Mastering Blackboard Learn at CCRI: A Comprehensive Guide

Technology is integral to the learning experience at the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI). Efficiently utilizing the available systems is critical for academic success. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of Blackboard Learn at CCRI.

Accessing Blackboard Learn

To access Blackboard Learn, navigate to blackboard.ccri.edu. Log in using your CCRI username and password. Your username typically follows a format like smith123. A stable internet connection and a supported web browser are necessary for optimal performance.

Navigating the Blackboard Interface

If the course menu is not visible, it may be hidden. Look for an arrow on the edge of the Blackboard window and click on it to reveal the menu. Sometimes, the course menus are not visible due to the background color defaulting to white with white text.

Key Features and Functionality

Blackboard Learn offers a range of features designed to enhance the learning experience:

Course Content: Access course materials, including documents, presentations, and videos, uploaded by your instructors.
Assignments: Submit assignments electronically through Blackboard. When working on assignments, save your work in progress regularly to prevent data loss.
Communication: Communicate with instructors and classmates through announcements, discussion boards, and email.
Assessments: Take quizzes and exams online.
Grades: View your grades and feedback in the Grade Center.

The Blackboard Learn App

The Blackboard app is available to all CCRI students free of charge, enabling access to course materials and activities on mobile devices. The app provides flexibility and convenience for learning on the go.

Read also: Learn about Blackboard Learn at UD

Important Information Regarding Tools and Integrations

Several integrations and tools within Blackboard have been updated or changed.

Medial

As of January 2025, the Medial building block integration in Blackboard was officially retired due to a mandatory system-wide update initiated by Blackboard. Existing Medial videos added via the mashup tool are no longer functional and redirect users back to the course dashboard when clicked. CCRI upgraded Medial to version 9.1 on January 14, 2026. New recordings will auto-caption automatically (captions can be edited). For existing videos, faculty must use the "Request Captioning" feature, which now triggers auto-captioning without requiring administrative approval.

VoiceThread

VoiceThread's LTI 1.3 integration performs a course copy only once, when a VoiceThread link is first clicked in a new Blackboard shell. Any VoiceThread links added after that point, even if copied from another course, won’t carry over or function correctly. This affects all VoiceThread links created using Build Content → VoiceThread, including assignments and non-graded links. Instructors can create narrated PowerPoint presentations in VoiceThread by uploading slides (preferably as PDFs) and recording audio directly within the platform slide by slide using the comment tool.

Cengage

CCRI has completed the migration from the legacy Cengage Building Block (B2) tool to the new Cengage LTI 1.3 Advantage integration in Blackboard. This update offers enhanced security, improved grade syncing, and a more reliable connection between Cengage content and Blackboard.

McGraw Hill Connect® and McGraw Hill GO

The integration of Blackboard with McGraw Hill Connect® and McGraw Hill GO has been updated to include a single access point. Instructors will encounter a new landing page with various McGraw Hill platforms when course sections are created. It is advised to exclude previous McGraw Hill items during the course copy process for the new term.

OpenStax Assignable

CCRI has launched a new integration with OpenStax Assignable, allowing instructors to link OpenStax textbook content, practice questions, and assignments directly in Blackboard. This tool supports grade syncing and assignment creation within supported OpenStax textbooks.

Microsoft Stream

Microsoft Stream can be used for storing and sharing existing, pre-recorded lecture videos with students in Blackboard.

Starfish

Currently, the integrated Starfish link in Blackboard is not functioning. This issue is known to cause the 'do-not-reply' error message.

Student Preview Feature

Instructors can use the Student Preview feature in Blackboard to experience the course as students. This feature allows instructors to test content, evaluate the grade center, preview group activities, and check content availability.

Creating Blackboard Ultra Tests

Instructors can quickly create Blackboard Ultra tests by uploading questions from a Word document using Ultra’s built-in tools, without using Respondus Test Generator.

Respondus Monitor and LockDown Browser

Respondus Monitor builds upon the power of LockDown Browser, using a student’s webcam and industry-leading video analytics to prevent cheating during non-proctored exams.

Sage Vantage

Sage Vantage is an LTI 1.3-integrated publisher platform available in Blackboard that provides interactive e-textbooks, auto-graded assignments, multimedia learning activities, and grade passback. Faculty can use Sage Vantage through single sign-on and deep linking from their course content.

Addressing Technical Issues

Connection Problems: If you experience connection issues during an exam, use a wired connection if possible. If the connection is lost, wait a while to see whether it is restored. If working in assignments, save your work in progress.
Course Availability: If you see missing or closed courses after a merge, even when enrollment is correct, this may be due to recent changes in how Blackboard handles merged courses.
Browser Issues: If you need to close the browser during an exam, select "Submit and Exit" if available.

Cybersecurity Awareness

Cybersecurity is crucial for students in today's digital age, as students are more vulnerable to cyber threats than ever before. Staying informed about cybersecurity best practices is essential for protecting personal information and academic work.

Additional Resources and Support

For questions about course policy and content, contact your instructor. Please contact your instructor to verify they are using Blackboard. Students do not have access to courses once the semester has ended.

tags: #blackboard #learn #ccri #tutorial