FaQs for the PC
What internet browser can I use to access Blackboard?

With the PC, the following browsers have been fully tested and supported by Blackboard:

Other browsers, such as Mozilla Firefox and Opera, although not fully supported, are considered compatible and should function properly.

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How do I open attachments?

The best way to view attachments is to first save them to your hard drive, and then open the attachments from there. In Internet Explorer, you can save the file from the link by using the right mouse click and choosing "Save Target As." In Netscape Navigator, when you right click on the link, choose “Save Link Target as…”

If you are using Internet Explorer with Microsoft Office and are trying to view a PDF or Office document, the document will be displayed in the browser window if you click on the link as if it were another HTML document. This is handy if you just want to view the document.

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How do you convert a Word Document into an HTML file?
  1. Create your document in Word.
  2. When you save the file, go to File, Save As, give it a filename and under "Save as type:" select HTML Document and save it to the Desktop. (You can move it to another folder later, but to the Desktop for easy access).
  3. Once the document has been saved, you can now go to Discussion Board.
  4. Select Add New Thread button, or the Reply button.
  5. Click on the browse button and to locate the HTML file on the Desktop.
  6. Click on "Submit" and this should do the trick.

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How do I change my computer's monitor resolution?

If you can't see the entire page from side-to-side, then you probably need to adjust your monitor's resolution. You may change your monitor's resolution as follows: 

  1. Go to the Start menu at the lower left of your screen
  2. Select Settings and then Control Panel
  3. Open the Display application
  4. Choose the Settings tab at the top of the window
  5. In the Desktop Area section, reset your monitor's display to 800 by 600 or greater
  6. Click OK

If you can't see the entire page from top to bottom, simply use the scroll bar at the right of your screen to move up and down.

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How do you attach a file to the Discussion Board on Blackboard?

To post your file as an attachment

  1. Click on the "Discussion Board" Navigation Button
  2. Click on a forum (i.e. Week #9)
  3. Click on the "Add New Thread" button or the "Reply" button on an existing posting
  4. Enter a subject and message
  5. Click on the "Browse..." button towards the bottom of the page.
  6. A "Choose File" window will appear. This is where you would choose the file you would like to attach to the message (RTF file format suggested).
  7. Once you have selected the file, click on the "Open" button
  8. Click on the "Submit" button.
  9. Your file should then be attached to your posting.

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How do I clear the browser's cache?

You may want to try clearing your browser's cache. Your browser stores temporary files in an area on your computer called a cache. Over time, the cache can become large and cause Web pages not to load properly. It is recommended that you clear your browser cache at least once a month.

Internet Explorer 6.x:

  1. Open Internet Explorer
  2. Click on Tools on the main menu bar
  3. Click on Internet Options
  4. Click on "Delete Files" under Temporary Internet files
  5. Check "Delete all offline content" box
  6. Click "OK"
  7. Click on "Delete Cookies"
  8. Click "OK"
  9. Click on "OK" to close Internet Options
  10. Close and reopen Internet Explorer.

Explorer 5.x or later:

  1. Select "Tools | Internet Options..." from the main menu
  2. Change to the "General" tab
  3. Click on "Delete Files" button
    TIP: If you have stored web pages for offline viewing, check "Delete all offline content"

Netscape Navigator 6.x or later:

  1. Open Netscape Navigator
  2. Click on Edit on the main menu bar
  3. Click on Preferences
  4. Click on "Advanced"
  5. Click on "Cache"
  6. Click on "Clear Memory Cache"
  7. Click on "Clear Disk Cache"
  8. Click on "OK" to close Preferences
  9. Close and reopen Netscape Navigator

Netscape 8.0:

  1. Open Netscape Navigator
  2. Click on Tools on the main menu bar
  3. Click on Options...
  4. Click on "Privacy"
  5. Click on "Cache"
  6. Click on "Clear" next to Cookies
  7. Click on "Clear" next to Cache
  8. Click on "OK" to close Options...
  9. Close and reopen Netscape

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How do I change my Blackboard Privacy Option?

To make your email address appear you will need to change your Privacy Options.  To do this, you will need to go back to the student Welcome page, click on Personal Information, and then select Set Privacy Options.  This is where you can select the information you would like to make public.

