The tutorials below will serve as a helpful resource while taking an online course.
The Center for Active Engagement and Scholarship offers a free Blackboard Student Orientation course in your Blackboard Course List. This course will provide information on how to navigate a course and how to use the Blackboard tools. If you do not see the orientation course listed in your Course List, please use the Contact Us page to create a ticket.
The tutorials below will show how to login to Blackboard, post to discussion board forums, submit assignments, take online tests, and more. If you cannot resolve your Blackboard issue, please use the Contact Us page to create a ticket.
For more non-GSU Blackboard tutorials, please view the help.blackboard.com website.
These tutorials provide instruction on how to utilize Blackboard tools within a course.
Before viewing other tutorials please make sure you understand the basics of Blackboard. The basics include making sure your device is Blackboard ready, logging into GSU's Blackboard, entering and navigating courses, and succeeding online. Please use the Blackboard Student Orientation course (located in your Course List in Blackboard) as another assistance tool.
Assignments can be accessed through the Assignments left navigation menu link, or within the Course Content menu link, which may contain learning modules, folders, or lesson plans.
A blog can be a way to share your knowledge of materials created and collected in class.
This tutorial will show you where Blogs are located in a course. Each course is different so you might have to some navigating. If you cannot locate Blogs, please contact your Instructor.
Open the Where to Find Blogs Web Tutorial to learn more.
This tutorial will show you where to access the Blog Topic page and the content included on the Blog Topic page.
Open the Blog Topic Page Web Tutorial to learn more.
This tutorial will show you how to create a blog. If you do not see an option to edit/delete the Blog, your instructor has not selected this option for students.
Open the Create a Blog Web Tutorial or the Create Blog Entries Video Tutorial to learn more.
This tutorial will show you how to access Blog drafts.
Open the View Blog Drafts Web Tutorial to learn more.
This tutorial will show you how to comment on Blog entries.
Open the Comment On Blog Entries Web Tutorial to learn more.
Edit Or Delete Blog Entries
-This tutorial will show you how to edit or delete Blog entries. Please note that this option is setup by your instructor. If you do not see the option to edit and/or delete, your instructor has not enabled these options.
Open the Edit Or Delete Blog Entries Web Tutorial to learn more.
Collaborate Original Web Conferencing
+Blackboard Collaborate Original is GSU's web conferencing software. If you have a hybrid or online course, your instructor may use this tool in the course. Make sure to install this software before your first session, so you do not miss any course information.
Access Collaborate Original for the First Time
-This tutorial will discuss how to download and install the Blackboard Collaborate Original Launcher on a PC or Mac using all internet browsers (PC: Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer 11, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome)(Mac: Safari, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome)
Open the Access Collaborate Original for the First Time Mac Video Tutorial, Access Collaborate Original for the First Time PC PDF Tutorial, or the Access Collaborate Original for the First Time Mac PDF Tutorial to learn more.
Access the Audio Setup Wizard
-This tutorial will discuss how and where to access the audio setup wizard and camera settings.
Open the Access the Audio Setup Wizard PC PDF Tutorial or the Access the Audio Setup Wizard Mac PDF Tutorial to learn more.
Scheduled Sessions vs Recorded Sessions
-This tutorial will discuss the differences between a scheduled Collaborate Original session, a recorded Collaborate Original session and how to access both.
Open the Recorded Sessions PDF Tutorial or the Scheduled Sessions PDF Tutorial to learn more.
Load PowerPoint Presentations and Record Sessions
-This tutorial will discuss how to use some of the moderator tools such as Load Content, Application Sharing, and Web Tour.
Open the Load Content and Record PC PDF Tutorial or the Load Content and Record Mac PDF Tutorial to learn more.
Access Whiteboard, Application Sharing, and Web Tour
-This tutorial will discuss how to use some of the moderator tools such as Load Content, Application Sharing, and Web Tour.
Open the Access Whiteboard, Application Sharing, and Web Tour PDF Tutorial to learn more.
Collaborate Ultra Web Conferencing
+Blackboard Collaborate Ultra is the updated GSU web conferencing software. If you have a hybrid or online course, your instructor may use this tool in the course. Make sure to install this software before your first session, so you do not miss any course information.
Course Messages vs Email
+The default mode of "email" communication in Blackboard is Course Messages, which can be found in the left navigation menu in each course. The instructor may change this or may not use it at all, so make sure you know how to get in contact with your instructor.
The discussion board tool is used for sharing thoughts and ideas with other individuals in your course. This tool can be accessed through the Discussion Board left navigation menu link, or within the Course Content menu link, which may contain learning modules, folders, or lesson plans.
Create/Reply to Discussion Forums
-This tutorial will discuss how to create a new thread inside of a forum and how to reply to another individual's thread. Note: By default you cannot edit or delete your threads/post, so make them count! Your instructor may or may not provide these options for you. If you have these options available, they will fall next to the Reply button.
