View Blackboard as a Student

It is helpful for instructors to understand what students see in Blackboard and how students navigate to feedback and grades. The topics along the top of this page explain how students view different elements in Blackboard.

Using the Student Preview Mode

As you begin working on your course content, you'll soon realize the importance of navigating assessments and graded activities as your students do. The easiest way to see what your students see is in the Blackboard "Student View" mode. As the "Student", you'll be able to earn scores on quizzes, discussions, assignments or other activities. As an instructor, you'll be able to provide feedback on preview student's submissions and assessment attempts.

1. Click the "Student Preview" icon on the top right hand side of your BB course homepage.
   
   
2. You'll see the yellow banner that indicates Student View is on. Also, you'll see the button to configure settings.
   
   
3. You'll see two options for settings. Bb recommends you delete data, but that means you'll lose any submissions or work done in Student Preview Mode. If you have content that relies upon criteria for release, you'll need to keep resubmitting in order to view.
   
   

When to Use Student Preview

• Use to test your adaptive releases on lessons or activities. Refer to Access & Release for more information.
• Use to confirm new assessment and assignment availability.
• Use to test links, open documents, and watch videos. Sometimes BB permissions can make these unavailable to students.

Key Differences between Student and Instructor View

• Aside from the fact that students cannot edit anything in Bb or see the Course Management menu, one key thing to note is that students cannot open the Grade Center.
• To view their grades, students use the My Grades link in the course menu. Make sure this link is always available to students.