Reference

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 Connection Problems with
Blackboard You Can Check For

853 Library Lane, Louisville, KY 40203  Phone: (502) 585-7130  FAX: (502) 585-7156

Return to Spalding University Library JAWS-Friendly Home Page

Trouble Connecting to Blackboard or Using Certain Functions?
  Wait!  Before You Hit the Panic Button...
Check out these Web sites, which will test your browser setup 
and check for add-in software needed by Blackboard for proper functionality.  

NOTE:  Do NOT click any links except those for browser checks and standard plug-in downloads; all other links (including any for Blackboard log-in) 
are for only the faculty and student population of the specific university.  Also, ignore any instructions or suggestions you may see to set 
shortcuts  or browsers to specific university paths or programs as these as well are purely for students and faculty of the particular institution.   

Compatible Browsers
What browsers work with Blackboard and which ones do not?  This is an important question and consideration because if you use a browser that does not or does not fully support Blackboard, you will experience the same range of problems users without proper settings on compliant browsers experience--from no access to limited participation in the online course.  Some browsers, such as AOL and MSN's all but current ones, will either not work at all or work only partially and poorly.  The following sites identify (in most cases for both Mac and PC) browsers that are certified to work optimally, browsers that are known to work sufficiently, and others that are not yet tested.  Also, some of the sites provide additional helpful and important information, e.g., about ad-blockers, firewalls and routers, etc.  Note: See very last link at bottom of this page for browsers validated specifically for Windows Vista users.
 
Dominican University's Blackboard Compatibility Listing This page also contains info on firewalls and ad-blockers.
Nicholls State Blackboard Browser Guide Add IE 7.n when IE is referenced; also has good info on browser settings. 

Browser Settings
By settings we mean things like Java enabled, Cookies set to "accept," security set to a lower level, the version level of Adobe's Acrobat Reader, and so on.  These and a number of other issues are truly critical to the successful performance of Blackboard on your computer.  Any one of them not set or (in some cases) turned on, or some add-in not at the latest version, is capable of stopping you or your browser cold.  The effects can be anything from not being able to access Blackboard at all to not being able to participate in virtual classrooms, group meetings, office hours, or discussions in forums.  Assessing all these matters and checking their status can be a difficult and/or confusing task as can be searching for where to go to make needed changes.  But help is quickly available!  There are places on the Web (several excellent  links are provided below for your convenience) that will automatically check the status of your browser and add-in software.  All you have to do to check these things is simply go there  by clicking on any of the links below.  Your browser and its settings will be checked for Blackboard functionality and you'll be advised of any problems.  (Note that sections following this one will provide instruction on where to find settings on your computer and what to do to change them for Blackboard usability; you'll also find checks for required plug-in software and links to their download sites.)  

Victoria University's Blackboard Browser's Requirements Check  The final test item is not always definitive of a problem.
Saginaw Valley State Univ. Browser/Internet Capabilities Diagnostic Test  Includes plug-in checks and testing, plus download sites.
Georgia Virtual Tech College Blackboard Browser Check Minimal checker, but covers the essentials.
Assumption College Blackboard Browser Checker  Another small checker, but includes downloads/instruction


Making Changes in Browser Settings
The following links provide excellent brief explanation of why certain browser settings must be set certain ways and, further, a clear  description of where to go and what to do for each.  Note:  Ignore areas where a Georgia Virtual Technical College server or path is specifically named in the discussion, particularly if it advises you to use a referenced path for a desktop shortcut!

GVTC's Guide to Browser Settings and How to Make Them Instructions for PCs and IE and Netscape only.
Ryerson University's Guide to Safari Browser Settings These instructions are for Mac-Safari users.


Required Browser Plug-ins
While plug-in software has already been noted in some of the browser settings web sites above, their importance is so important to the full functionality of Blackboard in all its areas it is no crime here to devote an entire section of this page to them and close it with hyperlinks to their respective sites.

Thomas University's "Is Your Computer Ready?" Click the "Plug-ins" tab for links to download sites; other tabs cover other important areas (e.g., hardware, firewalls, etc.) of Bb readiness.
Webster University's "Technical Requirements: Blackboard Vista" Links to required plug-ins are at the bottom of the page; other information includes browser compatibility (with emphasis on the Vista operating system, though the indicated browsers, etc. at the specified levels will work with earlier (97-XP) Windows OS versions).  Also: readers for Windows Office programs not on a user's computer, as well as the converter software to open the new 2007 Word documents, are available via links in the section titled "Additional Software" immediately preceding the final page section, "Browser Plugins."