Webster University: Online Courses

Blackbord Vista (Worldclassroom) FAQ’s for Students

Logging On/Account Setup

How do I obtain my Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista username and password?

You must be registered for an online class for the current or upcoming term. To obtain your Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista ID, you will need to setup your Webster University Connections account. The username and password for Connections will be the same username and password used to access your Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista courses. To setup your Connections account if you have not done so already, please visit http://connections.webster.edu/myaccount. For instructions on how to setup your Connections account please click here

When I try to login to Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista, I get an error message that says "You have entered an incorrect user name or password.”

First, try closing your browser and all browser windows then reopen your browser and try logging on again.

Then, ensure that you have obtained your Connections account. This is the username and password used to access the portal and Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista. You can setup your account by visiting http://connections.webster.edu/myaccount. If you have forgotten or need to reset your password, you can do so by visiting the URL above and clicking on the button that says "I've Forgotten My ID or Password" and following the onscreen instructions in resetting your password.

After setting up your account and/or making sure you are using the correct username and password, you will then want to make sure that it is not before the logon date for the class. Different programs have different dates that you are able to first logon to Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista to access your course. To view these dates, you can visit the Academic Calendar. Course and registration information for courses are not loaded into Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista until the listed date. Therefore, if you try to logon before the specified date, you may receive the incorrect username or password error message. If you wish to learn more about Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista and the tools available for students and how to use them in order to prepare yourself for your course, it is highly recommended to go through the online student tutorial located at http://www.webster.edu/online/pilot_tutorial.php

If it is on or past the logon date for your class and you are still receiving this error message, you will want to make sure you are entering your logon information correctly. Usernames and passwords are case-sensitive. SmithJoe is not the same thing as smithjoe. Please make sure your caps lock key is turned off and try entering your logon information again.

If you still receive this error message, please call the Help Desk at 314-968-5995 or 866-435-7270 for further assistance.

I can logon to Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista but I cannot see my courses.

You must first check the Academic Calendar to make sure that the current date is on or after the logon date for your course. You will not be able to access any of your courses until the date listed on the Academic Calendar. If it is on or past the official logon date for the course, please check your online information account to make sure you are registered for the class or you can call the Help Desk at 314-968-5995 or 866-435-7270 for further assistance.

Quizes/Exams

I started a quiz or exam and my browser locked up or my computer froze; now I can’t get back into the quiz. What do I do?

If the allotted time for your quiz has not passed, you can log back on and continue your quiz. If the time has passed for you to take your quiz, contact your professor to have the quiz reset.

I submitted my quiz but the professor says it has not been taken.

There are several reasons this can occur, some of which are related to incompatiable browsers or other technical problems. However if the quiz/exam is showing as completed on your side, please have your instructor contact the Help Desk.

Assignments

I uploaded an assignment but the professor says they cannot see it.

Once your assignment has been uploaded, you will need to select the Submit button (You may have to scroll down to see it).

I can’t see this week’s assignment.

Contact your professor to have him/her to assign it to students and make it visible.

I am getting an error when I try to open an assignment.

You probably need to either update your browser or download a needed plug-in. You will want to first ensure you are using a validated and supported browser for use with Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista. You can do so by visiting http://www.webct.com/tuneup. If you are using a supported browser, you may contact the Help Desk at 314-968-5995 or 866-435-7270 for further assistance.

Technical Requirements & Browser Issues

What are the technical requirements for taking an online class?

Technical requirement can be found at:http://www.webster.edu/online/techreq_vista.php

How do I know if my browser is compatible with Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista?

Go to http://www.vista.com/tuneup. Or, before logging in to Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista, click on the Check Browser link located at the right of the login page. Visit the preceding link for more in depth discussions and documentation on browser compatibilities.

My Discussions and/or Quizzes will not open.

It is likely that you have popup blocking software installed on your computer. Due to the large number of software programs that utilize popup blocking, we cannot provide the exact instructions on disabling this feature on your computer. You must determine which program is installed on your computer and read the your documentation to determine how to disable it or allow exceptions for certain sites. More information can be found at http://www.blackboard.com/tuneup
Start the browser tune-up for information on how to configure your browser for your operating system.

