Video - Syllabus - View, Print, and Save

This instruction is used when your professor provides a course syllabus in Web Format (.html or .htm). In this course the course syllabus is placed in the Syllabus link on the Course Menu.

Click on the Syllabus link in Course Menu. If the syllabus is in web format, you will see it right away*.

• Scroll down and read the entire syllabus carefully. It gives you an overview of class requirements. When you read the syllabus, pay special attention to course evaluation methods, requirements of assignments, and course outline with weekly assignments and due dates. A course syllabus serves as a general guidance for your learning. We highly recommend you print and save the syllabus for later reference.
• For a syllabus saved in web format, the best way to print or save is to copy all text and paste it to a MS Word file. Then you will print or save the file. First, highlight all text in the syllabus, right-click on the highlighted area, and select Copy. You can also copy the text by using CTRL + C keys on your keyboard. -- Then you open MS Word with a blank file, select Paste (You can also paste the text by using CTRL + V keys on your keyboard). In MS Word,
• To print the file, go to File, select Print.
• To save the file, go to File, select Save. First you should decide where to save the file on your computer. This example will show you how to create a folder on Desktop and then save the file in the folder. Locate Desktop first and then click on the New Folder icon, type a name to label the folder, and click Yes to confirm. Type a file name and click on Save. The syllabus file now is saved on your computer. You may then close the MS Word entirely.
• If you would like to review the file you just saved, minimize the Blackboard window, go to the folder where the file was saved and double-click on the file to open.

Special Notes

• If your professor provides the course syllabus in non-web format such as.pdf, .rtf, .doc, or .docx format, you will need to have an appropriate application on your computer to open the file. In this case, refer to File Formats Used in Blackboard to find out the application needed to view a non-web file.
• If you do not have an appropriate application to open up the syllabus file (e.g. MS Word), you can use Blackboard Ally to open the file in a different format such as tagged PDF or HTML (web). Refer to View Files in Alternative Formats for more details.

Video - View Files in Alternative Formats Using Blackboard Ally

Your professor may use Folders or Learning Modules to organize files and tools. You will access a folder or a learning module by clicking on a link on the Course Menu. The link could be labeled as Course Content. In this tutorial course, folders are placed in Course Content page and are used to organize weekly assignments and class materials such as lecture notes and learning objectives.

1. Click on Course Content. You see a list of weekly folders. Click on a week folder, you see a few items. Click on a chapter folder, you see a lecture note and a learning objectives page link.

2. The chapter note is in MS PowerPoint format. You need MS PowerPoint to view the file. However, if you do not have MS PowerPoint, you can use Blackboard Ally to view the file in an alternative format. Click on the Ally icon (letter A) next to the PowerPoint file and select HTML (you will view the file as HTML format) and click on Download. The file is then downloaded to your computer. Click on Show in Folder, you see the file location is in the Download folder. Double click on the file to open it up. Now you are viewing the PowerPoint file in HTML format.

3. The options in the Alternative format include "Tagged PDF". Using this format requires you to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. You can go to
https://get.adobe.com/reader to download a free Adobe Acrobat Reader and install it to your computer. If you already have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, you will choose Tagged PDF and view the file in .pdf format.

4. In the same way, if you would like to view a file (e.g. Syllabus, study guide, lecture notes, etc.) that is in MS Word format, but you do not have MS Word on your computer, you can choose the Ally (A letter) icon next to a file and choose the HTML format and view the file in the HTML format.

5. Now you may click on various items and explore the course information in the course.

In a page or a learning module, your professor may add various types of class files for students. If a file is not in a web-based format (e.g.html, .jpg, or .gif), you should have the appropriate application on your computer to open and view the file.

The following table lists the file formats and their corresponding applications. If you don't have the application, you can access a free download site by clicking an application listed below. Be sure to download and install the appropriate application to your computer before you open a non-web based file.

*All lab computers at MxCC campuses have Microsoft Office Professional and Adobe Acrobat Reader to allow you to open .rtf, .doc, .ppt, .xls, .mdb, and .pdf files.

*All MxCC students, faculty and staff can have access to MS Office Applications for free of charge.  Logon on to portal.office.com with your NetID and password.  To use MS Office Applications on your own computer, click on “Install Office” at the upper right corner of the page.  You will follow the step-by-step instruction to install MS Office Applications to your computer.

** We recommend that you submit all documents in .rtf format so that the files will be readable by all students and your professor. For more information on saving a Word document as .rtf, click here

You may use Blackboard Ally to view files (e.g. PowerPoint, Excel) in an alternative format such as .pdf or web based.

Video - Download Microsoft Office Applications

Your professor may upload MS Word file, MS PowerPoint File, or MS Excel file in the course. Meanwhile, for class assignments, you may use MS Word file to write your paper, make presentation using MS PowerPoint, or work on a project using MS Excel. To view these files in its orignal format and work on these files, you will need to install Microsoft Office application to your computer.

• Open up a web browser such as Google Chrome.
• Type "portal.office.com".
• Enter your NetID and Password and click on Sign In.
• Pull down the arrow next to Install and More at the upper right corner of the window. Select the first option to download the MS Office.
• After the OfficeSetup.exe file is completed downloading, you will click on Open file and follow the steps to install the MS Office to your computer.

Special Notes

Although you may view a MS Office file using Alternnative Format in Blackboard, the alternative format view may not reflect its original outlook. To view a MS Word file, a MS PowerPoint file, or a MS Excel file in its original look, you should install MS Office to your computer.

Video - View and Print a .pdf File

.pdf stands for Adobe Portable Document Format. Your professors may use .pdf files for syllabus, notes, assignments, or articles. To view or print a .pdf file, you need to have Adobe Reader installed to your computer. This tutorial shows you how to print or save a .pdf file.

• Click on Syllabus & Overview link on the Course Menu and then click on the Syllabus link. The Adobe Reader will launch and open the file.
• You may need to scroll down to view the entire file.
• To print, click the Print icon on the Adobe Toolbar. Click Print to confirm.
• To save the file, click on Save icon on the Adobe Toolbar. Locate a folder where you would like to save the file. Keep the file original name or give a name. Click on Save.
• To open the .pdf file you just saved to your computer, minimize the Blackboard Window. Locate the file folder and the file. Double-click on the file to open.