Open the Create/Reply Discussion Board Video Tutorial or the Create/Reply Discussion Board PDF Tutorial to learn more.
Paste to Blackboard from Microsoft Word
-This tutorial will discuss how to copy content from Microsoft Word and paste to Blackboard. Please note you may have to use the keyboard functions to Cut, Copy, and Paste (Mac and PC).
Open the Paste to Blackboard from Microsoft Word to learn more.
Search and Collect Discussion Posts
-This tutorial will discuss how to search for a specific post or how to collect all posts in a forum on one page.
Open the Search and Collecting Posts PDF Tutorial to learn more.
Display Discussion Threads
-This tutorial will discuss how to filter threads by Show All, Published Only, Hidden Only, or Drafts Only.
Open the Displaying Threads PDF Tutorial to learn more.
Subscribe to Discussion Forums
-This tutorial will discuss how to filter threads by Show All, Published Only, Hidden Only, or Drafts Only.
Open the Subscribe to Forums Web Tutorial to learn more.
Quickly access course information, such as discussions, course updates, and grades from anywhere in Blackboard.
Access Global Navigation Menu
-This tutorial will show you where you can access the global navigation menu and what items are available.
Open the Access Global Navigation Menu PDF Tutorial to learn more.
This tutorial will discuss how to create a new MyEdu profile. You must create a MyEdu account in order to upload an Avatar.
Open the Create MyEdu Account PDF Tutorial to learn more.
Add Avatar To MyEdu Account
-This tutorial will discuss how to upload a picture to your myEDU account. This picture will show in the global navigation menu, journals, blogs, discussions, and wikis.
Open the Adding an Avatar to your MyEdu Account PDF Tutorial to learn more.
The journals tool is a personal space that you can communicate privately with your instructor. This tool can be used to self-reflect on opinions, ideas, and concerns.
Don't wait until final grades to check your progress. Use the MyGrades section located in the left navigation menu of every Blackboard course.
My Institution (homepage):
+The My Institution page is the first page you see after you login to Blackboard. This page contains modules, such as your Course List, My Announcements, and Tools. You may customize the theme of the My Institution page as well as the modules.
Quizzes, Exams, and Tests
+Quizzes, exams, or tests can be accessed through the Quizzes and Exams left navigation menu link, or within the Course Content menu link, which may contain learning modules, folders, or lesson plans.
A wiki allows you to collaborate with other students to create and edit content.
This tutorial will show you where Wikis are located in a course. Each course is different so you might have to some navigating. If you cannot locate Wikis, please contact your Instructor.
Open the Where to Find Wikis Web Tutorial to learn more.
This tutorial will discuss how to create and edit Wikis. Make sure you are communicating well with others editing the page(s). You do not want to remove content added by others without communicating with them first.
Open the Create and Edit Wikis Web Tutorial or the Create and Edit Wiki Video Tutorial to learn more.
Link to Other Wiki Pages
-This tutorial will discuss how to link to other Wiki pages. This is useful is you are building multiple Wiki pages.
Open the Link to Other Wiki Pages Web Tutorial to learn more.
This tutorial will discuss how to comment on Wiki entries.
Open the Comment on Wiki Entry Web Tutorial to learn more.
This tutorial will discuss how to view your Wiki contribution. Blackboard keeps track of how many versions of a Wiki, the modifications you made, the time the Wiki was created, and how many words modified.
Open the View Wiki Contribution Web Tutorial to learn more.
The Blackboard app is designed for students to view course content and participate in courses.
Introducing the Blackboard App
+The Blackboard app enables you to view course content and access tools from your mobile device.
Open the Blackboard App Video Tutorial to learn more.
Please proceed to the App Store, Google Play, or the Microsoft Store to download the app. You may search for Blackboard or use the links provided on the Install App and Login Web Tutorial.
Course List in the Blackboard App
+The Blackboard app defaults to open with the current Blackboard enrolled courses. If you have past or upcoming courses, you may swipe left to display.
Open the Course List in the Blackboard App Web Tutorial to learn more.
Discussions in the Blackboard App
+The discussion board forums and threads may look a little different in the app, so please spend a little time getting familiar with the mobile process.
Open the Discussions in the Blackboard App Web Tutorial to learn more.
Assignments in the Blackboard App
+When submitting your assignments, you have the option to look for files on your mobile device, Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive cloud storage.
Open the Submit Assignments in the Blackboard App Web Tutorial to learn more.
Push Notifications in the Blackboard App
+Push notifications pop up on your device for when a course is available, upcoming tests, new grades, etc.
Open the Push Notifications in the Blackboard App Web Tutorial to learn more.
Collaborate Ultra in the Blackboard App
+Access Collaborate Ultra from your mobile device. Participants will have the same tools available as on a desktop or laptop. If your role has been upgraded to a Presenter or Moderator, you only have access to share files and the Whiteboard.
Open the Collaborate Ultra in the Blackboard App Web Tutorial to learn more.