Student FAQ | How do I get ready for my online course?

Student Resources

Student Working

How do I get ready for my online course?

  1. Contact your Professor
    Send an email AND call the professor who is teaching your course. Make sure they have all your contact and communication information and determine the dates and times for any face-to-face introductory meetings, or an special requests.
  2. Determine which course management system will be used
    Determine from your professor which Course Management System he/she will be using to teach the course. Do not assume that the tool that is used for a on-campus course will be the same as the course for distance learning.
  3. Try Logging into the Course Management System (CMS)
    Try to login to the CMS within 24 hours of the scheduled start date of the course. If you can not login, contact your professor immediately AND complete the help request (Blackboard Help Request) for the course management system your professor is using.
  4. Update Personal Information in the CMS (Blackboard Users)
    When you first logon, before clicking on your course,
    1. Locate the Tools area on the left side of the webpage below the My Institution tab
    2. Click on link for Personal Information
    3. Select the Edit Personal Information link
    4. Locate the text area displaying the email address (the default is the marauder email address)
    5. Change the email address to a real email address that you will be accessing frequently.
    IMPORTANT NOTES:
    1. All students at Millersville University are assigned a marauder email account. The MU email account is email account entered into the Blackboard system and should be used for any course communication.
    2. If you ever forget your password, the "forgot your password" link sends an email to the address entered here. If the address is not one you access, you will not be able to enter a new password to access the Blackboard system.
  5. I have successfully logged into Blackboard, but can't see your course or the professor's name. You have not done anything wrong?
    Either the professor did not make the course "available" or you are not officially registered for the course. If you are registered for the course, contact the professor to let him/her know that you can not see the course in Blackboard. If you think you are registered, go the Registrar's office to confirm this fact.