Resources for Students|Search Courses|Admissions Information|Registration Information|Financial Aid|Participation Checklist|Participation Checklist|Getting Ready|Get Help & FAQ

Technical Support and FAQ's
  • Contacting Technical Support
    • Students/Participants enrolled in DCE courses only
      Contact Karen Murie, 701-231-8638, or by email at
      karen.murie@ndsu.edu.
  • Wimba Collaboration Suite

    The Wimba Collaboration Suite includes a virtual classroom - live voice and video at a distance - podcasting, voice discussion, and instant messaging features that are integrated with Blackboard, in a familiar, easy-to-use interface. Some ways in which Instructors may use Wimba in a course include hosting a live discussion, or to provide you with pre-recorded lecture material for viewing.

    Help Documents Online:

    Wimba 24/7 Technical Support from Wimba.com:

    Remember, your Instructor may be your best, first contact for technical support.

    Faculty and instructors at NDSU have access to training and resources for using Wimba. If you are experiencing technical difficulties with Wimba, notify your Instructor right away. The Instructor may have solutions to common issues, will know how to help you get access to the right professionals and answers, and also can take such difficulties into account in terms of completing course requirements and assignment deadlines.

FAQ's
  • How do I login to CampusConnection?
    If you have never taken a course at a College or University in North Dakota, you will need to obtain a UserID and Password. Visit the official NDSU CampusConnection home page at http://www.ndsu.edu/ndsu/deott/registrar/connect/ and select the link "Obtain UserID & Password." Instructions are provided based upon your status as a student - choose the link that is most appropriate for your status.

    If you already have used a UserID and Password to access CampusConnection at another College or University in North Dakota, you will be able to use these at NDSU as well.
  • How do I login to Blackboard?
    Begin with the NDUS Enrollment Process, to verify that you have access to the system:
    • Go to the NDUS Enrollment web page at http://enroll.nodak.edu
    • Select the "Continue" button to verify agreement with the terms of use
    • Supply your last name and EMPLID in the text boxes provided
    • Follow on-screen prompts to complete the enrollment process

    Following completion of the enrollment process:

    • Go to the NDSU Blackboard site at http://bb.ndsu.nodak.edu
    • Select the "Login" icon at the top of the screen.
    • On the next screen, enter a Username and Password:
      • Username is the first portion of the NDSU email address, generally in this pattern: firstname.lastname
      • Password is the same as is used to access NDSU email OR if the you have not received this password, the default password pattern is Mmmssyyyy where:
        • Mmm = 1st 3 letters of the birth month, 1st letter CAPITALIZED
        • ss = middle 2 digits of the social security number
        • yyyy = 4 digit birth year
    Students enrolled in a 600 course through Distance and Continuing Education are manually enrolled in your course website by DCE staff. Please contact Karen Murie, karen.murie@ndsu.edu, for more information.
  • How do I view my grades?
  • In your Blackboard course website:

    • Method 1:
      • Login to Blackboard
      • Select the link to the Course site
      • Navigate to the location of the exam or assignment in the course site
      • Exams: The student will be able to see posted grades after he Instructor has completed the grading process, including any feedback that the instructor has provided
      • Assignments: If the Instructor has used the "Assignment" feature, students will be able to download a copy of the reviewed file that has been posted
    • Method 2:
      • Login to Blackboard
      • Select the link to the Course site
      • Select the "Tools" link or the "Course Tools" link on the navigation bar
      • Select "My Grades"
      • A view of the gradebook for the course will appear - selecting an individual score for an exam or assignment will reveal more detail about feedback and otehr information the instructor has provided (The Gradebook is private; a student will not see entries for other students)
    • Method 3:
      • Login to Blackboard
      • Select the "View Grades" link from the "My Blackboard" screen
      • Select the link for the desired Course
      • A view of the Gradebook for the course will appear - selecting an individual score for an exam or assignment will reveal feedback and other information the instructor has provided

      Using CampusConnection:

      • In the CampusConnection system, final course grades are available as an "Unofficial Transcript."
      • CampusConnection Basics (includes instructions for viewing Unofficial Transcript).
  • How do I ADD or DROP a course?
  • In general, you should use the CampusConnection (PeopleSoft) system to register and/or drop courses. These actions must be done according to set University deadlines, or by special permission.

