Faculty - FAQs
General Questions
How do I request a course folder?
Folders are automatically created based on the information that is in the PatriotWeb system. When you are assigned as the Instructor of Record in PatriotWeb, Blackboard Learning System Campus Edition 6 (CE6) will create the corresponding folders for you.
**Important: You must be the Instructor of Record in PatriotWeb in order for your course to appear in Blackboard CE6**
My course does not show up on my list. What can I do?
You need to verify that you are the assigned instructor in PatriotWeb. Log in to PatriotWeb and verify that you are the faculty member assigned to the course.
Can I transfer my WebCT CE4.1 content to the new system?
Yes, you can export your CE4.1 content and then import it into the new system.
Directions are on the CE6 Support Site
Why am I being asked to trust the site?
Your browser wants you to be aware that you are leaving the Mason site for the Blackboard.com site. Please make sure you select Trust when prompted to acknowledge that you are being redirected.
Why am I being redirected to a Blackboard.com site?
Mason is an ASP Hosted Institution. What this means is Mason asked Blackboard to provide and maintain the servers our product runs on.
What does the Run prompt mean?
Blackboard is powered by Java. The system is asking you if you agree to run the Java program. Please make sure you have the latest version of Java on your machine.
How do I upload a syllabus?
There are two options when uploading your Syllabus. You can add the Syllabus tool to your course and upload your file to it. Or, you can use the Add File Browse for File option on your Homepage. Use the My Computer option to browse your computer to find your file.
Adding Users
How do I add students?
Students are automatically populated based on what is in PatriotWeb. PatriotWeb always shows the most up-to-date roster. Any students registered on PatriotWeb should be reflected in the course within 24 hours. You can also add students manually as you would add any user, though it is recommended that they register for the course via PatriotWeb.
How do I add a User to a course?
In order to be added, your TA must have a valid CE6 id. The process for adding a person to a course is as follows:
- Go to the Teach Tab
- Under Instructor Tools, find Grade Book
- Use the Enroll Members option found at the top
- Enter the first part of the users Mason email address (e.g. gmason@gmu.edu would be gmason)
- Select the role you wish them to have
- Click Select
- Verify and Save
Role to Select in the Enroll Members Area |
Tab Access |
| Teaching Assistant* | Teach |
| Section Designer* | Build |
| Student | Students do not have tabs in their view |
| Auditor | Will see what Students see, but is not graded on assignments. |
*Note: For both BUILD and TEACH Tab access you need to select both Teaching Assistant and Section Designer Options when enrolling the user.
The WebCT 4.1 equivalent of co-designer is selecting both the Teaching Assistant and Section Designer roles.
I have a Teaching Assistant, how do I add them to my course?
You have a choice when you add a TA to your course. Granting them TA access gives them access to the Teach Tab within CE6. Adding them as a Teaching Assistant and a Section Designer gives them access to both the Build and Teach tabs. You can add a TA as you would add any user to your course. View information about adding a user
Note: Co-Designer access in WebCT CE4.1 is selecting both the option of Teaching Assistant AND Section Designer when choosing role.
How do I add an auditor to my course?
If the auditor has registered through PatriotWeb, they should automatically be added to your course. PatriotWeb always has the most up-to-date roster and any students registered through PatriotWeb should show up in your course list within 24 hours. You can also add an auditor manually.
I am teaching the course with someone else, how do I give someone co-designer access?
If you are designated as being a co-teacher to a course in PatriotWeb, both names will appear automatically. You can grant designer access to a person with a CE6 id the same way you would add a Student or a TA. Granting them Designer access gives them access to the Build Tab within CE6. Adding them as a Teaching Assistant and a Section Designer gives them access to both the Build and Teach tabs. View information on adding a User to your course. Note: Co-Designer access in WebCT CE4.1 is now the option of Teaching Assistant AND Section Designer.
How often are roster and folder changes updated?
Updates are made at these times: 8am, 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, 8pm, 12am during the add/drop period. Updates are processed twice a day after the add/drop period has ended.
A student just added to my class, what do I do?
Ask the student to wait at least twenty-four hours before contacting the ITU Support Center.
What do I do if I want to add someone without a CE6 id?
Everyone at George Mason University has a CE6 id if they have a Mason email address. In order to be able to access your class, they will need to be given a CE6 id. You will need to send an email to courses@gmu.edu explaining your need for a new ID.
Why can’t I add a user who has a CE6 id?
