Student Guides
Blackboard, Trinity's Learning Management System (LMS), is the primary digital platform for all course materials and instructional activities. It includes integrated tools like Turnitin for originality checks, Panopto for video content, and Class Collaborate for virtual classrooms.
Introduction to TCD Blackboard for Students 2025/26
Getting Started
Viewing your Assigned Module List
After logging into Blackboard you should see Modules on the left-hand side of the blue menu.
Select Modules to view a list of your modules. You can view your modules as a list or a grid. To swap between the two views, select the list/grid icon at the top left. In the image below, the grid view is selected.
You also have the option to search, filter or display selected courses.
Quick Tip: Select the star icon on a module that you access regularly. The module will be placed at the top of the list with a purple star on the bottom right. You can unfavourite a course by selecting the star icon again.
If you are having difficultly locating a Module
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.
Modules are automatically created in Blackboard based on SITS (my.tcd.ie) information.
Access & Enrolment
Blackboard requires an active TCD computer account for access. If you are not enrolled on a module, check with your school office to ensure you are timetabled for it in CMIS (the College timetable system). The module must be listed on your my.tcd.ie a student record you have access to on Blackboard. IT Services cannot manually enrol you in modules.
Students:
- Enrolment: You'll be automatically enrolled in Blackboard modules for which you're registered in SITS (my.tcd.ie).
- Missing a module? Students can't be manually enrolled directly via Blackboard; this must be via SITS.
Contact your School Administrator to ensure your SITS record is accurate.
Enrolment changes & updates occur overnight.
Updating your Profile
After logging into Blackboard, you should see a link displaying your name on the left-hand side in the blue menu. Click on your name.
Some fields are automatically populated from your student record (SITS), so these cannot be changed here.
As a student, you can change:
- Profile Picture - Upload an image to replace the generic image
- Password - Change your system password.
- Global Notification Settings - Set up notifications for module activities.
Watch this short video about editing your profile.
Edit your profile shows how to edit information attached to your profile and add a profile picture.
Upload a profile picture.
You can save an image file to your profile. Other people see your image in messages, discussions, conversations, groups, and course listings.
- Hover over the generic silhouette of your image and select the pencil icon to upload, change, or remove an image.
- In the dashboard, select Upload a new profile picture to browse for the image on your computer. You can also drag a file into the Upload area.
- The image will be saved automatically. Close the panel to return to your profile.
Remove or replace your profile picture: Upload or drag another image to replace it.
To return to the generic silhouette, select the Delete this image icon to delete your current image file.
Introduction
The introduction of Blackboard Ally is a collaborative partnership between the Trinity disAbility Service and IT Services, aimed at improving the accessibility of online content available to our student community.
Blackboard Ally analyses the academic content uploaded into the Trinity Blackboard VLE against accessibility standards and provides step-by-step guidance to academics on how to improve the accessibility of the content if needed. Blackboard Ally also provides alternative accessibility formats for any files you upload, which are accessible by your students for their convenience.
Blackboard Ally is an additional service that automatically runs all your course files through an accessibility checklist, looking for common issues. Each file is compared to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 standards. Ally integrates with all Blackboard Modules.
Blackboard Ally is a tool that enables you to read material in a way that aligns with your learning style and preferences, making it accessible to all students.
Alternative formats you can download using Ally include:
- Audio versions of reading materials
- HTML format for easy reading on your mobile phone
- Tagged PDF for use with assistive technology
To download an alternative file format, select the capital A icon with a downward arrow. Select your preferred format and press download.
You can download an alternative format for individual files (e.g. a converted PowerPoint file) or an entire page of content from Blackboard.
Downloading original documents
You can also download the original document by selecting the ellipses (three dots).
Students
For students enrolled in Blackboard modules, Blackboard Ally automatically provides a range of alternative formats that are easy to use by all students. Ally works within your modules in Blackboard, so it is available right when you need it. Alternative files include:
- Readable text for screen readers
- Pictures with captions
- Content that is easy to navigate
Blackboard Ally creates multiple formats from the original documents in your module. You can download these alternative formats anywhere.
For further information on Blackboard Ally for students, visit the Blackboard Help pages
Supported Browsers
IT Services recommends Google Chrome or Firefox for accessing Blackboard.
For Blackboard Learn, Anthology supports Google Chrome™, Mozilla® Firefox®, Apple® Safari®, and Microsoft® Edge® desktop and mobile browsers. Most users can apply updates automatically for these browsers. Anthology makes every effort to support the most recent version upon release. For these supported browsers, these are the supported versions:
- Google Chrome™, most recent version and two preceding versions.
- Mozilla® Firefox®, most recent version and two preceding versions.
- Apple® Safari® for MacOS and iOS, two most recent major versions.
Blackboard App for Phones and Tablets
The Blackboard App allows students to use their mobile device to view:
- Module content
- Announcements
- Grades
- Forum posts
- Collaborate Ultra sessions
Important Notice Regarding the Blackboard App
The Blackboard App is primarily designed for viewing content, not for tasks such as submitting assignments. To access the majority of Blackboard features, you will need to log in using a web browser. The app can be used to complete tests and submit assignments from a mobile device, but we strongly recommend against using it for these purposes. When uploading content or completing assessments, students should use a web browser on a computer to ensure the process works as intended and minimise the risk of data loss.
