Distance Education < Blackboard Quick Reference Guide

Step 1

Turn on your computer and connect to the Internet.

Step 2

Open the Internet Browser of your choice.

**Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator work best, AOL will not work!  If you are an AOL subscriber, connect to the internet as you normally would, then minimize the AOL browser window and open an Internet Explorer or Netscape window.

Links to free browser downloads are located on the Technical Requirements link.

Step 3

Go to the college’s homepage at www.pennhighlands.edu .  Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the "Taking an online course" link.

Step 4

Go to the links on the right side of the page in the gray box.
Click on Blackboard Login.

Step 5

Click the Login button.

Step 6

Type your Username and Password into the designated fields and click the Login button.

Username- Your Username is created by using the first letter of your first name, the first letter of your last name, followed by your six-digit student ID number.  If your student ID number contains less than six digits, you must add an appropriate number of zeros before your student ID number to create a total of eight characters. 

For example, Student John Smith has a Student ID number of 1234.  His username would be JS001234 (notice the zeros added before his Student ID number)

Password- If you have used Blackboard in previous semesters, your password has not changed.  For first-time users, your password was sent to you in a letter. If you have any questions, please contact the HelpDesk at 814.262.6470.

Step 7

Blackboard opens to your personal Blackboard homepage on the My Institution tab.  Click the Personal Information link in the Tools menu, located directly under the My Institution button at the top left of the screen.

Step 8

From the Personal Information Page, click the Edit Personal Information link.

1. Verify that your name appears properly. 

2. Verify that your college-provided student email address appears in the appropriate field.

Note: Students are required to use their college-provided email account within their Blackboard supported courses. For additional information on college email, please visit the Student Email Quick Reference Guide.

3. Add any additional information that you would like to share (only your first name, last name and email address are required).

4. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the Submit button.

• Click Ok when prompted that the user information has been updated.

Step 9

From the Personal Information Page, click the Change Password link.

• Enter a new password into the designated field

• Reenter your new password into the Verify Password field. 

Note: Passwords can incorporate upper and lower case letters as well as symbols.  Please remember your password.  (Your instructor can assist you with forgotten passwords.)

• Click the Submit button at the bottom of the page.

• Click Ok when prompted that the user information has been updated.

• Click Ok at the Personal Information Page to return to your personal Blackboard homepage.

Step 10

The My Courses box at the right of your personal Blackboard homepage lists the courses in which you are enrolled for the semester.  Click a course link to enter the class.

Step 11

Read the introduction announcement from your instructor and prepare to have a great semester!