BlackBoard Question of the Week

Q. I am trying to batch download an assignment in my course. The option for batch download comes up correctly in the Grade Center and I select the submissions I want to batch download. The screen shows a zip folder is created, but when I click on the link, I get an error. What should I do?

A. The problem is most likely punctuation marks in the assignment name. Blackboard creates filenames using the assignment name, and punctuation often causes problems in filenames.

You should rename this assignment using only alphanumeric characters. The order in which you do this matters:  First rename in the content area where the assignment is posted, then rename with the exact same new name in the column for the assignment in the grade center. If you change the name in the grade center first, or vary the name even a little between the two areas in Blackboard, the link between the assignment and the student submissions in the grade center will be broken.

Q. I am having trouble posting a large PDF file; I can upload the file, but some of my students cannot view it. What should I do?

A. Since PDFs open within Blackboard, if a student double-clicks to open the file in Blackboard it will take a long time, or might even time out and not open.  However, if your students right-click on the document and save it on their local drive, they should then be able to open it.

Since the issue is the document’s large size, a second option would be for you to break the PDF up into several smaller documents and post that way.

Q. My instructor posts short quizzes on Blackboard, and I would like to take them using my iPhone – can I do that?

A.  Due to a number of issues, including particular mobile devices, coverage, phone platform, etc., students should not attempt to submit assignments or take tests or quizzes on any mobile device; instead, they should use a non-mobile Web browser for those purposes.

Q. I have been resistant to using blackboard for grades, but I decided to enter students’ total points so they know the situation before the final exam.  That worked well, but I made mistakes in two of the grades and need to change the points I entered for two people, and I haven’t figured out how to do it.  Any ideas?

A. You can manually override a grade by clicking on the cell in the Grade Center column and entering the new grade.

Visit this link for more information on modifying grades in Blackboard’s Grade Center: Manually Enter Scores in the Grade Center