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What are some things that I need to know about taking an Exam?

Blackboard is recommending that students be made aware of the following issues.

Taking the Exam.

Students should realize when they start to take a quiz or exam, once they have begun, they must be able to finish in that seating. Also, while taking the exam, the student should not attempt to print the exam, go to another website, or log off without submitting.

Connectivity.

Since the browser does not generate any network traffic while a student is completing an assessment in Blackboard, the student's ISP may drop the connection due to inactivity (no traffic passing over the connection). If a student's connection is lost, as long as they re-establish the connection without closing the Blackboard window before they submit or make any other changes to the browser window, then they should be able to submit without a problem (and be sure not to minimize the browser window if using Netscape).

Keep a second browser window open (say, to Yahoo or whatever) and make changes to it every few minutes to generate traffic. The best solution is for the student to download freeware/shareware "connection management" tools. These tools run in the background and generate a few bytes of traffic over the connection every few minutes (StayAlive Pro or KeepAlive). Some ISPs are wise to this tactic and block traffic from those kinds of applications. Individuals may need to experiment with these or similar tools to find one that works with their ISP.

Taking a quiz in Blackboard is straightforward and provides immediate results.

    1. Log in to Blackboard
    2. From the My Blackboard tab, under My Courses, click the desired course where the quiz will be found
    3. Under Announcements, or under the area designated by your instructor, click on the desired quiz. A dialog box appears asking if you are sure you would like to take the quiz now.
    4. Click OK
    5. Take the quiz
    6. When finished, click SUBMIT. A dialog box appears asking if you are sure you would like to submit the assessment now.
    7. Click OK or CANCEL as appropriate. Once you click OK, a screen appears showing you the results of your quiz and the score you received. You may click on the symbol (or your score if present) and your completed quiz will appear.
    8. When finished viewing quiz results, click OK
    9. A Check Grade screen appears showing you the grades you have in the rest of the course.
    10. When finished viewing course results, click OK
    11. The Tools screen appears. You may check your grade again or move on to other things in Blackboard.

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I am having printing problems with Microsoft Internet Explorer. What Can I do?

These instructions apply to printing problems with Internet Explorer only:

  1. Click on "Tools"
  2. Select "Internet Options"
  3. Select "Advanced"
  4. Scroll down to "Printing", check the box next to "Print background colors and images"
  5. Click on "Apply", then click on "OK"; next please close (shutdown) your browser in order for these new options to take effect

NOTE: If the solution above does not solve your printing problem, please contact the vendor of your printer and request configuration specifications for printing from the Internet using your specific platform.

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How do I resize an image?

To resize the image, open the image in Photoshop. On the Tool Bar,

  1. Go to Image > Image Size... and the "Image Size" window should appear.
  2. On the bottom of the box under "Document Size", change the "Resolution" to 100 pixels/inches.
  3. Under "Pixel Dimensions" at the top of the box, you are going to change the "Width" to 500 pixels. The "Height" will automatically adjust itself to the correct proportions.
  4. Hit the "OK" button and the picture should look very small.
  5. From here, on the Tool Bar, go to View and then Actual Pixels.

This will display the image as the actual size.

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What Microsoft Viewers do PC users need to teach or take a class?

In addition to using Netscape 7.x (http://browser.netscape.com/ns8/download/archive.jsp) or Internet Explorer 5 or higher (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.aspx?displaylang=en), PC users will need the following:

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How do I change my Email Address on Blackboard?

Please submit a webform (http://www.uclaextension.edu/blackboardsupport) to have your Email address updated on Blackboard.

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What are the minimum user system/software requirements?

Students need a PC or Macintosh computer with reliable access to the Internet, and Internet Explorer 5.0 (or higher) or Netscape Navigator 7.0 (or higher). We also recommend the following:

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Does Blackboard have a spell checker?

No, Blackboard does not have a spell checking feature. A Workaround would be to compose and edit text, whether it is a message or document, in your word processor or HTML editor and run a spell check before copying it into Blackboard.

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Why do I keep getting disconnected?

