Getting Started On Blackboard For Students

Overview

Blackboard is the site used by USI for professors to manage classes. Students can view grades, assignments, the syllabus, and other information useful for the class, depending on what the professor chooses to display. 

To access Blackboard, the best option is to go through portal.usi.edu and select the Blackboard option under the tools heading. You should be taken directly to your classes. However, if you are directed to a login screen, select the drop-down menu labeled Sign in with third-party account directly under the Sign In button, and select Faculty, Staff, and Students: Click here to enter your USI credentials. This should take you to a USI sign in page. If you are unable to access Blackboard via your MyUSI, the Blackboard website for USI is usi.blackboard.com

Select Blackboard from the MyUSI Portal (left), or sign in with USI credentials from the website (right).​​​​​​

Blackboard

  • Under the Courses page, you will find all of the classes you have been enrolled in.
  • It is recommended to favorite the classes you are currently in, as that will keep them at the top of the page.

 

  • When the class ends, it will no longer be accessible by the student, and any documents submitted there will be inaccessible unless saved otherwise beforehand. If you will need these files for later use (ie sample writings for grad school), then save these documents outside of the class. 
  • Every class is different, and the arrangement depends on the professor. However, at the top of the menu on the course, there should be a place where the syllabus is located.
  • There is normally a spot at the bottom for Grades, Blackboard Help, and University Policies. If you are having difficulty navigating a class's page, contact your instructor.

In this example, the Syllabus is located in the Welcome-Start Here folder.  Depending on the instructor, you may have to check several folders to locate the Syllabus. The A with the down arrow indicates other formats for downloading the file, such as PDF forms.

Blackboard Tips

  • Google Chrome is the recommended browser working with Blackboard. You may encounter errors using Microsoft Edge or Safari with Blackboard.  As such, they are not recommended.
  • Apple Pages and Google Docs do not work, and pdf files can cause issues in certain situations.  Therefore, they are not recommended for submitting files to Blackboard.
  • Microsoft Office is recommended when submitting files to Blackboard (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
  • Microsoft products are provided by the university and can be installed on both MacOS and Windows 11. 
  • To download the Office 365 apps on Mac or Windows, navigate to portal.usi.edu, under tools, select the Office365 option, open the Install and More dropdown menu in the upper right corner, and select Install Microsoft 365 Apps. Then, select Install Office

  • When opening Blackboard, navigate to the Institution Page on the left side of the screen to find Blackboard information as well as areas to go for troubleshooting. 

OneDrive

  • When accessing your Documents, it is important to make sure you are signed in with your student account.
  • If you are signed into your student account with a Microsoft Office program (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), it will save to your student OneDrive storage space.
  • Your student OneDrive has 1 Terabyte of storage available.
  • If you notice you do not have a full terabyte of storage, check to make sure you are signed in using your university provided OneDrive account.
  • If that does not resolve the issue, contact the IT Service Desk.
  • If you are attempting to submit items saved into OneDrive while on a Mac, you must first open the OneDrive application and allow the necessary permissions.
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