Communicating with your instructor and classmates
From DurhamtechWiki
Using the Discussion Board
How do I access a discussion forum?
- Login to Blackboard
- Choose the course that you would like to visit
- Click on the Communication button in the left frame, and then click on the Discussion Board link in the right frame.
Note: In some courses, there is a Discussion Board button in the left frame and you can simply click on it.
- You will see a list of one or more discussion forums, each with its own title (or "topic")
- Click on any forum title to enter that forum
How do I start a new discussion forum thread?
Follow these steps to start a new discussion thread:
- Enter a discussion forum by clicking on its title.
- Click the Thread button:
(in upper left area)
- Enter "Subject" and "Message" text.
- Click the SUBMIT button.
WARNING: If you click SAVE instead of SUBMIT, your posting will disappear!
- After you click SUBMIT, your thread will be displayed below any existing threads.
How do I reply to a discussion forum thread?
Follow these steps to read and reply to an existing thread:
- Inside a discussion forum, click on any message (thread).
- On the next screen, you will see a list of any replies that have been posted to that thread.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the screen to read the text of the thread (found inside a blue message box).
- To post a reply, click on the Reply button:
(in upper right corner of blue message box).
- Type a "Subject" and "Message" text.
- Click the SUBMIT button to post the reply message.
WARNING: If you click SAVE instead of SUBMIT, your instructor and classmates will not be able to see your posting.
- After you click SUBMIT, your reply will be posted along with any other replies, in the box at the top of the screen.
How do I attach a file to a discussion forum message?
Follow these steps to attach a file to a discussion forum message:
Note: This feature may not be available in some discussion forums.
- Enter a discussion forum by clicking on its title.
- Add a New Thread or reply to an existing message.
- Enter "Subject" and "Message" text.
- Click the link to "Attach a file" (below the message text box) .
- Click the Browse button to navigate through your files to find the file you want to attach and to select it.
- Once you've selected the file to attach, the file path appears in the attachment field in Blackboard.
- Click the SUBMIT button to post your message and its attachment.
Note: Do NOT attach files that have symbols in the file name, such as the number sign ( # ), per cent sign, or dollar sign, etc.
I cannot open an attachment (Error: HTTP Status 404)
The attachment's file name contains a symbol, such as a pound sign (#). Symbols cannot be used in the file names of documents posted on the Web. To resolve this, the person who posted the attachment will need to rename the file (omitting symbols from the name) and repost it. For more info, see What characters should I avoid when naming files?
I posted a new thread and it disappeared! What happened?
You clicked on SAVE instead of SUBMIT when posting your thread, and therefore your posting was saved as a "draft".
- At the top of the forum, locate the "Display" drop-down box.
- From the drop-down menu, select "Show All", then click GO.
- Your saved thread will appear in the list of other threads, marked as "draft".
- Click on your saved (draft) thread. On the next screen, scroll down to view your draft thread's content.
- Click on MODIFY. Make any changes (if needed), then click SUBMIT.
- After you click SUBMIT, your thread will be displayed below any existing threads.
A reply I posted has the word "draft" beside it. What does this mean?
You clicked SAVE instead of SUBMIT when posting your thread. It is now a "draft" posting that only you can see.
WARNING: Your instructors and classmates cannot see replies you saved as "draft"!
To correct this problem:
- In the discussion forum, navigate to find your draft reply. Click on the its subject to view the full content.
- Click on MODIFY. Make any changes (if needed), then click SUBMIT.
- After you click SUBMIT, your reply will be posted, along with any other replies, in the box at the top of the screen.
Email and Blackboard
How do I get an email account?
Durham Tech does not provide email accounts for students at this time. If you don't already have an email account you can use for your course work, we recommend you set up a free account at Gmail.
Note:
- Due to recent problems with Hotmail accounts, we do NOT recommend that students use Hotmail for their course work at Durham Tech.
- If you need help setting up an email account, visit one of Durham Tech's Computer Labs and ask a lab monitor for assistance.
Why do I have to put my email address in Blackboard?
As a student, you are responsible for recording your email address in Blackboard. This allows your instructors to contact you using Blackboard's "Send Email" feature. (It also allows you to use the "Forgot password?" link to reset your password if you forget it.)
Follow this link to see step-by-step instructions:
How do I record my email address in Blackboard?
What if my email address changes?
If your email address changes (or if you decide to use a different one), you'll need to update it in Blackboard.
To update your email address in Blackboard, follow the same steps you used to record your address the first time.
I am not receiving emails my instructor sends. What's the problem?
Most likely, your email program is classifying messages from your instructor as spam.
When you find a message from your instructor in your bulk folder, you should mark it as "not spam" AND add the sender (your instructor) to your address book. All future messages from your instructor should then be delivered to your inbox.
If you need help with your bulk folder or email settings, you will need to contact your email provider.
My email address doesn't appear in the class roster (or on Group pages).
Each course in Blackboard contains a roster, which lists the students who are enrolled in the course. (In some cases, an email address is listed beside the student's name.) To see the roster, click "Communication" in the course menu, then click "Roster".
By adjusting privacy settings, each student can control whether his/her email address appears in the roster (and on Group pages, if the instructor has set up groups). By default, the email address is NOT listed (even if the student has entered his/her email address in Blackboard).
If you want your email address to display in the roster (and on Group pages), follow these steps:
- On the Blackboard "Welcome" screen (the one you see as soon as you log in), click on "Personal Information" in the TOOLS panel on the left.
- Click "Set Privacy Options".
- Under item 1 (Personal Information), click to place a check beside "Email Address".
- Click SUBMIT, then click OK two times.
Notes:
- Checking/un-checking other boxes will have no effect on what information is displayed/hidden to others on Blackboard. Only the "Email Address" setting is applicable on Durham Tech's system.
- Regardless of the privacy settings you select, your instructors will be able to see your email address and any other personal information you put in Blackboard.
