Frequently Asked Questions from Blackboard Users

Middlesex Community College 100 Training Hill Road Middletown, CT 06457

Need to know how to log on to myCommNet to access your Blackboard course? Click here.

1. I am not able to use Discussions, Mail, Quiz, Chat, or other features. How do I fix this problem?

a. You may need to install the JAVA plug-in (or download the correct version of the JAVA plug-in). When you are in "My Institution" page, click on "Supprt and Training" and select "Browser Checker" to perform a complete browser compatibility check. If the browser check results indicate that you need the JAVA plug-in, go to Distance Learning Download Center and download the compatible JAVA plug-in. After downloading the plug-in, you must install it on your computer. Log on to Blackboard again, when you are prompted with a JAVA security certificate, click on OK to enable JAVA.

b. Pop-up blockers on your computer may also cause problems when using some Blackboard features, such as Discussions, Mail, Tests, Assignments, and etc. You must turn the blocker off. If pop-up blockers are added to your browser and you are not able to turn them off, you must un-install them. To have control over turning on or off a pop-up blocker, you may consider using the Mozilla Firefox browser with the pop-up blocker off to access your Blackboard course. Click here for instructions on how to download and set up Mozilla Firefox.

2. Where do I get help if I still have technical problems with Blackboard ?
a. Go to the Technical Support Center. Call  (860) 723-0221 or submit a ticket (in Contact Us link at the bottom right corner) for help.

b. Should the technical problem persist, report this to the MxCC Distance Learning department using one of the following methods:
Call (860) 343-5756.
Email to mxccdistance@mxcc.commnet.edu
Stop by the Distance Learning offices in Chapman 702/703, Middletown Campus Office hours: M-F, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

3. How do I use the Discussion Board?
Click the following links for text and multimedia* based instruction.

• What is Discussion Forum and Threaded Discussion?

• Discussions Setup

• Read and Reply a Discussion Message

• Post a Discussion Message to Start a Thread

• Attach a File to a Discussion Message

• Read or Save a File Attached to a Discussion Message

4. How do I use Blackboard Internal Mail?
Click the following links for text and multimedia* based instruction.

• Internal Mail vs. External ?Mail in Blackboard Learn

• Blackboard Learn Messages - Internal Mail Setup

• Read and Reply a Mail in Message - Internal Mail

• Send a Mail in Message - Internal Mail

• Attach a File to a Mail in Message - Internal Mail

5. Can I check spelling in Email or Discussion messages?
Yes. When you are in the Create Message window in Messages - Internal Mail or Create Thread in Discussions, make sure Text Editor is On. Highlight the text and clickon the spell checking icon .

6. How do I see announcements or assignments posted on the Calendar?
Click here for text and multimedia* based instruction.

7. How do I view and print a file in Syllabus or Learning Module?
Click the following links for text and multimedia* based instruction.