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Student Blackboard FAQs

I am having problems logging into Blackboard and sometimes getting my email. The message says that the page cannot be found. What should I do?

For your browser to work optimally with Blackboard, you must set it to clear the cache regularly. Please visit the link below to set it up correctly:
Microsoft Internet Explorer: Clearing Your Cache
 
I am having trouble getting my email. The error message says that the server cannot be found, this page cannot be displayed.
 
There are a couple of things you may try. The first is to clear the cache in your browser and try again. Click on the link Microsoft Internet Explorer: Clearing Your Cache and follow the directions for clearing the cache on your browser. The second solution is that the webmail server is down and you need to try again later.
 
What is my password for Blackboard?
 
If you have forgotten your password, you can reset it with the link Reset your password.
 
I don't see any of my courses for this semester in Blackboard. Where are they?
 
Normally instructors make their courses visible in Blackboard on the first day of classes. If classes have begun, and you're still missing one or more courses, send a message to Blackboard Support.
 
How do I open a MS Word document for editing in Blackboard?
 
If you are using Netscape 4.7 or higher:
Click on the link to the .doc MS Word file. MS Word will automatically open and the file will be displayed in the Word Window.

If you are using Internet Explorer 5 or higher:
Internet Explorer will open the .doc MS Word file inside of the browser window. To edit your document, it is recommended that you RIGHT CLICK on the link and select Open in New Window. The page will open in a new browser window, but you will have the MS Word editing windows available also.
 
How do I access the Blackboard login page directly on the Internet?
 
The Blackboard login page can be found at http://learn.vccs.edu
 
I can't login to Blackboard. What do I do?
 
Make sure that you are NOT using the AOL browser. If your access to the Internet is through AOL please follow these directions for accessing Blackboard:
  • Connect to AOL in the normal way
  • Minimize the browser session you used for the connection
  • Launch a new browser session with Internet Explorer or Netscape (depending upon the browser that is on your system) and use that to connect to Blackboard
  • Use the AOL session to logoff the Internet when you are done
Contact your instructor and make sure that you are enrolled in the course.
 
If you don't know your password...

Send a message to Blackboard Support
 
I have tried to go to the Blackboard site, but when I type in the URL, I get an error message.
 
Verify that you have typed in the correct address: http://learn.vccs.edu
 
I have added late to a web-based course, what do I do?
 
FIRST: CONTACT YOUR INSTRUCTOR!!
It is the student's responsibility to initiate participation in each online class by contacting the professor. After you have contacted your professor please follow the following instructions:

I missed the Distance Learning orientation. Where can I get help?

FIRST: CONTACT YOUR INSTRUCTOR!!
It is the student's responsibility to initiate participation in each online class by contacting the professor. The student should complete the online orientation, then login to Blackboard, and click on your course.

How do I change my email address in Blackboard?
 
You can't change your email address. You MUST use your username@email.vccs.edu email in Blackboard. However, you may set up another email program to access that email.
 
What if I don't have Internet at home?
 
Although we recommend that you have an Internet connection at home, you should be successful in a web-based course as long as you have access to the Internet (at work or at the LFCC computer lab) at least 6 hours a week and four-five days a week.
 
I can't get my browser to print.
 
Verify that the source of the printing problem is not your printer. Can you print another document? Try going to another page on the Internet and printing a page from there. Netscape sometimes has problems printing in frames. Try the Control + P keyboard command, or right click in the frame that you want printed and choose the print command from the dialog box. If all else fails, try printing in Internet Explorer to verify that the problem is the browser, and not your printer or your computer.
 
I can't get my attachment to work in the Discussion Board.
 
When saving a file to attach in Blackboard, please follow these criteria:
  1. File name should be 20 characters or less
  2. DO NOT include spaces in the filename
  3. DO NOT include commas, apostrophes or hyphens in the file name
    Example: rogers_homework_1 (ACCEPTABLE)
    Example: Roger's homework-1 (UNACCEPTABLE!)