The University of Hong Kong Blackboard Vista 8

How to start with my new course on Blackboard?

Upon your first login to your new course on Blackboard, you will be given a blank course.

  1. Select course functions
  2. Edit your course
  3. Grant student access (if not yet done when applying for your course)
  4. Inform your students

Step #1 Select course functions

Upon your first entrance to your new course, a "Quick Start" menu will be displayed with which you can select your course functions. The following functions are available:

  1. Organizational Tools - Calendar, Search, Syllabus
  2. Communication Tools - Announcements, Chat, Discussions, Mail, Who's Online
  3. Student Learning Activities - Assessments, Assignments
  4. Content Tools - Learning Modules, Local Content, Media Library, SCORM, Web Links
  5. Student Tools - My Files, My Grades, My Progress, Notes

You will then be given the homepage of your course.

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Step #2 Edit your course

  1. Click the "Build" tab to edit your course.
    • Click on the selected functions and you will find the corresponding actions available. (Further help can be obtained from other "How to" documents.
  2. Click the "Teach" tab to conduct teaching activities, e.g.
    • Evaluating assignments
    • Managing student grades
  3. Click the "Student View" tab to view your course as student.

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Step #3 Grant student access according to enrolment data of Registry

The easiest way to create student accounts is to use the HKU WebCT Automatic Account System (HKU WebCT AAS) developed by the Computer Centre to grant student access based on the updated enrolment records of Registry, and students' HKU Portal UID. However, if you need to create ad hoc student accounts, or if your students do not have HKU Portal UID, you may also create guest account for your students.

If you choose to enable student access immediately when applying for your course, Computer Centre will perform this step for you; otherwise, you will need to take this step yourself.

  1. Login HKU Portal
  2. Select MyWebCT tab
  3. Click Grant Student Access button next to your course
  4. Enter group of students
    • Select Create by Course Code and enter Course Code, e.g. BUSI1001, or
    • Select Create by Faculty/Year and enter the faculty + year, e.g. Education, Year 1, or
    • Select Create by Curriculum/Year and enter faculty + curriculum - code + year, e.g. Science, BSc - 03, Year 1
  5. Enter your HKU email address.
  6. Click submit button to submit your request.
  7. Repeat Steps #4-6 if you need to create accounts for more than one student group.



  8. Your request will then be served in a queue. Student accounts will be effective within 1 hour and you will receive email notification on the results and your course is ready for use.
  9. Students can then access your course via HKU Portal -> MyWebCT.
  10. Note :
  11. Update on your class list will be done automatically for your selected semester/year according to the latest enrolment data from Registry. And you will receive email notification on any changes. You need to, however, refresh your class list every time you use it for a new semester. Please consult reset course for explanation.

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Step #4 Inform your students

Inform your students to access your new electronic course from MyWebCT of their HKU Portal.

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