Many Blackboard users have experienced problems when submitting and viewing text that has been pasted directly from Microsoft Word into Blackboard. The cause of this issue is the accompanying word processor formatting code that is included when using the copy/paste feature. These codes should be removed prior to pasting into a Blackboard text box.
One trick is to copy and paste your text from Word into NotePad first, which strips out the fancy formatting. Then copy and paste that more compatible NotePad text into the Blackboard text box editor and use the formatting tools available in Blackboard to style your text. Some will just attach a Word document to their post, however, there are many students that don’t have Word and they will not be able to view your attachment. A few users have reported success when saving the Word text as HTML (website) code, but that isn’t recommended for beginners.
A very smart move is to change your Blackboard password from the default first assigned to you, to something more secure and that you’ll remember. Also, when you’re using a public computer – such as in a campus computer lab or library, be sure to log yourself out of Blackboard, because it won’t do that for you automatically. Otherwise, your classes, contributions, and hard work will be left for the next person to ponder.
Here’s how to change your password… View Full Article »
Going through your “Personal Information” profile in Blackboard and making sure that your email address is correct, is an important early step as a student. Even if you’re not signed up for an online course, that simple action will help you reset your Blackboard password if you forget it later.
For fully online classes, email can be a major form of communication between instructors and their students. To avoid missing something significant from your instructor, be sure that the email address field in your Blackboard profile is correct when classes begin.
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A common complaint when visiting the Clark Blackboard site, is the warning screen some will see about the site’s security certificate. The best solution for browsers which display this nag screen is to add an exception for Clark.Blackboard.com when prompted. Clark’s Blackboard certificate is valid and good until 2011. For those geeks who are extra wary, here is a handy tool for diagnosing incidents like this:
Check on Security Certificate
Type in https://clark.blackboard.com and click Check Site for a full report
Update: This issue has been resolved
Successfully logging in to Blackboard is an important first step when taking an online course. The most common cause of login issues is an incorrectly entered username or password… The following may help:
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Just a quick shout-out to the Clark College Math Department… If you’ve signed up, or are thinking about signing up, for an online math class at Clark, be sure to check out their website for some information that’s essential for your success, as well as tips for writing math notation in Blackboard and much more. You’ll also find their link in our Blogroll below.
Online Mathematics Classes at Clark
How would you like to give a test instead of taking one? Even if you have blazing fast internet service, wouldn’t it be nice to know just how fast your connection is to our Blackboard servers in Washington, DC? The truth is, Blackboard can be troublesome for users on dial-up and nearly impossible for those with internet service via satellite provider. For those with satellite service, the latency created by the distance between the earth and your host’s satellite (~23,000 miles) causes the problem, and much like its issue with online gaming, there is no consistent solution. Dial-up can create an issue with Blackboard because of slow response time, as well. Some have reported success by waiting until off peak hours to access their class. Others might travel closer to town where they can find a faster connection, such as their local library, college computer lab, or other public locations. Whatever your resources, you may find this speed checker helpful…
Blackboard Speed Checker