If you are using AOL, MSN, Earthlink, etc. as your Internet service provider (ISP), you may get "timed out" of the system. When these ISPs sense you are not actively using its interface, it will think you meant to disconnect but didn't. Unfortunately, it doesn't recognize activity in external browsers, so it may disconnect you. Right now, the best option is using the internal browser to visit a site that continually updates, like cnn.com. If you are not using AOL and are having problems, first check to see if you are only getting disconnected from your classes, or whether you are getting disconnected completely from the Internet. If it is the former, contact your Course Manager. For the latter, you should contact technical support for your ISP to troubleshoot.

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I am having problems with accessing my course or course materials through AOL. What can I do?

AOL has an internal Web browser which does not have the same capabilities as the recommended browsers, Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. Often problems with accessing course materials can be most easily solved by using either of these separate browsers through your AOL connection. Simply connect to the Internet using AOL as you normally would, then hide or minimize the AOL software and launch either Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. Go to http://uclaextension.blackboard.com, login to Blackboard, and you should then have complete access to your course for as long as your AOL connection remains active. If you are frequently disconnected by AOL, please see our answer to Why do I keep getting disconnected?

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What types of attachments should be used?

It is important when using attachments, or assigning students to submit work through attachments, that you can read what the students are submitting and they can read what you are posting. Here are some document types you should use. If the attachments you are planning to use are not on the list, be sure the software your students will need is listed as a requirement for the class. Accessibility (in order):

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Why is an attachment "unreadable?"

If you are having trouble viewing/opening an attachment, it is likely because you don't have the appropriate software to view it. In most cases, having the attachment re-posted using one of the suggested formats solves the problem.

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Can I "quote" a message I am responding to?

You can quote a message you are responding to, but Blackboard will not do it for you. You will need to copy the text out of the message to which you are responding (which is just below your reply box) and paste that text into your reply box. To differentiate your response from the original message, add a carat > before the text you are quoting, or quotation marks. Then space down a bit from the end of the quote before starting your own reply message. You can add the HTML tag ‹b› for bold to further distinguish your own reply. Just keep the message in the Smart Text default option and write ‹b› before your phrase and ‹/b› at the end of your phrase.

Keep in mind when a student is reading a reply to a message thread, the original message will always be displayed underneath, so it may not be necessary to quote the original.

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How do I format text in Blackboard?

Currently Blackboard does not allow you to format text with built-in editing tools. You can, however, use selected HTML tags around text to change its appearance while remaining within the Smart Text option. If you know how to write an entire message in HTML code, you can write the entire message in code and select the HTML option.

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How do I use the Digital Drop Box?

The Digital Drop Box allows students to exchange files with the instructor. You can access it from the Tools area (click on the "Tools" button or link to the left of the screen.)

There are two options on the Digital Drop Box area: "Add File" and "Send File". It is very important that you understand the difference between these two options to ensure that your assignments are received and graded in a timely matter.

To add file to your drop box:
You can use the "Add File" button to store files to your drop box. Note that files added to your drop box are not sent to the instructor. The instructor cannot see or access the files. Files that have been added to your drop box will show the date and time of posting and will be marked as "Posted".

In this example, "Week One Assignment" has simply been added to the student's drop box:

Week One Assignment
Bruin, Joe (jbruin)
Posted 03-10-2005 09:28
Comments: My first assignment.

When adding a file, Blackboard displays the following as a reminder: "This file will be added but NOT sent. In order to send the file, please use the Send File button. Send File can be used to simultaneously ADD and SEND a file"

To send a file to the instructor's drop box:
If you want to submit a file to the instructor's drop box, you must use the Send File button. This will also add the file to your drop box automatically. Files that have been sent to the instructor's drop box will show the date and time of submission and will be marked as "Submitted". After you have sent a file through the Digital Drop Box, make sure to check that the file status is "Submitted".

In this example, "Week One Assignment" has been sent to the instructor's drop box:

Week One Assignment
Bruin, Joe (jbruin)
Submitted 02-14-2005 08:15
Comments: My first assignment.

In addition to "Posted" and "Submitted", you may also see files marked as "Received". This status means that your instructor has sent you a file.

