Blackboard Online Support
Welcome to the online support area for blackboard. please review the information if you are experiencing dificulties with blackboard. Additional resources can be found within the blackboard program.
Browsers
Browser Requirements for Blackboard 6
A browser is an application program that provides a way to look at and interact with all the information on the World Wide Web.
Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher and Netscape 6.2 or higher are the recommended browsers for use with Blackboard for Windows. Macintosh: Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher and Netscape 6.0 or higher. However, browser versions Netscape 4.01 or higher and Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher can be used.
Cookies and JavaScript Must Be Enabled. Cookies store your username and password, while JavaScript runs the Discussion Board.
To tell what version browser you are using...
- Right mouse click on the icon that is located on your desktop. For Internet Explorer, a menu will pop-up.
- Click Open. This will open the Internet Explorer window. At the top of the window is a menu, click Help.
- Another menu will open; scroll down and click About Internet Explorer.
- The browser version will be listed in the next window that pops-up.
Browser Types
The most widely used browsers today are Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. Most computers have an updated version of an external browser such as Internet Explorer pre-installed.
Download Internet Explorer for Windows
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.aspx?displaylang=en&categoryid=6
Download Internet Explorer for Mac
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/internetexplorer/internetexplorer.aspx?pid=internetexplorer
Download Netscape
http://channels.netscape.com/ns/browsers/default.jsp
America Online and Other Service Providers
America Online (AOL), Prodigy, and CompuServe are Internet Service Providers (ISPs) who attempt to capture their audience through a dynamic web interface. As part of their software, they provide an internal web browser that allows users to browse the web. We do not recommend using these browsers with Blackboard software.
CAUTION: Using these particular internal browsers may cause sporadic problems with your online course and prohibit you from utilizing all of the features in Blackboard. To minimize the possibility of browser related problems, we strongly recommend using an external browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape when accessing your online courses.
OPENING AN EXTERNAL BROWSER:
- Sign on through AOL to access the Internet
- Double click on the Internet Explorer (IE) or Netscape icon on your desktop to open an external browser
- If you do not have one of these browsers preinstalled on your computer, please follow the links above to download
NOTE: In order to view and/or use Power Point or other multimedia presentations, we also suggest that you use Internet Explorer or Netscape version 4.0 or higher.
ERROR MESSAGE: BROWSER COOKIES DISABLED
Blackboard requires the acceptance of a cookie by your browser software. It is used for secure access to course information and other features within Blackboard that are appropriate for you.
If you see the above error message, it means the system has been unable to place the cookie.
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Tools for Use with Blackboard
This page contains links that will allow you to download "free" viewers, audio/video media players, compression/decompression tools, document readers, and animation players. Download the tools needed for your course documents.
Microsoft Viewers (.doc, .xls, .ppt)
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdate/CD010224911033.aspx
Quick Time Player (.mps, .mov, etc)
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/
Win Zip for Windows (.zip) *
http://www.winzip.com/ddchomea.htm
Stuffit Expander for Mac
http://www.stuffit.com/mac/expander/index.html
Adobe Acrobat Reader (.pdf)
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
Shockwave and Flash Player (.swf)
http://sdc.shockwave.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?
Real Player Basic (.ra, .rm, .rpm, .ram)
http://www.real.com/player/?src=downloadr
Windows Media Player (.asx, .asf, .wma, .wmv)
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp
Note: WinZip is considered shareware and can be downloaded for evaluation purposes only.
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The Digital Drop Box and Files
The Digital Drop Box is a tool that allows students to exchange files (assignments, papers, reports, etc) with their Instructor. It may be accessed one of two ways, depending on usage. The individual student may access the Drop Box by clicking on the Courses tab and then Student Tools
If your Instructor has set up groups, you also have a group Drop Box called File Exchange, which can be accessed by clicking on the Courses tab and Groups
Note: Please refer to the Blackboard Online Student Manual. For additional information on the Digital Drop Box, you can also access the Student Manual from within Blackboard by clicking on the Courses tab > Student Tools > Manual > Student Tools > Digital Dropbox
Files
You may upload files to send to your instructor from the Digital Drop box page.
The following functions are available from the Digital Drop box page:
- Add File: Upload files to the Drop Box
- Send File: Send a file to the instructor
Note:
Please refer to the Blackboard Online Student Manual. For additional information on files, you can also access the Student Manual from within Blackboard by clicking on the Courses tab > Student Tools > Manual > Student Tools > Digital Drop Box > Add or Send File.
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Quizzes
Online quizzes in Blackboard may cause potential problems for DIAL-UP USERS
Inactivity
When taking a quiz or an exam, you are essentially just viewing one web page. This makes it appear as though you are inactive, and you may find yourself disconnected due to inactivity.
AOL Users: We do not recommend using the AOL browser, but an external browser installed on your hard drive. If you log on to the Internet through AOL, then open a second browser window (Internet Explorer or Netscape) and log in to Blackboard.
Other Internet Service Providers: One of the better ways to prevent disconnection is to set your e-mail program to check for new mail every 10 minutes or so.
Note:
Please contact their Customer Service to find out if a setting can be changed to prevent disconnection due to inactivity.
Quitting by Accident
If you lose electricity, accidentally close the window or the browser crashes, contact your instructor. The software is designed to allow a quiz to be taken only once, so your instructor will have to reset it. To avoid losing a quiz, close down all other programs running on the computer. Avoid distraction and focus only on the quiz until it is complete.
Resizing May Erase Data
Be careful not to close or resize the window. Select a comfortable window size prior to clicking on the Quiz link. Warning: In Netscape, resizing the Quiz window will cause information
entered up to that point to be erased. All answers will need to be reentered.
Firewalls
If you have a firewall installed on your computer and/or network system, you may get an error message telling you that your system was configured to deny access to this URL.
The solution is to take the quiz at a computer at MATC or somewhere that doesn't have a firewall.
Empty Folder
If you click on the assigned Quiz folder, and it is empty, please contact your Instructor.
Tips
Some of you have experienced difficulties when taking a quiz. Here are a couple of suggestions:
- Click Submit ONLY ONCE. If your Internet connection is slow, you may think the quiz is not being sent. Wait at least 2-5 minutes for a confirmation that your quiz was received. The quiz must be sent, scored, and the results returned to you.
- If you must enter a password to begin the quiz, click the Submit button. Do not press the Enter key
- If you have call waiting, be sure to disable it by dialing *70 before connecting to the Internet.
- Insist that no one in your home pick up another phone while you are taking the quiz. This can disconnect you.
- Contact your instructor directly if you have a situation that you are unable to resolve.
Note:
If you do get disconnected, don't close your browser. Re-establish your internet connection, click your browser's back button so your test copy is visible and click Submit. If you are uneasy about your quiz being recorded, you may want to print a copy for your records.
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