New Staff Users Checklist

Before you can start using Blackboard with a particular course/module, you will need to check that you can log into the the system. All active staff will automatically have a Blackboard user account created based on information from the Human Resources database (Core HR). Blackboard is licensed for use by any NUIG registered student or member of staff.

You should be able to log into Blackboard with your staff ID and password using the button below:

Next, you need to know the official module code of the online course you wish have access to. You can check the current list of modules and course instances on the Student Information System Quercus, by visiting the MIS webform, provided by Academic Records and MIS.

It is essential that your Blackboard course use the correct course instance or module code. If you are unsure of the correct code and title of your course, please verify this. If you are unable to locate it, your course coordinator or faculty office may be able to help.

Next, you need to request to be added as an instructor onto the Blackboard courses you are teaching.

You do this by navigating to the online Module Request form and filling it out.

Staff in the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) will manually assign you access to the courses you request. Once the request is received, they will process it as quickly as possible.The turnaround time will vary depending on the time of year. You will receive confirmation of your request once you are enrolled.

Be sure to check that any colleagues co-teaching the course have not previously requested this Blackboard course. If they have, they will be able to facilitate your access by enrolling you as a co-instructor on the system.

Before starting to use Blackboard it's recommended to attend the Introduction to Blackboard course. There are also a number of other Blackboard training courses available, and all are free.

Click here to view information about Blackboard training courses.

Within a few days you will receive an email notification that your request for access to your courses has been facilitated. At this stage, you will see these courses appear as "Courses on which you are teaching".

Three quick tips:

Begin to build you course site.
Read the getting started with Blackboard guide for staff for some helpful tips.

Make your course available for students to access it. Once your students registers for your course or module with the NUI Galway Student Records System (Quercus), they are automatically enrolled in this corresponding course on Blackboard. These changes are recognised by Blackboard within 24 hours. You can see your students by going to the Control Panel >Users and Groups > Users. Whilst students are automatically enrolled, they will only be able to access your course after you adjust the setting to make it available to them.

To facilitate access for other staff (lecturers, tutors, demonstrators) to your module, it is easy to add colleagues as co-instructors from the Blackboard course's control panel.

At the conclusion of the teaching period, you must contact CELT to inform us of all new modules which you are instructing. A new module for the next academic session will then be created.

It is also wise to keep a personal record of the course, by exporting the course and saving a local copy on your own computer. There is more information on backing up on course online.