that as you wander from page to page your pathway shows up near the top left of the page (i.e., COURSES > 03887). You can click on any part of the path to return to that page.
The My ACC tab at the top left of the page will take you back to your home page.
To look at other ACC courses in the Blackboard system click on the Courses tab near the top left of the page, click on the course category you want on the right side of the screen, choose the specific course, scroll down and click on the section that you want to access.
As you explore the system you will find other features that you may or may not want to use such, as a calendar, etc. Click on any of the options under the Tools section on the left side of your home page to see what is available. Use it and have fun!
The Academic Web Resources tab will take you to some web resources operated by the Blackboard system, which you may find useful.
When you are at a page for a specific course (such as your biology class) you can always use the main buttons on the left side of the screen to go to other resources for that course.
To quit, click on the Logout icon in the upper center area of the screen.
On the upper right side of the page you should see a My Courses box, which lists your ACC courses available through the Blackboard system.
It is your responsibility to check all of the Announcements whenever you log in (at least once each week). Note that all announcements (even old ones) are available by using the tabs.
Feel free to explore and customize your pages using the Tools
button on the left side of the page.
Start at your home page (click the "My ACC" tab).
Click on your biology course in the "Courses" box.
Click on the Communication button on the left side of the screen.
Click on Discussion Board. Click on the discussion topic which you want to use. You will notice that there are various discussion topics already set up for you.
I suggest that you click on the Show Options tab near the right side of the screen to display the tool bar of available options.
At the discussion page you may see that there are already messages there. Click on the message subject to read it. Click on the sender's name to send them an e-mail message. Read through the messages to see what has been posted.
After you read a message, you may reply to it by clicking on the Reply button at the bottom of that message. Your reply will be posted for everyone to read.
Use the Add New Thread button to start a new topic, such as sending a message that does not apply to the messages which are already there.
I recommend that:
Start at the Blackboard page for your biology course.
Click on the Virtual Classroom button on the left side of the screen .
Click on Enter Virtual Classroom, and wait, since this often takes a long time to load.
Click on the microphone (chat panel) icon to join the live chat.
Type your comments in the small bottommost blank area. Read what you have written and correct it as necessary. Don't use the return key until you are done, because that sends your message to everyone. Keep it short. Hit the return (enter) key to post your message.
The questions tab is a way to send questions just to me, but it doesn't seem to be very useful.
The user info tab (looks like an address file icon) allows you to see who else is on line with you.
If you want to draw pictures, click on a color in the box ofcolor stripes on the middle left part of the screen. The upper left gray area has a pencil icon which lets you draw lines. The pointed finger icon adds an arrow. Jusy play with the rest to see what you can do.
To quit, click the X in the upper right corner of the Virtual Classroom page.
You will stay logged in to the Blackboard system, unless you log out, as long as your web browser is on.
You can return to the Blackboard login page, click the LOGIN
button, and it will let you right back in.
You will automatically be logged out when you close your web browser.
For 3 points, submit a comment or question relevant to the course material for Unit 1 to the Unit 1 Discussion of Blackboard for your biology class by Saturday January 25, 2003, for BIOL 2306, or Saturday February 22, 2002 for BIOL 1308.
If you find any bugs or text errors, be the first student to let me know the specifics by going to the Discussion Board and submitting a message in the General Comments and Information discussion link, and get 3 points Super Extra Credit.
<<<<< Return to Dr. Muzos' Home PageLast updated January 13, 2003 by Steve Muzos