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Can Discussion Board messages be read without opening each of them individually?

Yes, you can "collect" the messages and view them in one page. The resulting page will give you the option of individually replying to any of the messages in the collection. To do this, you must first click on the "Show Options" button (it looks like a tab in the upper right of the screen). That will allow you to select individual messages through a checkbox to the left of the message. Once you have selected all you wish to view, click on "Collect."

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Where do I go for help?

The Course Manager is the primary contact person who can help you with any Blackboard-related questions, as well as general and administrative questions. You can contact the Course Manager at coursemanager@uclaextension.edu.

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What is the Zip compression format and how do I use it?

File compression is used to share large files or package several files together into one file. The most common file compression format on Windows computers is the Zip format. WINZIP is a compression utility for Windows. You can download the shareware file compression utility from http://www.winzip.com if you have not already done so.

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FaQs for the Mac
What Microsoft Viewers do Mac users need to teach or take a class?

In addition to using Netscape 7.x (http://browser.netscape.com/ns8/download/archive.jsp) or Internet Explorer 5 or higher (http://www.microsoft.com/mac/download/default.asp#IE), Mac users will need the following:

[Back to Mac Faq Index]

Does Blackboard have a spell checker?

No, Blackboard does not have a spell checking feature. A Workaround would be to compose and edit text, whether it is a message or document, in your word processor or HTML editor and run a spell check before copying it into Blackboard.

[Back to Mac Faq Index]

What are the minimum user system/software requirements?

Students need a PC or Macintosh computer with reliable access to the Internet, and Internet Explorer 5.0 (or higher) or Netscape Navigator 7.0 (or higher). We also recommend the following:

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What internet browser can I use to access Blackboard?

With the Mac OS 10.3.x, the following browsers have been fully tested and supported by Blackboard:

With the Mac OS 10 - 10.2.x, the following browsers have been fully tested and supported by Blackboard:

With the Mac OS 9.x and earlier, the following browser has been fully tested and supported by Blackboard:

Other browsers, such as Mozilla Firefox and Opera, although not fully supported, are considered compatible and should function properly.

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Can I use the Mac OS 10.x?

Mac OS 10.x is particularly well suited for online learning. Like Windows, Mac OS 10.x uses file extensions to help keep track of which program to use when opening a file. File extensions are also necessary when sharing files in an online classroom or with Windows users. To learn more about file extensions please see the item below, What do Mac users need to know about sharing files with Windows users?

Mac OS 10.x usually comes set to hide the file extensions in the name of all files. However, to make sure any file you share in an online classroom has the appropriate file extension, it is recommended that Mac OS 10.x users change this default setting to always show file extensions. You change this setting by clicking on the "Finder" menu in the upper left and choosing "Preferences", then place a check mark in the box next to "Always show file extensions". If you don't want to always show the file extensions on your Mac, then prior to sharing any file in an online classroom or via email, hold down the "Control" key on your keyboard, click on the file you want to share, then choose "Get Info". Next, click on the "General Information" menu, then choose "Name and Extension" so you can uncheck the box next to "Hide Extension". In the "Get Info" area of any file you can also use the "Open with application" option to tell your Mac what program to automatically use when opening any file with that file extension.

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How do I change my computer's monitor resolution?

If you can't see the entire page from side-to-side, then you probably need to adjust your monitor's resolution. You may change your monitor's resolution as follows:

  1. Click on the Apple icon at the upper left of your screen
  2. Select Control Panels / Monitors and Sound from the pull-down list
  3. In the Resolution section, reset your monitor's display to 800 by 600 or greater

If you can't see the entire page from top to bottom, simply use the scroll bar at the right of your screen to move up and down.

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Why does Netscape 7 on Mac OS 10.x only print the first page of a multi-page document?

Blackboard classrooms are composed of frames, the most obvious ones being the left-side navigation buttons frame and the main content area frame that takes up most of the window to the right of the navigation buttons. Netscape 7 on Mac OS 10.x defaults to only recognizing the left-side navigation frame when it prints. That means you only receive the navigation buttons and the first page across from them when you try to print a multi-page document or screen.

