Blackboard

Blackboard 6 Learning Management System (LMS) is used at Framingham State College to deliver online and Web-enhanced classes. Students enrolled in a Blackboard course access course materials, participate in asynchronous discussions and take advantage of the system's collaborative tools anytime, anywhere, as long as they have access to the Internet. 

To access Blackboard, your PC must have at least a 56K modem connection, be configured with 500-600MHz and 64MB RAM, and have either Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Internet browser (IE is the preferred browser). Blackboard is hosted off campus at http://framingham.blackboard.com.

To get started using Blackboard 6, contact Academic Technology and Distance Education at ext. 4927 (on campus) or (508) 626-4927.

A Blackboard Student Tutorial is available to help users become familiar with Blackboard and to discuss the features and functions of Blackboard 6. The tutorial can be accessed at http://www.academicsonline.org/StudentGuide/index.html.

Framingham State College has an agreement with Presidium Learning to provide 24/7 Blackboard support to students, faculty and staff.  The service is intended to provide technical support for students and supplement the services ATDE provides faculty and staff.  Presidium support resources include phone support, where Support Representatives are available to provide technical support for Blackboard and supporting software supported by the Blackboard application; live chat, a real-time chat tool that provides a direct link to a certified Support Representative; knowledge base, a self-help student and instructor online support resource that provides a robust knowledge database related to the Blackboard application; and online tutorials, animated tutorials that provide step-by-step instruction to use specific course tools.  

If you need help using Blackboard or other related applications, contact Presidium Learning toll free at (866) 361-8970 or visit the Presidium Online Resource Center at http://supportcenteronline.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=850.  

Please note: The first line of support for faculty and staff is the office of Academic Technology and Distance Education.  Call ATDE at (508) 626-4927 to schedule a one-on-one Blackboard training session, request a course site or attend a campus based workshop.
 

Faculty Web Space

Web server space, on the official College Web server (www.framingham.edu), is available for all faculty who wish to create their own personal faculty Web page.  To request Web space on the official College server, please contact the Director of Academic Technology Training and Support.

All faculty receive "y" drive space on one of ITS servers. This space will automatically be created and mapped for you when your network user account is created. 

To access this space on campus:

• Log on to the Campus domain.

• Double click My Computer.

• Double click the icon <your user name> on 'cs-helpdesk\space\lnetpub\ftproot\faculty' (Y:).

• Navigate to your folder (based on your network username).

To access this space from off campus:

• Open Internet Explorer.

• In the address field, type http://cs-helpdesk.student.framingham.edu.

• Click the link to browse your home directory. If the logon screen fails to open the first time, click Refresh.

• Enter your username, placing campus\ in front of your username (for example, campus\jsmith) and enter your network password.

• Navigate to your folder (based on your network username).

The PROF Classroom Control System is a Web driven utility that provides faculty a means of controlling what students have access to in the classroom. It uses a simple Web interface that an instructor can manipulate to select differing levels of network access to be used by students in the classroom. 

Currently PROF is available in Hemenway Hall G01 and 208. To access PROF, open a Web browser and type the following URL in the address field - http://10.3.200.3/cgi-bin/fram_prof.cgi. This Web site is only accessible from the instructor's PC. The following Web page will display:

From this page, there are currently five different levels of network access, which directly correspond to the buttons on the page. They are:

* Disable Internet and E-mail Access
* Disable Chat Access
* Disable Internet, E-mail and Chat
* Disable Network Access
* Reset (default state)

To initialize one of these levels of network access, simply click on the respective button. Once this has been done, the system produces a Web page that signifies it is in the process of implementing these changes. Once the changes have completed, the initial page returns with one noted exception. The text on the selected button will now appear in gold, as opposed to white. This indicates that the desired level of network access has been obtained. This may be done multiple times throughout the course of a class. Once a class is over, it is essential to select the reset button to set the system back to the default state. If this is not done, the system will remain in the last selected state until it has been reset or a different state has been selected.

If you experience problems using the PROF Classroom Control System, please contact the Faculty/Staff Helpdesk.

If you would like training in using the PROF Classroom Control System, please contact the Director of Academic Technology Training and Support.

Networked printers are located across campus for your students’ convenience.  Information Technology Services has implemented a print management system, Uniprint by Pharos, that helps students monitor their print jobs, enables access to more printers, and increases document security.  Students are limited to 500 pages of printing per semester.  All PCs in the main computer lab (Hemenway Hall G20), the College Center Commuter Lounge lab and residence hall labs have the ability to print to the networked printers though the Pharos system.  Laptop users can also print to the networked printers around campus.

Below is list of network printers available for printing using Pharos:  

Citrix Server

Information Technology Services has recently installed a Citrix Server that allows faculty and staff to access specially licensed applications from virtually any desktop or laptop computer on campus.  The following software is accessible through the Citrix Server: 

Macromedia Dreamweaver
Macromedia Flash
Macromedia Fireworks
Macromedia Captivate
Adobe Acrobat Professional
Adobe PhotoShop
Camtasia
SnagIt
Microsoft Visio
Microsoft Project
Minitab 

Please contact the Faculty/Staff Helpdesk at helpdesk@frc.mass.edu or ext. 4357 (on-campus) for information about accessing the Citrix Server.

Framingham State College offers both wireless and hardwired access to its network. The advantage of wireless is mobility. In comparison, the hardwired connection offers reliability and faster response time. Given the choice between the two, we suggest that you plug in whenever a hardwired connection is available.

Wireless access to the FSC network and the Internet exists in most areas where laptop computers are commonly used. The best areas to access a strong wireless connection outside of the classroom are the: 

• College Center 

• Juice bar in the Athletic Center 

• Library 

• Patio outside of the Arthur M. Doyle Technology Center

These locations offer a comfortable social atmosphere. If you are outdoors and experience a connection problem, try moving closer to a campus building. 

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