What is Blackboard?

Blackboard virtual learning environment logo

Blackboard is the online home for your studies and is a key resource during your time as a student at UWL. So why use Blackboard?

  • Your tutor will share learning materials like module outlines, lecture notes, assignment briefs, grades and feedback.
  • You will be able to see announcements.
  • There is an area for coursework submission. 
  • You can collaborate through discussion boards, and forums.
  • Access videos of lectures that are relevant to you.
  • Access tools for creating portfolios, blogs and websites. 

Getting started

A student in a hijab speaking in a seminar at the University of West London

Getting started - logging in and finding your way around

All students have a Blackboard account. This is created when you enrol and is automatically activated once your enrolment has been processed.

Find out how to log in, add a profile picture, find your way around the homepage and get technical support and guidance should you need it.

  • How to log on to Blackboard on desktop/laptop

    • Step 1 - Go to Blackboard online 
       
    • Step 2 - sign in using your username@student.uwl.ac.uk (replacing username with your student number such as 10066822@student.uwl.ac.uk ), followed by your usual UWL password.
       
    • Step 3 - access your email and OneDrive via Office365.
  • Where can I find my username and password?

    Image of the UWL student card

    Your username
    Your username is the ID Number which appears on your Unique Card next to the words ‘ID No’.

    Your Password
    You should have received your default password in an email to your personal email address a couple of weeks before the start of your course.

    If you do not know your password see a member of staff in your nearest IT Suite or Library, or contact the  IT Service Desk.

    IT Service Desk contact details:

  • Where can I get help logging on?

    For queries and support contact the IT Service Desk:

    • Extension 2222 from a University phone
    • 0300 111 4895  (24 hours a day, seven days a week)
    • ITServiceDesk@uwl.ac.uk.​​​​​​

Courses, modules, assessments and announcements

A group of students with laptops looking ahead in a seminar or group session.

All of your modules are listed on the Courses page. Inside each module you will find:

  • Announcements
  • Module information and learning materials
  • Assessments
  • Messages from your lecturers and course administrators. These are also sent to your UWL email address
A blonde student sitting in lecture with her laptop and water flask

You will automatically be attached in Blackboard to all of the courses/modules on which you are officially enrolled, but there may be a few days’ delay before everything is processed and enrolment data is sent to Blackboard.

If some of your modules are not listed when you first log in, please be patient. If you still can’t see all your modules after a few days it is most likely because:

Girl working on laptop smiling

The Module Study Guide should be in every module listed under Module Information. It contains important information and explains everything about your module.

Blackboard uses the single word 'course'. At the University of West London a Blackboard 'course' might denote either a course (eg. BSc Psychology, BA Business Studies) or an individual module.

Submitting, feedback and grades online using Blackboard

Two students sat in a computer lab looking ahead.

A lot of your coursework will be collected and marked online. Blackboard has different assessment tools for coursework. They are used to collect your work and provide feedback including a provisional grade.

The most commonly used assessment tool is Turnitin UK. Blackboard Assessment can also be used to submit your work and get feedback.

Discussions using Blackboard

A man working on a laptop.

The Discussion Boards within Blackboard are a way for you to post messages, which can be read by other members of a course - students and staff.

Anything which is posted within these boards stays within the Blackboard system and you will need to log in to Blackboard to read any new messages, reply to a message or post a new message of your own.

Student working on a laptop with headphones in a cafe

Discussion Boards are found within Blackboard course / module spaces.

Enter the Discussion Board by clicking on the Communication or Tools button on the course menu, then on Discussion Board. (It is also possible that there may be a Discussion Board button in the left hand navigation menu which will take you directly into the discussion board).

The discussion board is structured at two levels – forums and threads.

  • Forums

    Within each board there can be a number of discussion forums, which can only be created by your lecturer. Each forum will be used to discuss a specific topic area, for example issues which emerge from each week’s lectures.

    When you enter the discussion board in your Blackboard course, you will see a list of all of the forums. To enter a forum, click on its title. Beside each forum you will see the total number of messages within it, and the number of messages which you have not yet read.

  • Threads

    Each forum within a discussion board contains a number of threads – these are the messages that people have posted within that forum, and the replies that other people have posted in response.

    To add a new message, click the Create Thread button on the toolbar. This will display a screen allowing you to enter the title for the message, along with the content of the message. Your lecturer may also allow you to add files to the message as attachments. Check with them if you need to do this.

    To read a message, click on its title. Click on Reply to respond to the message.

    You now have the option to quote from a previous post in your response.

    You can also - if the lecturer has allowed this - subscribe to a Forum or to an individual thread, so that you are notified by email when a new message has been posted.

Blackboard app

A student seated in Coffee Union smiling whilst listening to music with headphones on.

The free Blackboard app, Bb Student, provides you with easy access to some features of your Blackboard courses and modules. Get your announcements, learning material, discussions, grades from anywhere.

The app is available for your Android, Apple and Windows smartphones and tablets. You can choose to receive notifications on your phone or tablet to be alerted to new announcements, grades and content.

Remember: Not everything is available in the Blackboard app so you must access Blackboard via the web (Student Portal) too. For example, the due dates for Turnitin assignments are not displayed in the app.

Two students standing outside of UWL (Ealing site), holding their phones.

The free Blackboard app, provides you with easy access to all of your Blackboard modules. Bb Student gives you access to:

  • Announcements - keep up-to-date with the latest announcements from all your courses and modules
  • Content - access learning materials and course information
  • Discussions - read and post to discussions
  • Grades - view your grades
  • More - the app also provides access to Journals,Tests and Blogs. These are not used on all modules.

You can choose to receive push notifications on your phone or tablet to be alerted to new announcements, marks and content.

Studying off-campus

A woman celebrating in front of her laptop

If you are unable to attend face-to-face sessions, you will be able to catch up online throughout this academic year. You will have access to weekly content and activities that will enable you to complete your modules online, and the ability to submit your assessment online too.

Our Studying off-campus pages will help you to understand what that means for you and can provide some tips on making the most of this time.

Frequently asked questions

IT Service desk

A student smiling while she sits next to her laptop.

For technical support using Blackboard and other learning technologies contact the IT Service Desk: