Skip to Main Content
University of York Library
Library Subject Guides

Angharad's Copy of Learning Technology - Practical Guide

Using the Blackboard App

Testing structure and content layout

Using the Blackboard App

The blackboard app allows you to access the VLE from your mobile device, and do things such as checking course content and contribute to discussions. It is not recommended to use the Blackboard App for any assessment-related activity, such as checking grades or submitting assessments.

The Blackboard App

You can use the Blackboard app to access the VLE on a mobile device:

The app is useful for quickly checking course content, announcements and participating in Discussion Forums.

Don't use the Blackboard app for any assessment activity!

Setting up the Blackboard App

Once you have installed the app, you need to log in to be able to access the VLE. 

  1. Enter University of York (not York University, that's in Canada) into the 'type your school/workspace name' field
  2. Tap the Log in / Continue with Web-Login button (changes depending on your device type)
  3. Enter your VLE log in information (eg username abc123)
  4. Tap Log in
  5. Duo two-factor authentication

This is a series of screenshots from the Blackboard app demonstrating the steps detailed above. The screenshots show entering University of York into the school name field, clicking 'log in', entering log in information, and the duo two factor authentication notification.

You can now access the VLE through the Blackboard app. 

Navigating the Blackboard App

  • Click a module from the Courses page on the bottom of the screen to open its Course Materials page, containing Announcements, Course Content and other items.
  • The Course Content page is the equivalent of the left hand menu on the browser site (items might appear in a different order) - choose the area you want to look at.
  • To go back, use the back arrow at the top left of the screen or the usual back function on your mobile.

Find out more:

When to use the Blackboard App?

  1. Quickly checking course content and announcements
  2. Reading and responding to discussions
  3. Adding to a journal

Don't use the Blackboard App for: 

  1. Assessments - including checking due dates, assignment details, grades/feedback, taking tests, and submitting assignments.
  2. Panopto - use the panopto app instead, or use google chrome or mozilla firefox on mobile to watch lecture recordings.
  3. Reading lists - use google chrome or mozilla firefox instead.

It is not recommended that you use the mobile app for any assessment related activity. Mobile app updates can disrupt functionality of these with little warning, and so the mobile app should not be used for important activity such as assessments.