Blackboard VLE - Frequently Asked Questions

I am a new student, how do I access and navigate Blackboard?

When you have completed registration in my.tcd.ie you will receive an Intray message with your Trinity computer account username and an initial password, and instructions on how to set your own password.

To access Blackboard, you use your Trinity computer account username and password to log in at mymodule.tcd.ie. Note that it can take up to 48 hours after registering for Trinity at my.tcd.ie before you can gain access to Blackboard.

You can visit the Student Help section within Blackboard for guides and tutorials on using Blackboard as a student.

Introduction to TCD Blackboard (mymodule.tcd.ie) for Students - 2023/24

I cannot log in to Blackboard (mymodule.tcd.ie) – what should I do?

First check if you can access other Trinity College websites, such as http://elib.tcd.ie, using the same Trinity IT username and password as you are using to log in to mymodule.tcd.ie. If you cannot access other Trinity online services then you will need to reset your password.

When you go to mymodule.tcd.ie, click on the ‘Log In’ button at the centre or top right of the screen and enter your username (without @tcd.ie) and password.

If you can log in to other Trinity online services, but can still not log in at mymodule.tcd.ie, then please contact the IT Service Desk who will help to determine what the issue is.

I can login to Blackboard but cannot see a module - what can I do?

To access modules in Blackboard, students need to have the modules listed on their student record in my.tcd.ie. Please contact your School Office and ask the School Administrator to check that all modules are assigned to your timetable. When the School Office timetables a student to a module, you should gain access to that module in Blackboard within 24 hours as long as it is listed on your student record in my.tcd.ie. If you are an Erasmus student and are missing a module in Blackboard, please contact Academic Registry.

How can I be removed from modules in Blackboard?

If you have changed or left a module, please contact your School Office and ask the School Administrator to update your list of modules in your timetable. When the School Office removes the module from your timetable, Blackboard will be updated within 24 hours.

If you wish to hide modules from your module list in Blackboard, you will find a guide for hiding previous year's modules under the Help section once you log in to Blackboard.

My Trinity computer account is expiring. Will I lose access to Blackboard?

If you receive an email message notification that your Trinity computer account has an expiry date then you will lose access to Trinity IT systems like the Library and Blackboard. Access to mymodule.tcd.ie is one of the first systems you will lose access to once you receive an expiry notification.

This expiry date comes automatically from your my.tcd.ie student record when you course finishes. If you are a continuing student you would need to confirm your student status via the Academic Registry as the account expiry dates are based on your student record on my.tcd.ie.

My Trinity computer account has now expired, how can I access content in Blackboard?

Once your Trinity computer account expires you need to contact the relevant module instructor to access content in Blackboard. The module instructor can provide the student with the content by downloading it via Blackboard or the instructor can contact the Teaching and Learning IT team via the IT Service Desk (itservicedesk@tcd.ie) for assistance with this.

I can login but am having difficulty viewing module content - what should I do?

Contact your module's instructor to ensure that they have made the content available to you. If there is still an issue with accessing the content, please contact the Teaching and Learning IT team via the IT Service Desk (itservicedesk@tcd.ie) and outline the issue in as much detail as possible, making sure to provide your Trinity username, the module code and an email address for one of the instructors. The Teaching and Learning IT team may need to contact the instructor to confirm whether a specific content item or assignment should be available to students.

If you cannot see the left-hand menu within a module, click the grey line at the left of the screen to expand it as it may collapse automatically on smaller screens.

How do I submit assessments online or reset an exam submission in Blackboard?

Please visit the Student Help tab within Blackboard for information and video guides covering how to submit assignments and tests and using Turnitin in Blackboard.

Students will need to contact their instructor to request a reset of an assignment – the Teaching and Learning IT team cannot reset a submission. Instructors can contact the Teaching and Learning IT team via the IT Service Desk (itservicedesk@tcd.ie) if they encounter any issues with this process.

Can I access Blackboard on my mobile device?

You can install the Blackboard app on your mobile device, allowing you to view module content such as lecture notes and announcements and participate in webinars. Please note: the app is primarily designed for viewing content - not for tasks such as submitting assessments. To access the majority of Blackboard features you will need to log in via your device’s web browser.

