Blackboard Access for External Examiners

Information about accessing Blackboard (Course Resources) as an External Examiner.

If you are experiencing any challenges in relation to Blackboard the following teams will be able to support you: 

Issue Team who can resolve Please copy in
The External Examiner cannot access Blackboard i.e. forgotten password

To update your password you can self-serve by visiting: https://passwordreset.microsoftonline.com/?whr=derby.ac.uk

For further assistance please raise a request here: https://itservicecentre.derby.ac.uk/hc/en-us/requests/new

Select 'Staff' when asked 'Are you a Staff member or Student?'.

Select 'External Examiners' when asked 'What does your issue relate to?'

Select 'Off Campus' when asked to select your 'Location'.

Select 'Unable to log in' when asked to choose a 'Subject'.

Please quote your MENT number; if you are unsure of your MENT number, please contact us at externalexaminers@derby.ac.uk)

If you are raising a request please ask for externalexaminers@derby.ac.uk to be copied in to correspondence.
The External Examiner can access Blackboard but cannot see the correct modules

External Examiner team at the Centre for Quality Assurance:
Externalexaminers@derby.ac.uk 

 The Programme Lead(s)
The External Examiner can access Blackboard and can see the correct modules but not the External Examiner folder which will contain the samples of work

Digital Learning Technologies team:
dls@derby.ac.uk

externalexaminers@derby.ac.uk
and the Programme Lead (s)
The External Examiner can access Blackboard, the correct modules and the EE folder but cannot see the samples of work The Programme/Module leads for the course n/a

Please also see the below resources that have been developed for External Examiners, to help with navigating Blackboard:

Laptop on table

Blackboard guidance video

A video guide outlining how to access and use Blackboard here at Derby as an External Examiner.

View guidance videoView guidance video
Hands typing on a laptop

Blackboard

External Examiners are set up with access to the University of Derby VLE (known as Blackboard or Course Resources) and through this you will be able to view the modules and programmes that you have been allocated as part of your duties.

Access BlackboardAccess Blackboard

Frequently Asked Questions

The Appointment email, that you received upon your appointment as a University of Derby External Examiner, will have contained your username (with the format MENTXXXX@derby.ac.uk). You should then have received your password directly from our ITS team. If you need a reminder of your username please contact externalexaminers@derby.ac.uk.

Your appointment email contains your MENT account number.  It has the format of MENTXXXX. If you are having difficulty locating this please contact externalexaminers@derby.ac.uk who will be happy to advise.

It is expected that the sample of work provided to External Examiners for moderation will:

  1. Include all modes of assessment in all modules contributing to the calculation of the award or its classification. Where a mode of assessment does not lend itself to normal scrutiny, e.g. oral presentation, the Programme Leader will negotiate appropriate processes, e.g. video, with the External Examiner;
  2. Include all new modules or new modes of assessment, regardless of the stage of the programme in which they occur;
  3. Include work from a number of students equivalent to approximately the square-root of the total number of students undertaking the assessment, subject to a minimum of 5 (or the total number of students if less);
  4. Reflect the full range of grades awarded;
  5. Reflect all the delivery modes and locations of each module.

External Examiners will normally be expected to consider no more than 250 pieces of work at any one assessment point.

The Programme/Module Leader(s) inform the External Examiner when work is available to moderate on Course Resources (BlackBoard).

Details of the programme(s) are contained in your appointment letter and details of the modules are provided on your nomination form and in the ‘Appointed duties’ document you will have received in your welcome email.

External Examiners have the duty to make recommendations to the Assessment Board on the appropriateness of the allocation of grades within the regulations and grading system approved for the programme. External Examiners may not alter individual grades. However, as a result of the moderation process, it may be appropriate to recommend a review of all the grades in particular grade categories.

We would recommend using a private web page to stop any conflict with your own Institutions email address.  Our knowledge base can be used to see how to open a private internet browser window.

This is normally due to your own Institution account being detected by Microsoft.  You will need to clear your browser settings on your device to remove these details. Our knowledge base can be used to see how to clear your internet cache and cookies.  Please fully close all open web pages before logging back into the Derby account in a private web page.