*
Internet Access: 28.8 K
dial-up modem (minimum); cable
modem, or DSL preferred
* Processor: 200 MHz or faster
* Memory: 128 MB RAM; 2 GB free
hard drive space
NOTE: These are the
minimal requirements for taking
an online course. Please refer
to your course syllabus for any
additional course-specific
hardware requirements.
*
PC:
Microsoft Windows 2000 Second
Edition, or Windows XP operating
systems
* Mac: Macintosh OS X
operating systems
Your web browser is
the program (such as Internet
Explorer, Mozilla, or your
Internet Service Provider’s
screen) that allows you to
access the Internet. The web
browsers listed below have been
tested and validated for use
with WebCT/Blackboard CE 6.
Other browsers may have
compatibility issues with CE 6
and are not supported. To
determine your current browser
version, open the Help
menu at the top of the browser
screen and select About.
If you typically use your
Internet Service Provider’s
window to access the Internet,
for your online course we
recommend that you use instead
one of the supported browsers
below. To do this, first connect
to the Internet through your ISP
as usual, then minimize
the window (do not close it!) so
that you are still connected to
the Internet. Click on the Start button at the bottom
of your screen and go to the
list of programs to open
one of the supported browsers
listed below. If you do not have
a supported browser,
click here
to download a new browser.
|
Supported Browsers
for Windows: |
*
Mozilla Firefox
*
Internet
Explorer
6.0
SP1;
6.0
SP2;
7
*
Netscape
7.2
*
AOL
9.0
Supported
Browsers
for Mac:
* Mozilla
1.7.x
(OS
X
only)
*
Firefox
1.0.x
(OS
X
only)
*
Safari
1.2,
1.3,
2.x;
and
2.x
for
Intel
x86
platform
No
matter
which
browser
you’re
using,
it must
be
configured
to work
properly
with CE
6. Many
of the
problems
that
students
encounter,
such as
login
failures
or
course
tools
not
working
properly,
can be
traced
to
browser
configuration.
Your web
browser
must be
configured
so that:
*
Java
and
JavaScript
are
enabled
*
Cache
is
set
to
reload
the
page
each
time
*
Cookies
are
enabled
*
Pop-up
blockers
are
disabled
WebCT/Blackboard
can
quickly
check
your
system
configuration
before
you
begin
your
classes.
The
first
time you
go to
the
login
entry
page,
click on
the
Check
Browser
button.
If any
features
are not
set
properly,
it will
tell you
how to
fix
them.
When
everything
is
configured
properly
you will
be ready
to log
in and
begin
your
classes.
The
best way
to
troubleshoot
any
potential
browser
issue is
to go to
the
Browser
Tune-up
page at
http://www2.blackboard.com/tuneup.
Scroll
down to
numeral
2 and
click
Start
the
Browser
Tune-up.
This
will
identify
your
operating
system
and
browser,
and take
you to a
page
that
gives
step-by-step
instructions
on how
to
configure
each
item in
your
browser.
NOTE:
Certain
courses
may have
browser
requirements
unique
to them.
Please
refer to
your
course
syllabus
for any
course-specific
browser
requirements.
Java is a program that allows many of the tools in WebCT/Blackboard to function. You may already have one or more versions of Java on your computer. In CE 6, it is critically important that you:
* have a compatible version of Java installed
* remove any other versions of Java
* enable Java and JavaScript
* turn off any automatic updates of Java
Java version 6 (also referred to as 1.6), which comes installed on most new PC's, is now validated for use with CE 6. If you have a PC with Java version 6, you will no longer have to replace it with version 5. Version 5 will still work, but it's important to have only one version of Java on your PC.
To find out which version of Java you’re running, click on the Start button, then click Settings and Control Panel. Look for Java on the list and double-click it. Click on the About button for details. Either version 1.5.0 or version 1.6.0 is acceptable for CE 6. If you do not have one of the recommended versions,
click here and scroll down to the Java - Get It Now link to download a free copy.
Mac Users: The Mac OS X operating system comes with the correct version of Java installed.
Having more than one version of Java on your computer has been found to cause problems in WebCT/Blackboard. You should remove any versions of Java other than one of the recommended versions. Click on the Start button, then click on Settings and Control Panel. Double-click Add or Remove Programs and delete any previous versions of Java.
Once you have installed the recommended version of Java and removed other versions, you must make sure that Java and JavaScript are enabled. See the directions above under Browser Configuration to complete the Browser Tune-up and to perform the steps for your browser.
NOTE: It is possible that new versions of Java will be released in the future before they have been validated for use with WebCT. To ensure smooth operation, it is important that you do not download any newer versions before they have been validated, and that you have turned off automatic Java updates as follows:
1. From the Start menu, click Settings and
Control Panel.
2. Double-click Java (or Java Plug-in).
3. Click the Update tab.
4. Make sure the checkbox next to Check for Updates Automatically is unchecked.
5. Click Apply.
6. Click the "X" to close the Java Plug-in Control Panel window.
Pop-up blocking programs must be disabled or uninstalled when you’re working in CE 6. While these programs serve a useful purpose in blocking unwanted advertisements, they also prevent many of the WebCT/Blackboard tools from working, especially the Mail, Discussion and Quiz tools.
You may have installed a pop-up blocker on your PC. In this case, locate the program on your hard drive and follow the vendor’s instructions for disabling or uninstalling it.
If you’re not sure what might have been installed on your PC, open My Computer, double-click on the Hard Drive, and double click on Program Files. Look for programs with “pop-up” in the title; some popular programs are Pop-up Stopper, Pop-up Defender and Pop-up Zapper. Disable or uninstall any such programs.
There also may be pop-up blocking tools bundled with some ISP software, browsers, and anti-virus and security software. If you’ve removed all known pop-up blockers but you’re still unable to open a link in a WebCT/Blackboard course, make sure that any pop-up blocking tools and firewalls have been turned off. Some common software packages that contain pop-up blocking tools are listed below. Use the browser’s Help menu, or contact your Internet Service Provider for assistance.
* McAfee Internet Security Suite
* Norton Internet Security
* Google Toolbar
* Yahoo! Toolbar
* MSN Toolbar
* America Online
* Earthlink
* Internet Explorer
* Netscape
* Mozilla
* Firefox
* Safari
Some courses in WebCT/Blackboard CE 6 may require software plug-ins for viewing media files, PowerPoint programs, etc. Click on the links below for free downloads if your course requires any of these programs.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
MS PowerPoint Viewer
Windows Media Player
RealPlayer
QuickTime
Shockwave
Flash
Viruses can infect your computer and interfere with the operation of CE 6. You should have an anti-virus program installed and kept up-to-date. Some popular anti-virus programs are McAfee VirusScan and Norton AntiVirus.
Click here for more information.
NOTE: Anti-virus programs such as McAfee and Norton may have pop-up blocking tools that are not detected by the WebCT/Blackboard Browser Check. Open your anti-virus program and make sure that any pop-up blocking feature or personal firewall is turned off or disabled.
Spyware, adware, and other "deceptive software" can infect your PC through the Internet and interfere with WebCT/Blackboard courses. There are detection and removal utilities that you can download. Or, the solution may be as simple as switching to a different browser; most deceptive software programs affect only Internet Explorer.
Click here for more information.
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