Return to Sandhills Community College Distance Learning Blackboard Instructor Help
Blackboard and Student Email Login

  1. If you have not used Blackboard since summer 2007 or have never taken a distance learning course or a classroom course that uses Blackboard, you must obtain a login name and password and a student email account. You will access Blackboard by clicking the Blackboard Login link or your student email account by clicking the Student Email link on the SCC home page at www.sandhills.edu. Your courses will NOT be available until the first day of the semester.

  2. To obtain your NEW username, password, and email address:
  3. To obtain your username and password before you login to Blackboard or your student email account, you must first agree to the "Acceptable Use Policy":



  4. When the "Acceptable Use Policy" page appears, read the entire page carefully and then click the "have read and understand" button:

    I have read and understand the acceptable use policy.

  5. Note: Depending upon the security settings on your computer, you may receive a "Security Alert" message. You may click the "Yes" button to continue since the site is secure but may not be known yet by your computer's security settings.

    Security Alert Dialog Box

  6. Next you may receive a message that asks if you want to receive secure or non-secure information. You can click the "yes" button to receive non-secure items since the login information is encrypted to protect your privacy:

    Security Information Dialog Box

  7. After you have agreed to the college policies for Internet use, you will then be directed to enter your student ID from your official course registration form. Enter the requested information and then click the button “Show me my new login information." The data entered into this form is secure (encrypted) for your protection and security.



  8. A screen will appear with your student email address, blackboard username and password. Note: Your Blackboard password and student email password are the same. Click the “Click here” link at the bottom of the page to close the window.



  9. You are returned to the main gateway page. You can now click Blackboard or Student Email to access these systems.



  10. If you chose Student Email the following screen will display:



  11. Once you have logged in to your student email account, the following screen should help you compose and receive email:



  12. Gmail also has a great help system. You can access it when logged in to your account by clicking on the Help link at the top of the page.

AVOID LOGIN PROBLEMS

  1. Always use Internet Explorer to connect to your Blackboard course.
    1. If Internet Explorer is already installed on your computer, check the version. Open Internet Explorer and click on the "Help" menu at the top of your screen. Then click on "About Explorer" to see your version. (Click here for a demonstration.)
    2. If you do not have Internet Explorer (IE), Click here to download the latest IE browser.

  2. Always use the Internet Explorer browser instead of the AOL or CompuServe browser.
    If you are an AOL customer and you use the AOL browser, you will have difficulty using Blackboard for Internet courses. Instead, connect to the Internet with AOL as you usually do, minimize your AOL browser screen as shown below, and then open Internet Explorer and use it to connect to your course:

    AOL Browser Screen

  3. Install and maintain an anti-virus program.
    To make sure that your computer is not infected with a computer virus, especially if you download software from the Internet from sources other than updates to your operating system and anti-virus updates or if you use Microsoft Outlook to send and receive email message, you must install an effective anti-virus program.

  4. Use the appropriate screen resolution.
    To make sure that your screen resolution is best, you should minimize all of your open programs by clicking on the "minus" button in the upper right corner of all open programs until you return to your opening desktop screen (the one with icons on it) and then click your right mouse button on any space on the screen (not on an icon). On the menu the appears, click on "Properties." Then click on the "Settings" tab at the top of the Display Properties dialog box.
    1. If you are using a 15-inch monitor, your "desktop area" should be set at 640 x 480 with the highest "color palette" setting that your system will support.
    2. If you are using a 17-inch monitor, your "desktop area" should be set at 800 x 600 with the highest "color palette" setting that your system will support.
    3. If you are using a 19-inch monitor or larger, your "desktop area" should be at the largest setting (1024 x 768) unless you like larger images on the screen. If so, choose 800 x 600. In any case, use the highest "color palette" setting that your system will support.

