Communicating with your instructor and classmates
From DurhamtechWiki
Using the Discussion Board on Blackboard
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 bottom 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
Credit Students
Durham Tech provides all students taking credit courses with an email account, called "ConnectMail." Credit students are required to use their ConnectMail accounts for all classes. Your instructors will send important course related info to this address. Be sure to activate your ConnectMail account and get in the habit of checking it daily. For more info about activating your ConnectMail account, visit: http://www.durhamtech.edu/connect/ConnectMailHelp.pdf
NON-Credit Students
Students taking Continuing Education and Adult High School/Basic Skills/ESL courses will not receive ConnectMail accounts. These students are required to record a valid email address in Blackboard, so instructors will be able to contact you. This address should be one that you are in the habit of checking daily.
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.
