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Blackboard for Students

 

How do I access Blackboard?
If you are already logged into the Portal/BlueView you can click on the icon at the top that says “Blackboard”. You can also go to the web address: http://bb.drake.edu/

Supported operating systems:
Macintosh – OS 10.2 and higher
PC – Windows 2000 and XP (Vista is not yet approved for stability)

Supported web browsers:
Firefox version 2.0.0.4 and higher for Macintosh
Firefox version 2.0.0.4 and higher for PC
Firefox can be downloaded for free at: http://www.getfirefox.com/
Other browsers (AOL, Explorer, Safari, etc.) may work but are not reliable and are not supported.

What is my username and password?
Your userid is the 9 digit ID number on your Drake ID card. Your initial password is your birth date in mmddyy format.

How do I change my password?
Drake has a single signon portal system in place, which means when you change your password for one system (email, blackboard, etc.), it changes for everything else. The only exception is for users of the Oracle calendaring system.

How can I keep my Internet connection from timing out when I am working in Blackboard, for example, taking a quiz?
Some Internet connections may ‘time out’ your connection to the Internet if there is no activity coming from your machine - like when you are composing an answer to an essay question. To lessen the possibility of being ‘timed out’, open a separate web browser window before you click on the exam link. In that separate web browser window, navigate to http://www.time.gov/ and select a time zone. Once the page loads, it will keep checking the time, and keep your connection to the Internet active. Simply minimize that window, re-enter Blackboard, and proceed to click on your exam link.

Who do I call for assistance when Blackboard isn't working correctly?
The Drake Support Center, *3001

I don't see all of my courses in Blackboard that I am enrolled in, why?
It may be that the instructor has not yet marked the course as available -OR- Blackboard is available to all instructors to use as a supplement to their course, however, not all instructors have chosen to utilize this tool.

Blackboard Student User Manual (in pdf format)

From a Student's Perspective: Assignment Manager (in pdf format)
Student How-To: Assignment Manager (in pdf format)

Discussion Board Guide for Students (in pdf format)