  5. Avoid login, browser, and software problems.
    If you are denied login to Blackboard on your first attempt to enter your username and password and have entered your username and password correctly, or if you have problems taking tests or sending or receiving email from the course, be sure that you follow these guidelines:

    1. Use an up-to-date Internet Explorer (IE) browser. Check your browser version and download the latest version of IE (IE6/SP1, IE7), if necessary, from Microsoft Download Center. Note: To determine your version, click "Help" on your IE menu bar and then "About Internet Explorer."

    2. Be sure to accept "cookies." Be sure to click "Tools" on the Internet Explorer menu bar and then click "Internet Options":

      Then click the "Privacy" tab on the "Internet Options" dialog box:

      Then click and move the slider to "accept cookies," but no higher than "medium." Finally, click the "OK" button:

    3. Note: If you are using Windows XP and Internet Explorer 7, be sure that you read Using Blackboard with Internet Explorer 7. If you are using Windows Vista, be sure that you read Windows Vista and the Discussion Board.

    4. Be sure that you have paid your bill to your Internet Service Provider.

    5. Maintain the appropriate settings if you use a firewall. If you have installed a firewall on your computer, be sure that your firewall permits your Distance Learning login page as noted above.

    6. Disable an accelerator program. If you are using a dial-up connection that is also using an "accelerator" program, you will have to disable it. The reason you will have to do this is the "accelerator" programs do not actually speed up the dial-up connection. Instead, the "cache" the frequently used Web pages so that your browser already has a stored image of those pages. The problem inherent in this system is that Blackboard pages are dynamic; each time you connect to one you are receiving the latest version that may include updates from your professor. A discussion forum may change by the minute as teachers and students add comment.

      Thus click the "Start" button at the bottom left corner of your computer screen, then click the link to all programs. Then find the name of the Internet provider, such as Earthlink Total Access. Then look for an accelerator program. You can also "right click" the link to the program on the status bar near the lower right corner of your screen and then click "disable" on the "accelerator" program. Then you will be able to access all components of Blackboard. You also have to make sure that you check the "Tools" menu item on your browser and make sure that the "Privacy" setting via the Internet Options link on the Tools menu allows "cookies" so that Blackboard can identify you each time you connect.

    7. Use the required programs or plug-ins. Blackboard requires the Java client program to be installed on your computer since it uses "Java Applets" in its login procedure, text editor, and certain types of online tests. If you are using Windows XP, it probably does not contain the Java program. If that is the case, Blackboard will install the program on your computer unless you have blocked the ability of another program to install programs on your computer if if you are using a computer in a network environment whose firewall does not permit Blackboard to install the Java program on your computer. If you are unable to login or access tests, you may need to install the Java program yourself. The following link will give you a connection and directions to download the "Java Runtime Environment" and other plug-ins for using sound and video files: Download Center.

    8. Check the settings if you use a pop-up blocker. If you are using a "pop-up" blocker," be sure to set it to permit access each page within the Blackboard site course site or within Blackboard Support. Pop-up blockers will prevent Blackboard discussion forums or quizzes from appearing in a new window.

    9. Check the settings if you use a spam blocker. If you are using a "spam blocker," be sure to give it access to your Blackboard course and any email received from your course. Otherwise, you will have to turn off or disable any "spam blockers" before you attempt to login. Spam blockers will prevent your instructor from sending an email message to you from the course.

Tips for Printing Online Documents
  • Internet Web sites often display their pages in frames. A navigation or table of contents frame is often placed on the left side of the page (screen) with links to other pages within the Web site. The content pages are usually displayed on the right or center section of the screen. To print a copy of any page, follow these steps:
    1. Click in any white space in the frame on the right side of your screen (or in the content area that you wish to print) and then click on the Print button near the top of your Internet browser screen. If you prefer, click File on the menu bar. When the File menu appears,
      • click "Print" if you are using Internet Explorer.
      • click "Print Frame" if you are using Netscape.
    2. When the Print dialog box appears, click the OK button to print the text in the frame.
Modified June 17, 2008