I am a new staff member, how do I access Blackboard?

To access Blackboard, you use your Trinity computer account username and password to log in at mymodule.tcd.ie. Note that it can take up to 48 hours after registering with HR before you can gain access to Blackboard.

Staff who are entitled to use the IT systems in Trinity will be provided with a Trinity computer account username and an initial password after they have been registered by HR. If HR and/or IT Services cannot provide you with a username and password then your School Office may need to contact HR to ensure you have been setup with the appropriate HR pay scale or visitor code, to make sure you are entitled to a Trinity computer account.

I cannot log in to mymodule.tcd.ie – what should I do?

First check if you can access other Trinity College websites, such as http://elib.tcd.ie, using the same Trinity username and password as you are using to log in to mymodule.tcd.ie. If you cannot access other Trinity services then you will need to reset your password.

When you go to mymodule.tcd.ie, click on the ‘Log In’ button at the centre or top right of the screen and enter your username (without @tcd.ie) and password.

If you can login to other Trinity services, but cannot access mymodule.tcd.ie, then please contact the IT Service Desk who will help to determine what the issue is.

I can login to Blackboard but cannot see a module - what can I do?

The School Administrator needs to ensure that each lecturer is either associated with the relevant module in CMIS or else timetabled to a lectured event in CMIS for the required teaching module. The School Administrator needs to check for and remove any timetable clashes in CMIS for that lecturer and ensure that the lecturer is correctly associated to the module in CMIS. If there is still an issue then please contact the IT Service Desk as there may be a data flow issue between the relevant systems.

My Trinity computer account is expiring. Will I lose access to Blackboard?

If you receive an email message notification that your Trinity computer account has an expiry date then you will lose access to Trinity IT systems like the Library and Blackboard. Access to mymodule.tcd.ie is one of the first systems you will lose access to once you receive an expiry notification. Computer account expiry dates are managed centrally by HR based on contract end dates. When a staff contract is renewed, access to IT systems including Blackboard is automatically activated. For queries on contract expiry dates contact Human Resources (HR).

I would like some advice or assistance with using Blackboard for teaching

Visit the Staff Help section within Blackboard to access a range of technical and pedagogical guides on using Blackboard and related technologies such as Panopto, Turnitin, Collaborate. Please contact the Teaching and Learning IT team via the IT Service Desk (itservicedesk@tcd.ie) if you have any queries on these technologies.

What browser should I use for Blackboard?

Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox web browsers are recommended for Blackboard. Other browsers may work but if you encounter issues please try Chrome or Firefox.

Where can I find Blackboard accessibility information?

Information about Blackboard accessibility, Blackboard Ally, downloading the Blackboard Screen Reader Manual, changing the font size in Blackboard, and high contrast settings in Blackboard can be found in the help tabs when you log in to Blackboard.

How do I access older recordings in Collaborate?

Please see our video guide below which shows how to find older recordings that do not display in the Recent Recordings list.

My question is not answered above - who should I contact?

Students should contact their module instructor(s) in the first instance for queries relating to issues submitting assessments or accessing content. The instructor can contact the Teaching and Learning IT team via the IT Service Desk (itservicedesk@tcd.ie) if they cannot resolve the issue.

Instructors can contact the Teaching and Learning IT team via the IT Service Desk (itservicedesk@tcd.ie) for advice on using Blackboard.

School administrators should become familiar with the information provided on our webpage outlining Managing Access issues, Account issues, Module Assignment issues or Module Enrolment Issues in the VLE.

For CMIS timetabling issues technical support, please email asksusu@tcd.ie. If you require assistance relating to the process of timetabling e.g. guidance on the process of timetabling, clash resolution, room availability etc. please email the Examinations and Assessment Team at askexams@tcd.ie or phone at 01 896 4501.

For module creation and management issues please email the Academic Registry at askexams@tcd.ie or phone at +353 (0)1 896 4501.

If you have technical or data integration issues on accessing Blackboard, please contact the IT Service Desk.

For all other queries please contact the Teaching and Learning IT team via the IT Service Desk (itservicedesk@tcd.ie).