Blackboard Vista Faculty Information

The primary online course management system used throughout the Connecticut Community College System is Blackboard Vista . Every course section (CRN) taught at the College is given its own Blackboard Vista site. Faculty who decide to have an online component to their courses should utilize Blackboard Vista as the starting point for online course materials, either putting those materials into Blackboard Vista or linking to those materials from their Blackboard Vista course site. Students who have registered for a course are automatically given access to that course’s Blackboard Vista site. Students who drop a course are automatically denied access to that course site, although they often still appear in the grade book list, marked with a red 'X.'

Getting Started with Blackboard Vista

If you’re interested in learning about and using Blackboard Vista, there are several training options:

• Learn how to Get Started with Blackboard training
• Take a look at the Faculty Orientation shell that you'll find on your myBlackboard page when you log into Blackboard Vista.
• There are many training workshops scheduled at MCC and at other community colleges. Visit the IITT Course Cart to view sessions scheduled at all the community colleges and for registration for any session.
• Information can be found on our documentation page.
• You are also welcome to contact the ETDL Department with questions.

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Logging into Blackboard Vista through myCommNet

To access Blackboard Vista, log into myCommNet. Click on the "Faculty" tab, then "Click here to Access Blackboard Vista." This will bring you to the myBlackboard page in Blackboard Vista. Select the desired section.

Controlling student access

The interface between Blackboard Visa and myCommNet will allow students to access courses two weeks before the class start date. To manage this issue, please refer to these concise instructions on using Selective Release

Cross-listed courses

Courses that make up a crosslisted course in Blackboard Vista will each list individually on the myCommNet myCourses faculty view. Each of those separate course links will bring you to the one crosslisted course in Blackboard Vista. Students will only see the course in which they are enrolled.

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Blackboard Vista Help

• If, once logged into myCommNet, additional assistance is required:
  Call the ETDL Sandbox at x2857 or email sandbox@mcc.commnet.edu.
  Evenings and weekends, refer to the myCommNet/Blackboard support page. The best option for after-hours assistance is "Online Chat."
  
  
• Check Blackboard Vista’s computer requirements to make sure your computer at home (or another location) can use Blackboard Vista: go to the troubleshooting wiki & check your Personal Computer Configuration
  
• Blackboard Faculty Resource Center  (https://behind.blackboard.com/s/faculty/cevista/)
• Get help at "Ask Dr. C" (http://discussions.blackboard.com/)
• Look for E-packs in Blackboard Vista Digital Content; please request an e-pack that is
  Blackboard Vista 8.05 compatible.
• Find out how other faculty are using Blackboard Vista in the Exemplary Courses section
• Look for more information on our documentation page.
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