Step 4: Profile

Introduction

In this step you will learn the value of setting up your Blackboard Profile, the restrictions surrounding your profile picture and avatar as well as learning how to use the Name Pronunciation tool to help others understand your name.

Key Points on this page:

Blackboard Profile Avatar Images

CITS has locked down the ability to alter Profile Avatar images. The only thing you can do is choose whether or not it shows your UMID OneCard photo ID - and that setting is here: https://blackboard.umaryland.edu/webapps/blackboard/execute/myPlacesSettings?command=edit  (the choice is either "display" or "do not display"). The other settings on that page are not related to avatar images. You cannot change your avatar image. You can only choose whether the "system generated avatar image" displays or not. The photo is ONLY the OneCard photo associated with your UMB ID card. 

However, changing that setting may not have any affect - and CITS has reported this bug to Blackboard, Inc. Currently, if you want your avatar UMID OneCard image to display and it is not currently showing, you would need to contact dl-citsbbsupport@umaryland.edu to have them load your OneCard photo into the system. That is the only image that is currently allowed under CITS' policy, you cannot upload your own/any other image.

You can also now visit your profile in the new Ultra system,: (https://blackboard.umaryland.edu/ultra/profile) and there is much you can update there, but that does not currently include your photo image. 

Recording Your Name Pronunciation

It is now possible to do an audio recording of your name pronunciation in your Blackboard profile, as well as type out a phonetic spelling:

Go to this link and log into your Blackboard account with your UMID: https://blackboard.umaryland.edu/ultra/profile/update?focusField=pronunciation

When viewing somone's profile, you can Play name pronunciation if they have recorded one, or view the Pronunciation: 


Verifying Your Email Address

While you are looking at the Personal Information, click on Edit Personal Information and check to see if your correct @ssw.umaryland.edu (for faculty/staff) or @umaryland.edu (for students) email address is listed next to Email.

If it is not correct, email ideateam@ssw.umaryland.edu so that we can help get that corrected. Without that in place, you won't be able to send or receive emails or notifications via Blackboard. 

If you are a UMB employee and/or have the wrong address showing in Blackboard, visit the Directory to set your primary email to the one you would like to show in your Blackboard profile. 

If your name also needs to be corrected, please use the Preferred Name form to update your preferred name. 

To learn more, visit the Blackboard page on personal settings.


Page Summary:

CITS enforces a profile avatar image lockdown, preventing users from changing their profile avatars. Instead, users are restricted to displaying their UMID OneCard photo ID. They have the option to choose whether to display this photo or not. The only permissible image under CITS policy is the OneCard photo linked to the UMB ID card; uploading other images is not allowed. Users can access their profiles at https://blackboard.umaryland.edu/ultra/profile. Additionally, a name pronunciation tool is now available.

Exercise 4: