Student FAQ List
- What is eClass?
- Where do I find my eClass course?
- What ID and password do I use to log in?
- Can any student access courses on eClass?
- Why aren't all my courses listed?
- What software do I need to access a eClass course?
- What web browser should I use?
- Where do I get help?
- Is there a eClass orientation session I can take?
- Does eClass work in all labs on campus?
- Can I connect to my eClass course from home?
- What do I do if I encountered a JRE error?
- Can I access Library databases from home?
- I can't access Discussions and/or Quizzes in my eClass course.
- The Whiteboard and/or Chat programs don't work properly.
- I can't view video files using the Windows Media Player.
- I can't view PowerPoint files using Windows XP.
- I can't connect from off-campus.
- Why do I have difficulties accessing eClass or downloading files within my eClass course when I am on a wireless network?
- How do I logout out of a eClass session?
- My course list on the 'My eClass' page has a number of courses I have already completed. Can I remove some of them?
- I have hidden some courses that I have access to on the My eClass page, how can I see these courses and access them again?
If you can't find the answers you need here you may also want to consult our Support Centre Knowledge base.
Faculty FAQ List
- Why should I use eClass?
- What software do I need?
- How long will it take me to create a eClass course?
- How do I register my course to be a eClass Course?
- What is the URL (web address) for my course?
- Where can I get help?
- Where can I find out about eClass workshops?
- Where can I learn HTML?
- How do I add material to my course?
- How do I get my students to participate in the online discussions?
- Why is eClass sometimes slow when I or my students access it from home?
- There are many courses listed on My eClass page and some I have completed already, can I remove some of them?
- I have hidden some courses that I have access to on the My eClass page, how can I see these courses and access them again?
- How do I add a TA to my eClass course?
- How do I change the dates my students will have access to my course materials?
If you can't find the answers you need here you may also want to consult our Support Centre Knowledge base.
eClass Student FAQ
eClass is a software program published by WebCT Blackboard designed to allow instructors to create and manage web-based or web-enhanced courses.
top
Where do I find my eClass course?
LOGON to eClass and you should see a list of your courses.
top
What ID and password do I use to login?
For most courses you will use your Campus Computing ID (CCID) and password. This information is sent to you via e-mail by the Office of the Registrar. For assistance with your login/password, you will need to go to Room 302 General Services Building or view the Helpdesk's CCID page.
Students registered in non-credit courses will be provided with their login information by their program coordinator.
top
Can any student access courses on eClass?
Yes so long as they have a valid CCID. However not all courses use the eClass system. Students who have no courses containing eClass components, will be able to logon on to the system but will be shown an empty course list.
top
I logged into eClass but not all of the courses I'm taking are listed under 'My eClass'?
First, verify that your course actually has an eClass component -- some instructors choose not to use eClass in their courses. Also if you have just enrolled in a class in BearTracks, it can take up to 48 hours for it to appear in your Course List on the 'My eClass' page. If you have waited longer than 48 hours for your registration to synch and it has not appeared, contact CTL Technology Services.
top
What software do I need to access an eClass course?
For basic course access, all you require is a web browser that is Java and Javascript enabled, and accepts cookies.
If your instructor uses material in the course that requires a browser plug-in or special software for viewing, they will provide the necessary information on how/where to acquire and install the programs. Information on a number of common plug-ins and viewers is available from Blackboard's Browsers, Plug-ins and Operating Systems page.
top
What web browser should I use?
For Macs, Firefox 3 & 3.5 and Safari 3.x & 4 are supported.
For PCs (Windows), Firefox 3.0+ and Internet Explorer 7+ are supported.
Google Chrome is not supported.
There are some variations depending on your specific operating system version so please check the Supported Browsers page.
You must also have an up-to-date Java plug-in installed - download it from: http://java.com/en/
Your browser must have both cookies and Javascript enabled, and pop-up blocking software disabled for eClass to function properly.
top
The eClass Student Help page.
top
Is there a eClass orientation session I can take?
Some face-to-face instructors schedule an introductory class to prepare students to use eClass. In fully online courses, there may be an online orientation. Check with your instructor and/or Program Office to determine whether such a session is available to you.
top
Does eClass work in all labs on campus?
All public computing labs on campus support eClass. For a listing of labs and other information about labs on campus, see the
AICT Labs page
top
Can I connect to my eClass course from home?
If you have a computer and an Internet connection at home, you can access your eClass course.
If you are having problems connecting from home, see the section on problems connecting from off-campus below.
top
What do I do if I encountered a JRE error?
See the Browser Tune-Up page or our Support KnowledgeBase for eClass technical issues.
top
Can I connect to Library databases from home?