However, there are two easy ways around this so you can print an entire multi-page document (or discussion forum) in Netscape 7. Here's how:

Option 1:

    1. Navigate to the document or discussion forum you want to print.
    2. Position the cursor anywhere in the document you want to print, then click and hold down on the mouse button so a menu becomes visible near the cursor.
    3. One of the menu options will be "This frame" with a small arrow. Choose "This Frame" and in the next menu that automatically becomes visible, choose from "Show Only This Frame", "Open Frame in New Tab" or "Open Frame in New Window". Any one of these options will load the frame with the document you want to print into its own browser or tab window.
    4. Now you can print the entire document, and you'll also save ink by not printing the left-side navigation buttons.
    5. When you're done printing, depending on which frame option you chose in step 3 above, to return to the regular classroom view you can either click on Netscape's "Back" button, close the new tab window, or close the new browser window.

Option 2:

    1. Select File from the Menu
    2. Select Print
    3. Find the menu for your printer that allows you to see the Print Frames options and select 'Each frame separately'

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How do I open attachments on a Mac?

The best way to view attachments is to first save them to your hard drive, then open the attachments from there. In Internet Explorer you can save the file from the link to it by clicking and holding on the link (or holding down the control key while clicking on the link) until the menu comes up. Choose "Download Link to Disk." In Netscape Navigator when you click on the link you will be prompted to save it. If you are using Internet Explorer and have Adobe's Acrobat Reader installed to view a PDF or HTML document, the document can be displayed in the browser window if you click the link to it. These links can help:

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I just downloaded a file and my Mac says it cannot find the application to read it. What can I do?

To ensure that all members of a class can read each other's work, RTF and HTML file formats are the recommended. Some versions of ClarisWorks or AppleWorks come with translators for other programs, so you may be able to translate the file if you drag and drop the document onto your word processor's icon. If this doesn't open the file, you may have to open the file from within your word processing program. To do this:

  1. Launch your word processor.
  2. Click on the File menu and drag down to Open.
  3. Locate the document you want to open in the window and double-click on it (you may have to click on the File Format button and change it to "All Available")
  4. Depending on which version of Mac OS 8.x or 9.x you have, you should have a control panel either called "PC Exchange" or "File Exchange." You can use this to set your Mac to automatically open RTF and other file formats in whichever program you have.
  5. If you are using Mac OS 10.x, in the "Get Info" area of any file you can use the "Open with application" option to tell your Mac what program to automatically use when opening any file with that file extension.

For inexpensive software that reads Microsoft Word or Excel files you may also be interested in icWord and icExcel. Both have free, 30 day trial versions:

However, Mac users who want to open almost any file format should purchase MacLinkPlus by DataViz (http://www.dataviz.com/). Windows users may want to buy MacOpener (http://www.dataviz.com/) to open Mac files. A few years ago some Mac computers came with MacLinkPlus already installed, so you may already have it. However, to keep up with the latest file formats, you may want to buy the latest version.

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What do Mac users need to know about sharing files with Windows users?

The biggest pitfall for Mac users when transferring files for other computer platform users is the use of file extensions. Unlike Mac, Windows systems use a three-character extension to identify file types. When saving a file that you want to be easily viewed on a Windows computer, you must manually type in the correct file extension. Otherwise, Windows systems will not know how to open the file correctly and will ask the user to choose an application to open the file.

For example, a JPEG image called Picture should be named Picture.jpg so a Windows computer will know the file is a JPEG image.

To ensure Windows computers will know how to handle your files, save the file in a file format your recipients can read (RTF, HTML, JPEG, etc.). After you have typed the name, add a period and the correct file extension.

Here are the Windows extensions for the most common file types:

Windows
File Extension

File Format
.doc
 Microsoft Word documents
.htm
 HTML documents
.txt
 Text documents
.rtf
 Rich Text Format documents
.gif
 GIF images
.jpg
 JPEG images
.pdf
 Portable Document Format (PDF) documents
.psd
 Photoshop images
.cwk
 Clarisworks/Appleworks documents
.xls
 Microsoft Excel spreadsheets
.zip
 The most common file compression format used by Windows computers

Some Mac versions of Windows programs, like Word 2001, offer the option to "append file extension" automatically to the file's name.

