Blackboard Learn 9.1 Information Page

Blackboard Learn 9.1 SP 9 is our current edition of the Blackboard Learning Management System. It provides a place for instructors to house learning content, assessments, and collaboration tools for our online, hybrid, and face-to-face courses. Every course at NWACC has a matching Blackboard course. For face-to-face courses, it is up to the instructor on how much they use Blackboard's features.

Student training is available in two forms; an online self-guided boot camp, and live boot camp sessions. Live boot camps occur the week prior to the semester, and online and hybrid students will receive instructions in their NWACC email about the self-guided course. More information, such as the dates and times, can be found on the Blackboard Boot Camp webpage.

Please use the Browser Checker prior to accessing Blackboard. You should also use the Browser Checker if at anytime you encounter technical issues using Blackboard. You will need to have the information from the Browser Checker available when contacting Technical Support.

The direct login page can be found at https://nwacc-bb9.blackboard.com. This page exists in case the My NWACC Connection is unavailable. Your login information for the direct login is the same as the MNC.

Blackboard Mobile Learn

The mobile app allows you to connect to your Blackboard course materials and course tools. The major uses include viewing announcements, checking course content, reading and posting to the discussion boards, and viewing your grades.

Students, educators, and staff can download the app for iOS and Android devices through the App Store and Google Play respectively. The app works on all carriers and networks! Once users have downloaded the app, they can elect to subscribe for $1.99 for one year of access or pay a one-time fee of $5.99 for unlimited access.

What this means for you:

If you are a new or existing user you will need to choose either the one year or lifetime access plans.
If you use a Palm or Blackberry you will no longer be able to use the mobile app.
iPhones and iPads will now be able to connect to Blackboard by a cellular service, not just WiFi.
Android and iOS users on ALL carriers can now enjoy the benefit of keeping up with their courses through the mobile app!

REMINDER!
NWACC Blackboard courses are not required to be built to support mobile devices. Some course content and course tools may not be accessible from your mobile device. We recommend that you still take your tests on a desktop or laptop with a dedicated internet connection.

Please watch the following videos to see the mobile app in action.

Blackboard Mobile App on iPad Video - NWACC

Mobile Learn Device Demos from Blackboard

For more information and support please see Blackboard's Mobile Resource Center.

Blackboard Time Out

The Blackboard system does have a time out after three hours and twenty minutes (200 minutes) of inactivity. This means that if you do not navigate, save answers, or use the system in anyway you will be logged out after this time. This timer also applies to long discussion posts as typing into a text box does not always let the system know that you are active. If you do have to leave abruptly please remember to save your posts as drafts.

Internet Connection Issues

Unreliable wireless connections, satellite services, and cellular connections can cause you to lose your connection to Blackboard. It is recommended that you have at least one backup location with a dedicated high speed internet connection, such as a library or local high school computer lab. We recommend this because of the way Blackboard works. It uses a secure connection session that must always be on. If you are downloading a large file or taking a long exam and your signal drops for any reason you may lose your connection to Blackboard. While this does not happen that often we have to make you aware of this possibility.

It is also always a good practice, if you are writing a long discussion posting or other long text, to type it first in another document program (like WordPad), save a copy, and then copy and paste it into Blackboard.

If for any reason you do lose your connection during an exam you can attempt to come back into the course and continue the assessment. If this fails or time has expired please contact your instructor first. They will let you know if you need to contact our department to verify technical issues.

What to do if there are Blackboard System Problems

If you cannot access Blackboard through My NWACC Connection, try logging in directly to Blackboard at https://nwacc-bb9.blackboard.com.

Be Prepared!

Despite our best efforts to maintain system reliability, technology sometimes fails and you should be prepared in advance.

1. Always keep a backup copy of everything you submit online in case of technology problems, either with your computer or with Blackboard. It is a good idea to type longer discussion postings into a document first, save it, and then paste it into the discussion area.

2. Make sure your NWACC email is working, and check it regularly. If there is a major problem with Blackboard, Distance Learning will attempt to contact you via NWACC email to let you know what is happening. You may also wish to subscribe to our Twitter System Status Updates.

3. If you have assignments due or other concerns, contact your instructor immediately via NWACC email, and watch your NWACC email for updates from your instructor. He/She will inform you about any adjustments that may be necessary in your course.

Welcome to NWACC - NWACC