What is Blackboard?
Blackboard is the courseware the School of Nursing faculty uses to develop and post courses online for students. However, every School of Nursing course has a course shell set up in Blackboard that at a minimum provides: 1) the course syllabus; 2) communication tools for a convenient way to e-mail one or more class participants, send documents, and contact faculty; and 3) access to an online course and instructor survey that must be completed for every course. In addition, some courses may contain course content, assignments, tests, gradebook, and access to resources within the online class.
How do I get a School of Nursing Blackboard account set up online?
When you register for the online class with the School of Nursing Registrar, Andrea Chamberlain andrea_chamberlain@urmc.rochester.edu or phone (585)275-8832, the registrar will contact the Blackboard Administrator to establish a Blackboard account for you. Your name and the e-mail address you provide on your registration form will be used to establish your account. You will receive an e-mail message with your username and password that you should use to login to the Blackboard class. You should reset your password when you login to Blackboard for the first time.
How do I access Blackboard?
Access the Internet using Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox and type this in your URL window to access Blackboard: http:/bb.urmc.rochester.edu
Remember to “bookmark” the site for quick future access. Click on “Login”. Type in your username and password.
How do I change my password?
Once you login to Blackboard, the first page will list areas for your “Tools”, “My Announcements”, “My Calendar”, “My Tasks”, and “My Courses”. You may want to go into Tools > Personal Information to change your password and set up your personal information.
How do I open my courses?
Your courses will be listed under “My Courses” on the first page that comes up after you login to Blackboard. Click on the course to open it up.
What does an online class in Blackboard consist of?
When you click on a course and open it, you will find a list of “Navigation” buttons on the left of the page that helps you access different parts of the online class. The online class in Blackboard may or may not include (depending on how the faculty set up the course) navigation buttons for:
- Announcements: The course opens to the Announcements page where faculty will post reminders and other important course information/updates.
- Syllabus: Outlines the course description, learning objectives, prerequisites, teaching methods, student assignments, evaluation/testing, grading, and resources/textbooks required or recommended for the course.
- Outline: The online course is divided into sessions based on the course objectives. Presentations or “lectures” are posted in sessions which may consist of text documents, PowerPoint slides, readings, audio or videostreamed programs, etc. Also posted for each session may be any assignment(s), tests, or other documents/online resources needed for the session.
- Course Evaluations: All students are required to complete an online course and instructor evaluation at the completion of the online course.
- Instructor(s): Lists the faculty, their office location and how to access the faculty via phone, fax, or e-mail.
- External Links: Provides outside resources, internet sites, library access, etc.
- Communications: The discussion board enables you, faculty and other students to have asynchronous (not occurring at the same time) discussions about class topics by posting and replying to questions and communication in the discussion board. E-mail is available to students and faculty in the class as a method of one to one communication and a vehicle to submit your course assignments. Synchronous discussions (occurring at the same time) and classes can be held online using Collaboration communication such as the virtual classroom and chat tools in Blackboard. Groups can be set up to do online group meetings and projects with other students in the class.
- Tools: Allows you to review your grades, access a student user manual and create a personal calendar, task list, homepage, and individualize your personal information. You decide what personal information you want to share with fellow students.
There may be additional navigation buttons used by faculty to organize a course in Blackboard such as: - Testing: Tests may be posted in a separate section here or posted within the sessions.
- Assignments: Some faculty will post assignments separately in this section.
- Files: Documents posted in the sessions may also be posted separately in the files section.
When do online Blackboard courses open and close for student access?
Online courses will be available in Blackboard to students no later than the first scheduled class meeting. Instructors may at times make special arrangements to open courses sooner for students. Courses will be made unavailable two weeks after the semester finishes. Fast Track courses have rolling admissions and may enter students up to one month prior to the end of the semester.
How do I send an e-mail by using the Communication section in Blackboard?
Open the Communication navigation button, click on “Send E-Mail” then “Select Users”. A list of all the students, faculty and administrative assistants will be listed. Click next to the name(s) the individual(s) you want to send an e-mail. When communicating via e-mail, always put the course identifier (e.g., NUR351) so everyone knows it is a legitimate e-mail. Someone may delete your e-mail if they are not familiar with your e-mail username.
What is the academic policy for online courses?
The academic policy is the same as any other course in the URSON. Notice of Responsibility for Academic Honesty: "Each student is responsible for her or his own work. Students are expected to have read and to practice principles of academic honesty, as discussed in the School of Nursing and University of Rochester Student Handbooks." Policy adopted by the SON faculty 1998-2009. Penalties for academic dishonesty will be enforced. Ignorance of the principles of academic honesty is not a valid or acceptable defense of excuse. For guidance on plagiarism, please refer to the University of Rochester website at http://www.lib.rochester.edu/index.cfm
What are course evaluations?
Students are required to complete an online anonymous course and instructor evaluation at the completion of every course in the SON.
What if I have a problem with the online Blackboard class?
For general questions on Blackboard e-mail SON_HelpBB@urmc.rochester.edu
E-mail the Blackboard support at Blackboard@urmc.rochester.edu if you cannot access Blackboard at all.
If you are having Internet access problems, contact your Internet Service Provider directly.
Any questions about the course itself should be directed to your instructor. Always include your full name, email address, name of course and course number in your message.
What are some specific procedures for Fast Track online courses?
Fast Track Prerequisite Nursing Online classes taken at the University of Rochester, School of Nursing are intended to provide the student with a convenient method to access academic courses as an alternative to the traditional classroom setting. Procedures regarding Fast Track online classes include:
•Courses Registration: Registration for Fast Track online classes is “rolling” meaning students may register for the course anytime during the semester up to one month prior to the end of the academic semester.
•Course Completion: It is expected that the Fast Track online course must be completed within the semester the course has been registered in order to post the course grade. An incomplete in the course may be negotiated at the discretion of the course faculty. Students must be able to schedule their time to be able to complete course requirements independently during the semester enrolled in the course.
•Class withdrawal: Contact the instructor or program director for any questions or discussion regarding class withdrawal. Once a student obtains access to the Fast Track online class material the School of Nursing is unable to refund course tuition due to the full access students have to the online course material.
