Software
Live@EDU
Live@EDU provides you with a set of hosted collaboration services, communication tools, and mobile, desktop, and web-based applications, as well as data storage capabilities.
Outlook Live
Your email in Outlook.
SkyDrive
SkyDrive offers 25GB of storage that is fully password protected, as well as offering personal, shared, and public folders.
Blackboard
To help you learn how to navigate your courses within Blackboard, an online course has been created for you to explore. To access this course, go to sf.blackboard.com and enter the following log in information:
Username: jcougar
Password: USF_R0ck$
You can locate the sample course, ONL..101..00.2012.10: Blackboard Online Orientation, in the Course List area. Click on the course ID and name to enter the course. Prior to exploring the course, please read the welcome announcement by clicking the link in the My Announcements box.
Blackboard Login
There are several ways to access Blackboard. This tutorial will highlight how to log into Blackboard from sf.edu, from My Cougar Connection, and via sf.blackboard.com. It also discusses how to bookmark pages for future access.
My Blackboard Home Page
The My Blackboard Home Page consists of modules, or boxes, that contain information and links that will help you during your courses. In this video you will learn how to navigate the My Blackboard home page.
The Tools Module
Within the Tools module on the My Blackboard home page, you have links to Announcements, Personal Information, Grades, Surveys, Emailing, Calendar, Tasks, and the Address Book. To learn what all these links do, watch this video.
The Notifications Dashboard
From My Blackboard you can view notifications about your courses by going to the Notifications Dashboard. You can also add modules to access information outside of Blackboard, such as weather and articles from Time magazine. Watch this tutorial to learn how to best utilize the Notifications Dashboard.
SMARThinking, iTunes University, and Community Tabs
The SMARThinking, iTunes University, and Community Tabs will afford you additional features to assist you in your studies. SMARThinking provides access to online help for various subjects, including math, various sciences, econ, Spanish, and writing. Many instructors post audio, video, and other files in iTunes University that are essential for course success. The Community tab will allow you to join organizations within Blackboard, including the one for your school of study. These various tabs and their features are discussed in this video.
The Course Environment
This video will take you on a tour of a sample course and will show you how to navigate the course menu, as well as provide you with an overview of what type of information you are likely to find in each section.
Assignments
Within Blackboard there are two types of assignments that can be created by your instructor, a traditional assignment that allows you to input or upload an item and a SafeAssignment, which submits your papers and essays through a plagiarism checker. This tutorial will discuss how to complete each type of assignment.
Discussion Boards
A discussion board is an asynchronous communication tool that allows one individual, usually the instructor, to post a question online and receive responses from other individuals, usually the students. Watch this video to learn how to post a thread and reply within a discussion board.
Blogs and Journals
Blogs and journals are used to gauge your understanding of course content and guide you in your knowledge acquisition. Posting and commenting on blogs and journals are explained in this short tutorial.
Groups
As part of your course, you may be placed into a group where you can collaborate on projects and assignments. To find out what tools are available to you and your fellow group members, watch this video.
Tests
Your instructor will use tests and quizzes throughout your course to monitor your knowledge acquisition and understanding. This video will show you how to complete a test online.
My Grades
My Grades is the area of Blackboard where you can view your graded and to-be graded assignments, activities, and tests for each course. Follow the steps in this video to learn how to access and understand My Grades.
Text Editor
The Text Editor within Blackboard allows you to create and edit HTML-based content, without needing to know HTML code. It is a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor. This document will show you how to use the Text Editor and the various functions and commands available within it.
My Cougar Connection
Adding and Dropping Courses
Register for classes online
Finding and Printing Your Schedule
There is nothing worse than not being in class at the correct time.
Account Information
Check Your Account Balance, Your 1098-T, Unofficial Transcript, Grade Report & Grade Projection, Campus Life Groups
