Blackboard for Students
- How do I access Blackboard?
- Supported operating systems and browsers:
- What is my username and password?
- How do I change my password?
- How can I keep my Internet connection from timing out when I am working in Blackboard, for example, taking a quiz?
- When taking a quiz/exam, the timer covers up the submit button. What is that about and how do I fix it?
- Who do I call for assistance when Blackboard isn't working correctly?
- I don't see all of my courses in Blackboard that I am enrolled in, why?
- My instructor says I need to download and install a different browser so I can take a test. Where do I get that?
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 and browsers:
Please refer to this chart to see if your OS and browser combination is recommended.
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.
When taking a quiz/exam, the timer covers up the submit button. What is that about and how do I fix it?
Some browsers cause issues for users when taking timed exams or quizzes. It usually affects users who have a Windows PC and are using Internet Explorer 8 for their browser application. There are some work-arounds. More information can be found here.
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.
My instructor says I need to download and install a different browser so I can take a test. Where do I get that?
It is called the Respondus Lockdown Browser. It provides a more secure exam environment. While using the Respondus Lockdown Browser, you will not be able to access and other web sites and/or applications on your computer. The Respondus Lockdown Browser must be downloaded and installed before you open a test in Blackboard. After it is installed on your computer, open the Lockdown Browser from within the applications folder on your computer. Then open Blackboard and click on the link for the exam/test you need to take.
The link to download and install the Respondus Lockdown Browser is listed at the bottom of this web page.
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)
Rsepondus Lockdown Browser
Click Respondus Lockdown Browser to download and install to your computer. If the link doesn't work, copy and paste the following into your browser's address line: http://www.respondus.com/lockdown/information.pl?ID=998337436
Choose Win or Mac, depending on which type of computer you are using. At the next screen choose Your Own Computer. Click on one of the servers to download and install it to your own computer. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Remember: After you download the application to your computer, you MUST install it.
Student Quick Start Guide (pdf format) for Respondus Lockdown Browser