Textbooks

I’ve enrolled for my Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista course, how do I get my textbooks?

Information on how to order textbooks for your online class can be found at http://www.webster.edu/online/textbooks.php?section=students.

Course Mail

How do I contact my professor?

The professors normally put their contact information on the syllabus in your Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista course and Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista also has an internal email tool accessed by clicking on the Mail tab under course tools. If a student needs to contact the instructor before the class begins, they will have to contact the department to provide them with the instructor’s email/telephone info.

Someone said they sent me email in my Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista course but I can’t see it.

While in mail click the refresh now tab on the right. Also, make sure that the All button is selected and not just unread. This button is also on the right. If that does not work, talk with the person who said they sent you an email and have them check their Sent items to ensure the message was indeed sent. If so, have them try to send it to you again.

What's my Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista e-mail address? I need it to submit an assignment. I can check my mail but I don't know the address.

You do not actually have a Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista e-mail address. The mail tool in your course is only for use within the course. So just go back to your course pages, find a link to the left called mail, open it, select "create message," use the browse for recipient button to find your instructor's name, and then compose your message. The attachment can be done using the add attachment button near the bottom of that screen.

Can I forward my Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista internal email to an external email address?

You can forward mail to a Webster email address only. From the My Blackboard page, go to My Settings > My Tool Options. Under Mail, ensure that Forward all mail messages to the e-mail address in my profile is checked. At the bottom, click Save.

Discussions

I can’t see all my Discussion messages.

While viewing your discussion messages, make sure that the All button is selected and not just unread. This button is also on the upper right when viewing the discussion threads.

Chat

I cannot access the Chat tool.

If you are behind a firewall or have a proxy server, you may be unable to access the Chat tool. Also, some browser settings might prevent access to the Chat tool. If you are calling from work rather than home, the Webster University Help Desk is unable to walk you through any troubleshooting steps that would cause modification to the system or browser at your workplace. If you are trying to access Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista from home, you must make sure you have Java version 1.5 installed on your computer and it is currently enabled. If you need to download Java, you can do so by visiting http://www.java.com/en/download/windows_automatic.jsp. If that does not resolve the problem, try temporarily disabling any firewalls or security programs (IMPORTANT - Do not forget to re-enable it when completed) or check your software documentation to find out how to allow exceptions for certain web sites. If you need additional information, please call the Help Desk at 314-968-5995 or 866-435-7270.

Whiteboard

I cannot access the Whiteboard.

If you are behind a firewall or have a proxy server, you may be unable to access the Whiteboard tool. Also, some browser settings might prevent access to the Whiteboard tool. If you are calling from work rather than home, the Webster University Help Desk is unable to walk you through any troubleshooting steps that would cause modification to the system or browser at your workplace. If you are trying to access Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista from home, you must make sure you have Java version 1.5 installed on your computer and it is currently enabled. If you need to download Java, you can do so by visiting http://www.java.com/en/download/windows_automatic.jsp. If that does not resolve the problem, try temporarily disabling any firewalls or security programs (IMPORTANT - Do not forget to re-enable it when completed) or check your software documentation to find out how to allow exceptions for certain web sites. If you need additional information, please call the Help Desk at 314-968-5995 or 866-435-7270.

Grades

I cannot see my grade for a quiz or assignment.

If you are sure it has been completed, contact your professor. He/she may not have officially released the grade yet.

How do I get my final grade?

Logon to your online information account (not Worldclassroom/Blackboard Vista) or contact the Registrar's Office at (314) 968-7450 or 1-800-987-3447.

My quiz or assignment was not graded correctly.

Contact your professor.

Enrolling in Courses

How do I enroll in online classes?

You must first be enrolled as a student at Webster, then you can enroll for online classes. To learn more about admission to Webster University, please visit http://www.webster.edu/admissions.html. If you are enrolled with Webster and are interested in our online programs, please visit http://www.webster.edu/online/dropadd.php?section=students for information on how to register.

How do I enroll in the online writing center course?

Contact the Academic Resource Center.