  • How to Save Documents in Microsoft Word/Office 97-2003 Format
  • If You are Using MS Office 2007:

    Microsoft Office 2007 is a major update to the office suite. Word and other programs in the suite will use new document formats. Word 2007 saves files in the .docx format, which is different from the .doc format used in Word 97-2003. The new document format in Word 2007 can cause difficulties when it comes time to share your documents electronically. So, if you upgrade to Word 2007, you should consider changing the save settings. You can save your documents in a format that is compatible with earlier versions of Word. That way, you won't have any problems sharing documents.

    Using the Feature:

    1. Click the "Office" button Click "Word Options"
    2. Open the "Save" options
    3. Next to "Save files in this format", select "Word 97-2003"
    4. Click "OK"
    5. Your documents will be saved in the .doc format, which is compatible with earlier versions of Word.

    If You are Using Another Word Processor:

    1. Select the "File" link on your menu bar
    2. Select "Save As"
    3. In the dialog window (the pop-up window) select "File of Type" or "Format" as it appears in your program
    4. In the dropdown menu, choose "MS Word 97-2003" or ".doc format" from the list
  • How to use the Assignment Drop Box in Blackboard
  • The drop box lets you submit work directly to your instructor using Blackboard without using email.

    Using the Feature:

    1. Log in to Blackboard and enter your course.
    2. Locate an assignment you need to complete. When you find an assignment, you'll see the clipboard icon and a link to "Assignment Drop Box". Select this link.
    3. If the Instructor has placed a file on Blackboard for you to download, click the file link next to the "Assignment Files" option.
    4. Your browser (Internet Explorer, Safari) will ask you where you want to save this file. Choose a location on your computer that you will be able to find again.
    5. When it has finished downloading, open the file using the appropriate piece of software - often this will be Microsoft Word - and complete the assignment as directed.
    6. Save your completed assignment and return to the course website, to the appropriate assignment location, as you found in Step 2.
    7. Click the "Browse" button to attach and upload your completed assignment file to your instructor. You may type a brief comment in the "Comments" area, but there is a limit on how much you can type so comments should be brief.
    8. Next to "Save files in this format", select "Word 97-2003"
    9. Click "Submit" when you are ready to turn in your assignment to your Instructor.

    Note: Clicking "Save" will not submit the assignment. Your Instructor will not see the assignment until you have clicked "Submit."

  • How to use the Discussion Board in Blackboard
  • The Discussion Board is a communication tool that is similar to chat, but participants do not have to interact at the same time. Communication that takes placed in the Discussion Board is archived for later viewing and sorting.

    The Discussion Board feature uses the following terms:

    • Post - the written entry from an individual person
    • Thread - a grouping of related posts; a "conversation"; a main post and all related replies
    • Forum - the place where conversations take place; most often there will be a Forum created for each major topic of discussion

    Reading in the Discussion Board:

    1. Select the link provided by your instructor for the Discussion Board
    2. Select the name of a Forum to access it
    3. Once you are inside of a Forum, you can read existing threads by selecting the titles
    4. Use the + and - signs to expand or collapse the threads

    Create a Discussion Thread:

    1. Click "Add a New Thread" and the "Create New Message" page will appear.
    2. Click in the "Subject" box and type in the subject of the message.
    3. Click in the "Message" box and type your message.
    4. Click "Submit" to send your message.

    Reply to a Message in a Thread:

    1. Click on a Thread to read it.
    2. Click the "Reply" button next to a message to post a reply to the current thread.
    3. Type a "Subject" for your reply message thread.
    4. Type the text for your message into the "Message" area.
    5. If your instructor has allowed anonymous posting, check the box for "Post Message as Anonymous" if you wish to send your message without other users knowing who it is from.
    6. Your instructor may allow users to add attachments to message threads and replies. If so and you wish to attach a file to your message, click the "Browse" button, navigate & find the desired file, and click the "Open" button.
    7. Click the "Preview" button to see your message before you post it.
    8. Click the "Submit" button to send your message.
    9. Your message will display with a "New" icon within the list of current message threads.
 
Website Updated: September 2, 2008
Published by NDSU Distance & Continuing Education
1919 N. University Drive - Dept 2020 - PO Box 6050
Fargo, ND 58108-6050

Visitors
Since February 27,2001
NDSU logo