Student FAQ

1. Are all FIU courses in Blackboard CE 6?

2. How do I log into CE 6 for the first time?

3. I forgot my password.  How do I get it reset?

4. Why can't I attach a file to a submission in the Assignments tool? 
    CE 6 will not upload the file.

5. Where can I get help with learning the tools of CE 6?

6. I am having trouble opening documents in CE 6.

7. How do I turn off pop-up blockers?

1. Are all FIU courses in Blackboard CE 6?

As of Summer 2008, all courses are taught in Blackboard CE 6.  We are no longer using WebCT 4.1.

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2. How do I log into CE 6 for the first time?

All fully online, hybrid, and web assisted courses are located at http://online.fiu.edu/login_uts.html. To log into your courses:

• Go to http://online.fiu.edu/login_uts.html and click on the Log In button to login directly to CE 6.  The CE 6 login page will open.
  
• On the login page, use your FIU Panther ID as the user name and your default password for your password to log in the first time. Your default password is your 8-digit birthdate in the format mmddyyyy. 
  
• Once you log in, you will see the My Blackboard page listing your CE 6 courses.  Click on a course link to enter a course. 
  

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3. I forgot my password.  How do I get it reset?

Call the UTS Support Center at (305) 348-2284 to have your password reset.  Walk-in support is also available at the UP Campus in the Green Library - Room GL 249 and Biscayne Bay Campus - Infocommons 1st Floor.  If you have courses with FIU Online at online.fiu.edu, you may contact the FIU Online Help Desk at (305) 348-3630.

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4. Why can't I attach a file to a submission in the Assignments tool? 
CE 6 will not upload the file.

CE 6 will not allow you to attach a file in the Assignments tool if the file name does not follow the naming conventions for the web.  File names for files on the web must follow two important rules:

• There can be no spaces in the file name.
• There can be no illegal characters in the file name.

To separate words in a file name without leaving spaces, use the underscore.  The file name assignment 1.doc is incorrect, but assignment_1.doc is correct.The illegal characters are  : ~ [ ] ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) + ‘ { } | \ < > / ? ; ‘ “.  You cannot use these characters in the file name of any file that will be used in CE 6.  The file naming conventions for CE 6 apply to all file types - web pages, Word documents, PowerPoint files, PDF's, etc.

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5. Where can I get help with learning the tools of CE 6?

• Attend a CE 6 Student Orientation session.  These sessions are held at various days and times the first week of every semester for students who are new to CE 6.
• Use the Blackboard CE 6 help in your online course.
• View CE 6 student tutorials on the Resources page.

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6. I am having trouble opening documents in CE 6.

In Internet Explorer when you try to download files in CE 6, you may see the Information Bar  - a pale yellow bar just above the page content and below the toolbars. The bar may be a warning that a file has been blocked from downloading.  If you add CE 6 as a trusted site in Internet Explorer, this will allow you to download documents without the content being blocked.  Follow these steps:

• Open Internet Explorer and click Tools > Internet Options.
• Click the Security tab at the top of the window, select the Trusted Sites image then click the Sites button.
• If http://online.fiu.edu/login_uts.html is not in the Web Sites list, enter the address in the 'Add this Web site to the zone' box.
• Click the Add button.
• Click OK and you are taken back to the Internet Options Screen.
• Select the Trusted Sites image then click Custom Level
• Scroll down to the Downloads section; for the setting 'Automatic prompting for file downloads' select Enable
• Click OK, and click YES to the warning
• Click OK to go back to the Internet Explorer main window.

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7. How do I turn off pop-up blockers?

Pop-ups are new windows opened automatically by your web browser. Sometimes pop-up windows are triggered by annoying advertisements or other unwanted messages, but other times, they perform legitimate functions.  Blackboard CE6 uses pop-up windows for tests, external links, help, and other important functions.

A pop-up blocker is often a feature of your browser, but it can also be part of a toolbar you may have added to your browser, like Yahoo, AOL, or AIM. You will need to turnoff or disable pop-up blockers while using Blackboard CE6.

Here is a link to a handout on How to Disable Common Pop-Up Blockers. 

Some pop-up blockers, such as the pop-up blocker in Internet Explorer, will allow you to add a site to a list that will allow pop-ups from the sites. Login to My Blackboard and set your pop-up blocker to allow pop-ups  from your My Blackboard page.

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