A number of the Library's databases are restricted to users on the "ualberta.ca" domain - to access these resources, you can use the Library's EZProxy service. This page has assistance if you are having trouble accessing a link to library resources from off campus.
top
I can't access Discussions and/or Quizzes in My eClass course.
If you have a personal firewall security program installed on your computer, it may be performing content filtering that is affecting your access to eClass. For information on configuring F-Secure and other firewall programs to work with eClass, contact CTL Technology Services.
top
The Chat and/or Whiteboard tools are not functioning - what's wrong?
The Web browser that you use (whether Firefox or Internet Explorer) must have Java enabled in order for the Chat and Whiteboard programs to function properly. NOTE: Windows XP does not have the Java Virtual Machine installed by default - you must download and install the Java Plug-in. To download and install Java go to http://www.java.com/getjava/.
Your Internet Service Provider may also be blocking access to the ports that the Chat/Whiteboard programs run on. You may need to contact your ISP directly for information.
top
I can't view video files using the Windows Media Player.
There is a known issue with PowerPoint 2002 files under Windows XP. The solution is to download and install Microsoft Office XP Service Pack 2.
top
Problems connecting from off-campus.
Some Internet Service Providers use a Proxy Server for access to your e-mail, etc. This proxy server may prevent access to eClass courses.
If you can connect to your courses while on-campus but not from home, check your proxy server settings (in Firefox, go to "Preferences", "Advanced", "Network Tab" and Check the Connection Settings; in Internet Explorer, go to ""Tools", "Internet Options"). If there is a proxy server setting displayed, you will need to remove it temporarily while you access your eClass courses (don't delete it - you will need to re-enable it after your eClass session).
top
Why do I have difficulties accessing eClass or downloading files within My eClass course when I am on a wireless network?
In general, wireless network connections are slower in comparison to wired network connections. Wireless network is subjected to a fair bit of interference such as how many people are sharing the wireless connection, how many other wireless devices (cell phone, microwave ... ... etc.) are nearby, and how crowded the area is. Certain types of building construction materials such as concrete also absorbs wireless signals. As a result, if you find eClass slow when access over wireless or you are unable to download files within your eClass course on a wireless network, try switching to a wired network to see if there is any improvement.
top
How do I logout of a eClass session?
For courses on eClass, click the "Log out" link in the upper right hand corner of your screen. Vista sessions will timeout automatically after 1 hour of browser inactivity.
If you are accessing your eClass course from a campus computing lab, make sure you close ALL web browser windows as well as the authentication window when you leave.
top
My course list on the 'My eClass' page has a number of courses I have already completed. Can I remove some of them?
Courses can only be removed by asking your instructor to change the section end dates; however, you can hide the courses you currently see in your course list by following these steps:
Step 1 - Log on to eClass using your CCID and password.
Step 2 - On the My eClass page, under the heading Course List, click on the Edit icon:
Step 3 - You will then be taken to the Edit Course List screen:
Step 4 - Place a checkmark in the box corresponding to the course(s) you wish to hide and click the Hide button. You will then be taken back to your My eClass page and the courses you have selected to hide should be hidden under your Course List.
top
I have hidden some courses that I have access to on the 'My eClass' page, how can I see these courses and access them again?
You can reveal the hidden courses you currently have access to by following these steps:
Step 1 - Log on to eClass using your CCID and password.
Step 2 - On the My eClass page, under the heading Course List, click on the Edit icon:
Step 3 - You will then be taken to the Edit Course List screen:
Step 4 - Place a checkmark in the box corresponding to the course(s) you wish to reveal and click the Show button. You will then be taken back to your My eClass page and the courses you have selected to reveal should be revealed under your Course List.
eClass Faculty FAQ
See Why use eClass?
top
To access, create and manage your course you'll need a current browser (Firefox or Internet Explorer are recommended). For more information on Web browsers supported for use with eClass, visit the the Supported Browsers page.
You can use a variety of desktop software programs to create your course materials, ranging from Microsoft Word and PowerPoint to HTML editors. You can also include any content in your course that can be displayed using a Web browser (e.g. PDF files, audio and video clips, animations, and graphics). For video files we recommend using our media service, eCast.
If you use material in your course that requires students to use a browser plug-in or special software for viewing, remember to provide the necessary information on how/where to acquire and install the programs. Information on a number of common plug-ins and viewers is available from the Browsers, Plug-ins and Operating Systems page.
top
How long will it take me to create a eClass course?
The new course creation form takes only a few minutes to fill out. Once it is received, your course request will be processed and appear in the system in a no longer of 1 business day.
