Blackboard
Course Management Software

Blackboard is a program known as Course Management Software.  It provides a password-protected website at https://ecourses.maricopa.edu/webapps/login/ where students can access assignments, a discussion area, a gradebook, class announcements and other course related materials with a username and password (called an Enterprise ID ).   The username and password provides a secure and private way for students to communicate as well as view their grades and assignments.

Blackboard is easy for students to navigate. Like other web pages, Blackboard includes a menu of buttons on the left and the content in the middle of the webpage.  Teachers choose which buttons to include in the menu so that items not used in a particular class are omitted from the menu.  A Blackboard class is an easy way to put a syllabus, assignments and grades online for students’ convenience.  The interactive discussions and group areas are created with a couple of mouse clicks and provide report features so that teachers can track student use.  Many other features are available to enrich and customize the learning experience.

Help is available for students and faculty in the form of:

Who uses Blackboard?

Any teacher can use Blackboard, whether teaching in a traditional classroom, online, or in a hybrid format.  Blackboard allows teachers to set up their course websites to provide relevant resources for their students.  Because teachers create their own Bb websites, the sites match the students' needs.  Teachers can even choose a color scheme for their Blackboard website and place a welcome banner on the website, as well as their photos and other graphics.

Each teacher chooses which features to use or not use in Blackboard so that a class may include as much or as little as the teacher wishes.  One teacher may post the course assignments syllabus and use a discussion area in a Blackboard class.  Another teacher might also use the Gradebook and Small Group work areas, in addition to the other features.  One teacher might have a different Blackboard class for each section taught each semester.  Another teacher might use one Blackboard class for every section of the same course taught in a semester.  The options with Blackboard seem endless based on the teacher’s preferences and the students’ needs.

How do I get a Blackboard account?

Any teacher at GCC can get a Blackboard account and a class shell created to experiment with Blackboard before using it with a class. 

First, you must have a MEMO email account (looks like:  Your.Name@gcmail.maricopa.edu).  If you need a MEMO account, contact Dawn Meyer, English department secretary.  Next, email your request to create a Blackboard account and a class shell to Bb@gcmail.maricopa.edu.  Then, find your Enterprise ID and login to Blackboard.

How do I learn to use Blackboard?

There are multiple ways to learn the features of Blackboard, depending on your learning preferences.