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When taking an Online Course through JSU's
Blackboard Online Course System, your computer should meet the following
minimum specifications:
Note:
JSU Blackboard Maintenance Schedule
- The JSU Blackboard
Maintenance Schedule page provides a detailed
outline of our general Blackboard Maintenance Schedule, as well as
currently scheduled maintenance.
Instructors should use
this schedule as a guide for planning activities, exams and assignments
in Blackboard courses.
- Browser and Operating System:
Normally, "Microsoft Internet Explorer 6" (IE 6) works
best with Blackboard on computers running the "Microsoft Windows
XP" operating system. However, "Microsoft Internet Explorer
7" (IE 7) works best on computers running "Microsoft Windows
Vista" operating system. Choose the Blackboard certified browser
that works best for you. Depending on
your platform, certain browsers are certified, while others are at
least compatible. Go to the Browser Configuration
Guide for Blackboard to
determine what browsers are certified and/ or compatible with
Blackboard in consideration of your platform. This guide
is also an indication of what platforms/operating systems are
recommended for Blackboard.
- Browser Settings: Java and Cookies must be enabled.
In Internet Explorer 6, go to the "Tools" menu and choose
"Internet Options". Choose the "Privacy"
tab and move the slider to "Medium" (which is the default
setting) to enable Cookies. To enable Java (if not installed,
first see next item "Java Plug-in for Windows..." or Java
Plug-in for Macintosh" below), while remaining in the
"Internet Options" window choose the "Advanced"
tab. Scroll down until you see the "Java (Sun)" item
and check the box beside "Use Java...". Click
"OK". You may need to close your browser and all
other applications and restart your computer before this setting
takes effect.
- Java Plug-in for Windows users only (Mac users see
next item): Java Plug-in, J2SE Runtime Environment (JRE) 1.5.0_03
or higher (also known as JRE 5.0) is required in order to use
Blackboard. For now, avoid installing Java 6 (1.6.x),
because we are still researching it's compatibility with our current
Blackboard installation. Please go to the "Java
Update Procedure for Blackboard Users" page for important
instructions regarding the proper installation of the newer plug-in
(including instructions for the removal of any old version of the
plug-in).
- Java Plug-in for Macintosh:
Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X both come with the plug-in you need for using
Blackboard. Please
review the
"Java
Update Procedure for Blackboard Users" page for more
information. Mac OS 8
users may need the Mac OS Runtime for Java (MRJ) plug-in available at
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75097
. Users running Mac OS 8 or Mac OS 9 should us the Accessible version of the Collaboration Tools.
On the launch page, which opens when "Join" is selected on
the Collaboration Sessions page, a link to this version
appears. This link will open the Accessible version of the
Virtual Classroom, which resembles the Lightweight Chat. Links
to items that appear in the Virtual Classroom, such as items in the
Course Map and Group Browser, will appear in this version.
Documents created on the Whiteboard may be viewed if the instructor
takes a snapshot of them, using the Snapshot button on the
Whiteboard action bar. A link will be created to the snapshot
for users to view it.
- Memory: Minimum 64 MB
RAM, 1 G of free disk space. (If you have minimal RAM, you may not
be able to run other programs at the same time you are using
Blackboard, especially the Collaboration tools in Blackboard.)
- Processor speed: 150 MHz
or higher recommended.
- Internet connection: 56
K modem or better.
- Monitor: A monitor capable of at least 800 x 600
resolution is recommended.
- Tips:
- Disable pop-up blocker software.
- Remove spyware.
- Check firewall settings (if
applicable) to make sure settings aren't blocking Blackboard or
JSU sites. Depending on your access location, this could
be on your computer, on a network or through your ISP.
- Mail preferences in your chosen
email program may need to be set to open
"Mail To" commands for certain email links within
Blackboard to function properly.
- Your browser may need to be set
to check for newer versions of stored pages
every visit. In Internet Explorer 6, go to the
"Tools" menu and choose "Internet
Options". Under "Temporary Internet Files",
choose "Settings". Under "Check for newer
versions of stored pages", check "Every visit to the
page". Click "OK", the "OK"
again.
- Additional Suggested Software: Microsoft Office 97 or higher (or
Microsoft
Office Converters and Viewers -
MS Power Point 2007 Viewer, MS
Word 2003 Viewer, MS
Power Point 2003 Viewer,
MS Excel 2003 Viewer),
Adobe
Acrobat Reader ,
Windows
Media Player or equivalent,
QuickTime
plug-in,
Real Player plug-in,
OpenOffice.
(Note: Internet Explorer 6
or 7
works best for downloading these programs.)
- Anti-virus software: (Highly recommended for students;
Required for instructors. This is for your own protection and the protection of
others. Online courses involve much file sharing, which
increases your risk of computer virus infection. Anti-virus
software will help protect your computer in case of exposure to a computer virus.)
- All JSU students in Blackboard receive mail through their
JSU Email address. Click
here for information on JSU's
web-based email system (free to all JSU students, faculty and
staff). A "Forward Mail" feature is available within
the JSU Email system if students prefer to check their mail at a different
email address.
- Please contact the instructor concerning specific software or
hardware that may be required for his/her course.
- Demo Course: After
verifying the above requirements for your computer, try our Blackboard
Demo Course.
Remember also, that in order to take a JSU Online Course, you must Register.
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