The amount of time required to develop the material within your course depends on a variety of factors, the most important being your experience with:
- computers and the Web
- course design
- project planning
Assistance with course planning, development and material conversion is available from a number of sources on campus. Contact us by email - elearning@ualberta.ca to get started. For some quick self-paced guides to the system, check the Introductory Videos or our Tutorials page.
top
How do I register my course to be a eClass Course?
We have created an automated course creation tool. Click here to use our Faculty Self-Service. Once you have filled out the form, it should take no longer than 1 business day for your eClass course to be created. You need to fill out this form for every new term to synch your course to the correct Beartracks section.
top
What is the URL for My eClass course?
After you have received the confirmation of course creation (registration) via email, you will find your course listed on your 'My eClass' page after you LOGON to eClass using your CCID.
top
Where can I find out about eClass Workshops?
Check the listings on the Upcoming Workshops page.
top
I need help, where do I find it?
eClass has context-specific online help available at the far right of the top menu bar within each course.
Course development and design assistance, mentoring, course evaluation, and other professional resources are available by contacting us - elearning@ualberta.ca. For online support, please consult the eClass Faculty Help page.
top
How do I add material to my course?
First we recommend that you convert any pre-existing files to PDF before uploading. Most current Word processing applications have an option for exporting as PDF files and PDF support is the most commonly available across browsers and operating systems. Uploading MS Word or PPT documents may cause problems for students who don't have access to these programs.
To learn how to upload materials into eClass, view the Adding Content tutorials here.
If you want to go a bit further and fine-tune your materials, our next recommendation is to create Learning Modules. Doing so enables automatic Table of Contents and file navigation features which aid sequential student learning. Please see Structuring Content within Learning Modules.
top
There are many free online resources for learning HTML, one example is: http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/tut/lessons.html
top
How do I get my students to participate in the online discussions?
Four quick tips:
Make it worth something
Students may not perceive the value of participating in conferencing, so it can be a good idea to attach certain value to their online interaction by making it part of the course grade. One benefit from this is that you will actually be able to read what students are thinking about and the depth to which they are understanding the course content.
Be present
The easiest way to ensure that a conference fails is for the instructor to be absent. By posting new messages and responding to students' questions and points, you model the type of behaviour you expect from them. You also help to create an atmosphere that will keep students coming back to read and post.
Set some limits
It's a good idea to encourage students to keep their messages within some kind of limits. Generally, a good, concise, well-thought post needs one or two screens of text. Any more than that and people won't read it or will become frustrated with all the extra work it takes to wade through all the information. This strategy also keeps the amount of work you have to do at a manageable level.
Be vigilant
If individuals are not participating, it is a good idea to send them a private e-mail message to find out why. They may be having trouble getting online, or they aren't comfortable posting messages to the group.
top
My course list on the 'My eClass' page has a number of courses I have already completed. Can I remove some of them?
Courses cannot be removed from the course list (for a detailed explanantion, email us; however, you can hide the courses you currently have access to by following these steps:
Step 1 - Log on to eClass using your CCID and password.
Step 2 - On the My eClass page, under the heading Course List, click on the Edit icon:
Step 3 - You will then be taken to the Edit Course List screen:
Step 4 - Place a checkmark in the box corresponding to the course(s) you wish to hide and click the Hide button. You will then be taken back to your My eClass page and the courses you have selected to hide should be hidden under your Course List.
top
I have hidden some courses that I have access to on the My eClass page, how can I see these courses and access them again?
You can reveal the hidden courses you currently have access to by following these steps:
Step 1 - Log on to eClass using your CCID and password.
Step 2 - On the My eClass page, under the heading Course List, click on the Edit icon:
Step 3 - You will then be taken to the Edit Course List screen:
Step 4 - Place a checkmark in the box corresponding to the course(s) you wish to reveal and click the Show button. You will then be taken back to your My eClass page and the courses you have selected to reveal should be revealed under your Course List.
top
How do I add my TA to my eClass course?
We have recently augmented our course creation system, and you can add TAs through the new section management component.
Log in using your CCID at https://cc.elearning.ualberta.ca, click on 'Section Management', click on the desired course, click on 'Enrollments' (people icon), enter the CCID and role you wish to add.
You can also use the system to add Section Designers (access to the Build tab), secondary Instructors, and Auditors (similar to students but won't receive final grades) via this same process, as well as set or check the access dates for your section.
To learn more about the new eClass Section Management System (SMS), view our Support KnowledgeBase topics for SMS usage.
top
How do I change the dates my students will have access to my course materials?
You can use the eClass Section Management System to view or change the access dates for your eClass sections.
Log in using your CCID at https://cc.elearning.ualberta.ca, click on 'Section Management', click on the desired course, click on 'Dates' (calendar icon), change the dates as required.
To learn more about the new eClass Section Management System (SMS), view our Support KnowledgeBase topics for SMS usage.
top