MSC Student Blackboard Frequently Asked Questions


Logging into Blackboard or Turnitin.com
1. How do I get to Blackboard?
2. How do I login to Blackboard?
3. Whenever I enter my username I get an error message. What do I do?
4. Turnitin.com is asking me for a username and password, where do I find it?

Checking Email
5. I need to email my instructor, but I can't find their email address. What do I do?
6. Instructors tell me they are sending me emails, but I'm not receiving them. Why am I not receiving their emails?

Tests, Digital Drop Box, Spell Checking, and Grades
7. I got locked out of my exam, what do I do?
8. I took the test, why did I get a zero?
9. I'm using the Digital Drop Box, but the instructor says they are not getting my assignments.
10. How can I do a spell check on essays submitted in Blackboard?
11. How do I find my grades?

Manuals and Plugins
12. Where can I find a manual for Blackboard and/or Turnitin.com?
13. What plugins do I need for Blackboard?

Misc. Information
14. Some pages aren't loading properly or aren't displaying at all. What is wrong?


1. How do I get to Blackboard?
To get to Blackboard you can type in http://blackboard.mscok.edu in your address bar or go to MSC's homepage, http://www.mscok.edu, and click on Internet Students, Click Here button on the right-hand side of the screen.

2. How do I login to Blackboard?
To login to Blackboard, you will need your MSC username and password. Below is an example:

Your username is the first four characters of your last name and the last four digits of your student ID number. Then your password is your whole student ID number.

Students with accounts from Spring 2005 and Summer 2005 have not changed. They are still using Social Security Number and not the Student ID number.

Logon Example:
Name: Henry Jones
Student ID number: 123456789
Username: jone6789
Password: 123456789


If you need your student ID number contact the Registrar’s office at 580-371-2371 ext. 108.

If you are having problems getting logged into Blackboard either call Bill Adams at 580-371-2371 ext. 138 or email him at badams@mscok.edu


3. Whenever I enter my username and password it gives me this message:
Could not login. Valid authentication credentials were not provided.
If you get that message, double check that you are entering your MSC username and password correctly. If it still won't work either call Bill Adams at 580-371-2371 ext. 138 or email him at badams@mscok.edu

4. Turnitin.com is asking me for a username and password, where can I find it?
Go to MSC's Blackboard and login, then go to Tools, Turnitin.

5. I need to email the instructor, but I can't find their email address. What do I need to do?
In your class, click on the Communication link, then Send Email, then All Instructors. Then just put in a subject and your message and click Submit.

Or you can go here and click on the email address of the instructor: http://www.mscok.edu/computer_services/Students/Blackboard/internetstu.html
6. Instructors tell me they are sending me emails, but I'm not receiving them. Why am I not receiving their emails?
You have to check your MSC Email. You can do that by going to the MSC Homepage and clicking Student Email. Then click on Secure Link (if you are off-campus) or Standard Link (if you are on campus). A box will popup asking for your username and password.

7. I got locked out of my exam, what do I do?
If you get locked out of your exam before you finish it, contact your instructor. They will have to reset your try, but this is left up to the their discretion.

8. I took the test, why did I get a zero?
The test is either blank or gets turned in with only partial answers. Contact your instructor to see if they can help you.
9. I am using the Digital Drop Box, but the instructor says they are not getting my assignments?

In the Digital Drop Box you have to do two things. First, you have to Add a file to the drop box. Second, you will have to Send the file to the instructor's drop box.

To add a file follow these steps:
1. Click Tools
2. Click Digital Drop Box
3. Click Add File
4. Give it a Name and any Comments you wish to go with it
5. Click Browse, then a box should popup and you will have to find the file you want to attach on your computer. Once you find it click Open.
6. Now click Submit
7. A box willl popup telling you the file has not been sent yet and you will need to click Send File in the Digital Drop Box to send it. Click OK.
8. Click OK again and now you should be back to your Digital Drop Box.


To send a file follow these steps:
1. If in the Digital Drop Box, go to Step 3, otherwise click Tools.
2. Click Digital Drop Box
3. Click Send File
4. Select the Users you want to send the file to
5. Then from the Select File drop-down box, select your file.
6. Click Submit
7. Click OK and that will take you back to the Digital Drop Box. Now your file has been sent.


10. How can I do a spell check on essays submitted in Blackboard?
In Blackboard, click on the arrow in the upper left of the text box. This will expand the toolbar and provide several word processing tools including spell check, cut, copy, and paste.

11. How do I find my grades?
Once you are in your Blackboard class, click on Tools in the left-hand menu. Then click on My Grades.

12. Where can I find a manual for Blackboard and/or Turnitin.com?
You can find the two manuals below:
Blackboard User Guide

Turnitin.com User Guide

13. What plugins do I need for Blackboard?If you are on an MSC computer you do not need any of them.
(Each link opens in a new window.)

Apple Quicktime
Shockwave Player
Macromedia Flash Player
Authorware Player

Adobe Acrobat Reader
Real Networks Real Player
Microsoft Media Player
PowerPoint Viewer

To install each of them, click on the link, then a box should popup asking your to open (run in some cases), save, or cancel. Select open/run, wait for the download to finish, then the installer window should open. Just keep clicking next until it finishes the setup. You may have to restart your computer for some of them to install properly.

14. Some pages aren't loading properly or aren't displaying at all. What is wrong?
Try disabling your pop-up blocker. To do that, most pop-up blockers have an icon in the taskbar by the clock, try right-clicking on it and selecting disable pop-up blocker.

If that doesn't fix it, then try disabling your antivirus and/or firewall. Just like the pop-up blocker, most antivirus/firewall's have an icon in the taskbar by the clock. Right-click on each of them and select disable antivirus or firewall whichever the case may be.

If any of those methods work, then after you get done using Blackboard you should re-enable the pop-up blocker/antivirus/firewall.
To do that just right-click on their icon in the taskbar again and select enable pop-up blocker/antivirus/firewall.

If that still doesn't work, either email Bill Adams at badams@mscok.edu or call him at 580-371-2371 ext. 138.