Managing Blackboard at USC
Blackboard is USC's e-learning platform. Instructors use Blackboard to post and distribute course content such as syllabuses and handouts, to communicate with students via announcements and email messages, to assess student learning through quizzes and online assignments, and much more.
The Center for Scholarly Technology (CST) serves as the nexus for USC's educational technology strategic planning, governance, and communications. We provide support for Blackboard users, general training, customized workshops, and consultations on strategic uses of Blackboard for distance- and technology-enhanced learning. CST also supports evaluation and assessment of Blackboard by identifying institutional and user learning management system requirements. For more information about USC's ongoing Learning Management System evaluation, please visit https://twtnews.usc.edu/2013/01/30/blackboard-lms-evaluation/.
How Blackboard Works
Users with current USC accounts and passwords can access Blackboard at http://blackboard.usc.edu.
A Blackboard course website is automatically created for every course at USC, although each course is hidden from the students until the instructor chooses to make the course available to students. Fall courses courses are automatically created on April 15, Spring courses are created on November 15, and Summer courses are created on March 15. This streamlines the course creation process and supports the Provost's Emergency Preparedness initiative. In the event of a campus closure or suspension of classes, the availability of courses in Blackboard will help USC instructors connect with students and continue teaching in a timely way.
If you are enrolled in one of USC's online graduate degree programs, please note that Blackboard may not be the learning management system used in your course. Visit USCNow.usc.edu for more information.
Getting Help with Blackboard
For around-the-clock Blackboard support, call 213-740-5555 and choose option 3 or send an email to blackboard@usc.edu.
- USC Blackboard Help for Faculty
- USC Blackboard Help for Students
- lynda.com also offers several hours of additional Blackboard 9 training movies for both instructors and students. Log in to http://www.usc.edu/its/lynda and then search for “Blackboard 9 Essential Training”.
- All USC instructors and teaching assistants are also automatically enrolled in a Blackboard Best Practices course within Blackboard that helps deepen your understanding of how to use the platform's more advanced tools and features, such as tracking students, creating lessons, embedding surveys, or embedding Twitter feeds. To access this course, login to Blackboard and then click the "Blackboard Best Practices" link at the top of your My Courses Plus list.
Contact your local school or department IT representatives for additional Blackboard support and resources.