Blackboard help for library staff
How can users access Blackboard?
Have them go to http://portal.utoronto.ca and enter their UTORid and password.
Why can’t users log into the Blackboard portal?
- Users need a valid UTORid and password to log into Blackboard. To verify that a UTORid has been activated and is working go to this web page: https://www.utorid.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/utorid/verify.pl.
- If the user cannot verify their UTORid, ask them to contact the Information Commons Help Desk at (416) 978-HELP or email help.desk@utoronto.ca or call (416) 978-HELP.
- If the user has not yet activated a UTORid, please refer to this web page: https://www.utorid.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/utorid/activate.pl. "Secret Activation Keys" are issued to students when they receive their T-cards; they are issued to instructors by Human Resources. Users who have lost the Secret Activation Key should contact the Information Commons Help Desk at (416) 978-HELP or email help.desk@utoronto.ca.
- If the user has forgotten a password, it can be reset at this web page:
https://www.utorid.utoronto.ca/cgi-bin/utorid/resetpw.pl It may take 24 hours after resetting a password before it can be used to access Blackboard.
- To check that the UTORid and password are operational, ask the user to log into U of T Webmail at http://webmail.utoronto.ca. If the Webmail login is successful, then the UTORid and password are operational.
- Still having trouble logging in? Blackboard may be down or temporarily unavailable. Check updates on the status of the Blackboard system at http://www.portalinfo.utoronto.ca/
Why can’t users see their courses when they log into the Blackboard portal?
There are several possible reasons why users may not see their courses listed when they log into Blackboard:
- The instructor may not be using Blackboard. Ask the user to check with the instructor; they may be using another online system (e.g. CCNet, Sakai) for the course.
- The instructor may not have “activated” the Blackboard course yet. Unactivated courses cannot be viewed. Tell the student to check with the instructor if they have been told to access the course.
- It may be too early in the term. It is not normally possible to access Blackboard courses until two weeks before classes officially start.
- There may be a problem with the student’s registration or enrollment on ROSI, which is the U of T course registration system that allows students to add, drop, and view courses online.
- Ask the student to log into ROSI (http://www.rosi.utoronto.ca/) and verify that they have enrolled in the correct course.
- Ask if the course fees have been paid. Students may not have access to the Blackboard course shell if they have outstanding fees.
- If the student paid their fees that morning, then it may take up to 48 hours for the ROSI feed to register student enrollment in the Blackboard course shell.
Why don’t instructors’ course reading lists work in Blackboard?
If the link to the course reading was not a durable link, created with our linking tools, it may not work reliably. The instructor should revise the link using the library’s linking tools available on the How Do I... page. Alternatively, the customer can try to find the article using Article Finder , or ask a library staff member for assistance.
Why are students being asked to pay for articles on course reading lists?
Payment requests from publishers are clues that a reading has been incorrectly linked. The instructor should revise the link using the Library’s durable linking tools on the How Do I... page. Alternatively, the student can try to find the article using Article Finder, or ask a library staff member for assistance.
How can instructors make a link to the Library Resources page for a course?
The link to each courses' default Library Resources page is already present in every course menu in Blackboard. However, if you would like to use the Library Resources page elsewhere (ie send in an email, paste into another web page), follow these steps:
- Start here: https://source.library.utoronto.ca/blackboard/get_feed.cfm
- Enter the course code (e.g. DOC300) , then click show feed.
- The default Library Resources page will display. Copy the URL and paste it into any web page or email.
How can library staff modify the content on default Library Resources pages in a Blackboard course?
Authorized Library staff, including most liaison librarians, can "fix" the default feeds using a special "Blackboard Fix-It" tool. Log into the Staff Intranet and select "Blackboard Fixit" from the menu. (If you are authorized but you don't see "Blackboard Fixit" on the menu, contact Marc Lalonde.)
How can users get more help using Blackboard?
- For instructors: http://www.library.utoronto.ca/blackboard is the Library's Blackboard help page for instructors. The main Blackboard “Self Help for Faculty” page is at: http://www.portalinfo.utoronto.ca/. Instructors may also email the Portal Help Team at portal.help@utoronto.ca.
- For students: Blackboard Info for Students http://www.portalinfo.utoronto.ca/students.htm. Students may also email the Portal Help Team at portal.help@utoronto.ca.
- The UTM Library has created some helpful introductory videos on using Blackboard
