Welcome to RCC's Blackboard Orientation. On this page you will find instructions for logging in, navigating and utilizing the Blackboard course management system. Think of Blackboard as a tool to help you complete your online course or class. After viewing the material presented here, we hope you will find Blackboard easy to use and intuitive.

The best way to complete this orientation is to have two browser windows open simultaneously. Clicking this link - RCC's Blackboard site - will open a second browser window. Now you may reference the material on this page while becoming familiar with the actual RCC Blackboard site.

Log in Page
On the Login Page you will be presented with this login box.

A username and password should have already been assigned to you. The username is comprised of Last Name, First Initial, Last Four Digits of your Datatel Student I.D. Example, John Doe with an I.D. Number of 00123456 would have a Login ID of: DOEJ3456.

The initial password is your birthday without the slashes. If John Doe were born on July 4th, 1976, the password for his login ID is: 070476 (Please note that only the last two digits of the year are required).

Type in your username and password and click Login. If you can log in successfully, please change your password immediately. You can do this in the My Institution area, under Tools and Personal Information. If you are unable to login, contact your instructor. Once you have a username and password, you may use the same username and password for all courses you take at RCC's Blackboard site. Having one username and password for all courses you take online is less confusing than having multiple user accounts for one person.

My Institution Page
After you successfully log in, the My Institution page will appear:

If this is your first time accessing RCC's Blackboard web site, change your password and update your e-mail address under Tools in the Personal Information area. Failure to do so could make your account accessible by unauthorized users and sending e-mail impossible.

Each class you are enrolled in will be a link in the My Courses section of the My Institution page. Access your online class by clicking a link under the My Courses area. Please note the Tools area on the left-side of the page. Each link is self-explanatory. You may alter your personal information or change your RCC Blackboard password in the Personal Information area of the Tools menu.

Class Page
After you click your class link, your Class Page should appear.

The first page you see in your class area will be the Announcements Page. Your instructor will issue announcements in this area in reference to the class you are taking. Below is a brief description about the other links on the left-side of your class page.

• Announcements - See previous paragraph.
• Course Information - Information about the class you are taking.
• Staff Information - Information about your instructor or instructors.
• Course Documents - Documents that will be used in your online class.
• Assignments - Assignments for the class.
• Communication - Send e-mail to your instructor or other students in this area. A discussion board may be used in your class and can be found in this area. A real-time chat area is available here too.
• External Links - Occasionally your instructor may want you to research or read something pertaining to your class on the Internet. Links to these sites will be listed here.
• Tools - This area allows you to send files, edit your homepage, access personal information,manage a calendar, check your grades, read a Blackboard student manual, manage task, jot down notes on an Electronic Blackboard, and build/maintain an address book.

Log Out
Always remember to log out after you finish accessing your online class. If you forget to do so, and you've been accessing your class from a public computer, another user can sit down browse or alter the work you have completed.

If you have any questions about your RCC Blackboard experience, contact your instructor.

Good luck and we hope you enjoy taking your online college class!

Student Email
To find out more about student email or to log into your student email account, go to: https://cgrocemalstu1.students.rockinghamcc.edu/gw/webacc