Sometimes a student or faculty member is marked as inactive if they are taking or teaching no classes that semester. The inactive status prevents them from being added to a course on CE6. If this status is undeserved or you’d still like to add this user to your course, please email courses@gmu.edu with the name of the user and why you need them reactivated.
Helping Students
My Students can not log in or are having technical difficulties.
Please direct any technical problems to the ITU Support Center at 703-993-8870 or support@gmu.edu.
My students are still having trouble logging in and can not get an answer.
Please ask your students to email courses@gmu.edu.
Where do students log in?
The main URL you and your students use to log into the system is http://courses.gmu.edu.
Why can’t some students view material on my course?
Depending on the course material you’re working with, your students may not have the software or correct version of software to view what you’ve put on your website.
Why can’t any students view material on my course?
There are multiple reasons why your students can’t view your material. The file may be corrupted or it may not have uploaded properly. If this is the case, try re-uploading the file and verifying you can download and play it. If you can view it, but your students can’t, they don’t have the appropriate software to view it. If you can not view your file, CE6 may not be able to save the file in the appropriate file format. We recommend saving the file in a zip folder and telling your students to unzip it on their machines.
Interface Questions
Why do I have three tabs?
The task you need to accomplish will determine which tab you need to select.
- Build gives you access to the course tools to set them up for your course.
- Teach gives you access to the student information, including where students submit their assignments.
- Student View gives you an authentic view of what the student sees. Students can submit assignments, take quizzes and view grades.
Access to these tabs is restricted based on access level.
Why don’t I see icons for folders in Student View?
The student view shows you exactly what the students can see. This means that anything you built into your course that you intended to hide and reveal later will not be displayed.
Technology Outside of CE6
Why can't I open .docx files?
Microsoft Office 2007 files are saved in a different format (i.e. MS Office 2007 Word files are saved as .docx). You will need to download a Office 2007 plugin or ask your students to save the files to an Office 2003 Word compatible file. The “compatibility pack” will allow computers running Office 2000, Office XP, or Office 2003 to open, edit, and save files using the new file formats of Office 2007. The Office 2007 Compatibility Pack can be downloaded here.
How do I use zip files? How do I zip/unzip a file?
A ‘zip’ file is a compressed folder that is designed to save space on a computer by combining multiple files into one and shrinking them. A file that has been ‘zipped’ is not accessible until it has been ‘unzipped’. We can use this to make it easier for students to download large files quicker or to download many files at one time. The method is very simple, a teacher creates a ‘zip’ file and puts it online. The student then downloads the ‘zip’ file and ‘unzips’ it, getting all the items originally put in the ‘zip’ file by the teacher.
There are different methods to ‘zip’ a file, but there is a very simple way to do it available on all machines that have Windows XP and Mac OSX.
- Put one or more files you want your students to have into a folder. You can put in as many as you’d like.
- For Windows XP, right click on the folder and select “Send to”. This will open a second drop down menu, where you will select the option “compressed(zipped) folder.”
- For Mac OSX, press the apple key and click on the folder and select ‘create archive’
- A file should be created in the same area as your folder, and it should be labeled the same name with .zip at the end. This is the file you will upload.
There is a simple method to ‘unzip’ a file.
- For Windows, Right click on the .zip file and select extract all. A help wizard will appear that says “Compressed (Zipped) Folders Extraction Wizard”. All you’ll need to do is click next twice, and then finish.
- For Mac OSX, simply double click on the .zip file.
Further Help with CE6
Where can Faculty get technical help?
Faculty can get help with the CE6 system by contacting Learning Support Services. On the Fairfax Campus we are in the Collaborative Learning Hub in the Johnson Center, Room 311 or at (703) 993-3141. Email can also be sent to courses@gmu.edu. Helpful links are listed on the CE6 Support Site http://irc.gmu.edu/ce6transition.
Technical Support, including browser issues and password problems is available through the ITU Support Center at (703) 993-8870 or support@gmu.edu. This is also where students should be sent if they are having problems.
Where can Faculty get help with setting up a course?
Faculty can visit the Collaborative Learning Hub in the Johnson Center, Room 311. Here faculty can receive help from the Lab Assistants.
Consultations can be arranged by appointment with the Learning Support Services Staff.
Prince William Campus
Rick Reo rreo@gmu.edu, (703) 993-8536
Fairfax Campus
Brooke Adams bwadams@gmu.edu, (703) 993-2951
How can I keep up with all the technology changes happening on campus?
For more information about Technology Changes that Impact Teaching and Learning, please consult http://itu.gmu.edu/techservices/technology_changes_css.html on a regular basis.