Getting the Blackboard App
The app is free to use but requires an active TCD account and a compatible mobile device. Students should uninstall any other Blackboard apps on their devices as they are no longer updated or supported by Blackboard.
Further Information & Support
Blackboard Student Timetable
The Blackboard Student Timetable provides students with a timetable calendar within Blackboard. Students can view the time, location, and lecturer for each of their classes.
The Blackboard timetable is updated only once a day. If students are unsure if the information is accurate, they should double-check it against their timetable, which is available in SITS (https://my.tcd.ie). Please note that student timetables are subject to regular updates. Further details about student timetables can be obtained from each School or Course Office. If you are in doubt about the accuracy of your student timetable, please check it on SITS (https://my.tcd.ie).
Blackboard Student Timetable - Frequently Asked Questions
How often is the Blackboard student timetable updated?
The timetable is updated daily. This update occurs overnight.
Who can view the timetabled classes?
Every student with timetabled classes and access to Blackboard will be able to view their classes. Students should not use each other's timetables, as they may have different classes.
What if the information in the Blackboard student timetable doesn’t match the SITS timetable?
If the information in your Blackboard timetable doesn’t match with your SITS timetable, use the information in the SITS timetable. After the next overnight refresh, the two timetables should be in sync with each other.
Can I use the Blackboard timetable calendar for personal use?
You can use the Blackboard student timetable calendar for personal use; however, this is not recommended, as we cannot guarantee that events you have entered will be retained when the timetable is updated.
Why can I edit and delete timetabled classes?
The Blackboard student timetable uses the Blackboard personal calendar as a base for storing timetabled classes. As a result, students can edit and delete these classes on the timetable. This will only impact the student’s own Blackboard student timetable, and these deleted or edited classes will be restored to their original form after the timetable updates overnight.
Why are there duplicate classes on my Blackboard student timetable?
This has occurred due to an error. If this happens, please contact the IT Service Desk.
Blackboard VLE - iCal Timetable Link
This functionality enables students to synchronise their student timetable with their MyZone Calendar or any other external calendar service.
This timetable may take up to 24 hours to receive updates regarding changes to timetabled events. If you are ever in doubt, double-check on my.tcd.ie and use the information that is available there.
Instructions on how to sync your timetable
- Log in to Blackboard (http://mymodule.tcd.ie)
- On the menu on the left-hand side of the page, select Calendar
- Select Calendar Settings on the top right of your screen
- Open the menu (...) next to the Calendar Settings heading and select Share Calendar
- Click on the Copy button next to the URL.
- Log in to your MyZone email account and then navigate to your Google Calendar.
- Click on the + symbol on the left-hand side of the page (beside “Add a colleague’s calendar”) and then click "From URL".
- Paste your timetable link into the box and then click "Add Calendar". It may take a few minutes for your timetable to appear.
- If you have your MyZone email account linked to your mobile device, you should now be able to view your timetable on your device's calendar app.
An overview of getting started with IT in Trinity College Dublin.
This Orientation page will help you get started with IT at Trinity College Dublin. Getting started with the technology you'll use during your studies is an exciting first step toward a successful academic experience. Whether you’re accessing course materials, connecting with classmates, or diving into research, mastering the basics of IT will empower you to make the most of your time here.
Getting Started
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I enrol in a module?
Blackboard (mymodule.tcd.ie) requires an active TCD computer account for access. If you are not enrolled on a module, check with your school office to ensure you are timetabled for it. The module must be listed on your my.tcd.ie a student record you have access to on Blackboard. IT Services cannot manually enrol you in modules.
My module does not contain any content. How do I resolve this issue?
Please contact your instructor immediately if they have advised that content is available in the module, but it is not accessible to you.
I am unable to view my Panopto lecture-recorded content
If you have logged into your module in Blackboard and you have clicked on a Panopto lecture recording created by your lecturer, but experienced one of the following:
- You are asked to sign in, but when you click sign in, it doesn't work, logs you out of Blackboard, or returns you to the same page with the same message, and nothing happens
- The Panopto recording does not play back for you
Then this means that your web browser is blocking Panopto from working with Blackboard. In this instance, you need to check your specific web browser settings to ensure that cross-party cookies are allowed. View the Panopto support page for help on how to configure the cross-party cookies setting for a range of web browsers to solve this issue. If you are using an iOS device, you may also need to disable the setting 'Prevent Cross-Site Tracking' in your Safari or Google Chrome settings.
Why am I getting logged out when accessing Panopto or Class Collaborate content?
Please ensure that your web browser allows third-party cookies if you are experiencing issues with logging out while accessing Panopto or Collaborate content.
Further Help & Support
If you are experiencing issues accessing Blackboard or specific modules, please contact the Teaching & Learning IT team via the IT Service Desk by one of the following methods.
When you log a ticket, please include the module ID, name, and your instructor's contact details. Often, for issues related to accessing content, assessments, etc., within a module, we need to contact the instructor to verify, as they manage the settings for all content in a module.
You can email the service desk at itservicedesk@tcd.ie. Please ensure you fill in the 'Subject' field with Ultra: when emailing.
Service desk opening hours are:
Monday - Friday: 09:00 - 17:00