Please keep in mind that simply adding a file extension to a file's name does not actually change the type of file. For example, if you have an AppleWorks document called Essay and you simply change the name to Essay.rtf, you have not actually changed the file to an RTF document, and Windows users will not be able to see the document correctly (unless they have AppleWorks). This mistake commonly happens when saving documents in Rich Text Format. To save a document in RTF, you must do two things:

If you would like to learn more about cross-platform tips and tricks, please visit these sites:

[Back to Mac FAQ Index]

How do I name my documents so Windows users will see the same names?

When naming files for Windows users to download, it is best to use the 8+3 naming convention. That is, give your document a name that is one word or term 8 characters or fewer, then type a period, and then add the three digit file extension. Some characters are not allowed in file names on Windows computers, so when naming files do not use spaces or the characters $ % ~ = / \ : * ? " < > | Newer Windows computers can have names much longer than the Mac's limit of 31 characters. Therefore, Windows users should keep the Mac 31 character limit in mind when they name files they want to share in their classrooms. Windows file names that are longer than 31 characters will automatically get cut to 31 by the Mac system.

[Back to Mac FAQ Index]

I'm saving my files correctly, but others can't open them. What can I do?

First, make sure you've already read and understood the Mac FAQ item above, What do Mac users need to know about sharing files with Windows users? Sometimes Mac programs will act strangely, crash, or save their files in ways that others can not open them. This is most often caused by the "preferences" file for that program becoming corrupted. You can fix many common problems with Mac programs by recreating the problem program's preferences file. The first step is to quit the program, then inside the "System Folder" open the "Preferences" folder. Most programs will have a preferences file named after the program, and you can drag this file onto the desktop, then re-open the program and let it create a new preferences file that will not be corrupted. If the problem persists, you can return the suspect file to its original location, if desired. If everything works fine and files you save can now be opened by others in your online classroom, then drag the old preferences file you moved to your desktop into the trash and empty the trash. Before you trash a preferences file, though, I recommend reading more about trashing preferences files at Web sites such as http://compserv.uark.edu/softserv

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Can I use all of my Mac fonts?

Any file type that uses specific fonts (e.g. AppleWorks, Word, RTF, HTML) can cause problems if viewed on a computer that does not have the same fonts installed--and common Mac fonts (Geneva, Palatino) may have no Windows equivalent (and vice-versa). When possible, use common cross-platform fonts that are likely to be installed on both Macs and Windows computers. The following fonts are normally installed by default on Mac and Windows 95, 98 and 2000:

Macs and Windows computers often display the same fonts at different sizes, making a readable font on a Windows computer look tiny on a Mac, and what looks like a normal font size on a Mac may look huge on a Windows computer. There is no easy fix for this, though Web browsers often allow you to view HTML documents with larger or smaller sizes (look under the View menu), and many word processors allow you to zoom in or out on a document. Generally, 12 point size is easily read on both Macs and Windows.

If you want to guarantee the exact look of your formatting and fonts in a document shared between Windows and Mac computers, use Adobe's PDF format. The Adobe Acrobat Reader is available for free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html, though you have to pay for the Acrobat PDF writer. Mac users can also use the inexpensive shareware program PrintToPDF (http://www.jwwalker.com/pages/pdf.html) to create PDF documents.

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How can I make sure Windows users can see images I have created on my Mac?

The most common image formats are GIF and JPEG, and any Web browser can read these formats, which are compressed to make them easier to download across the Internet. If you want to share an image that is not yet in these formats, use a program like Adobe Photoshop (or the much less expensive shareware program GraphicConverter at http://www.lemkesoft.de/en/index.htm to convert the image.

By the way, images created on Macs often will look darker when viewed on Windows machines. It's a good idea to lighten the degree of brightness (called the "gamma") of an image created on a Mac so it won't look too dark on a Windows machine. Recent versions of Photoshop and GraphicConverter offer the ability to reset the gamma levels of an image for either platform.

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I entered my classroom, but I mostly see a blank screen (and maybe some tabs at the top). What can I do?

This occasionally happens with Internet Explorer 5.0 and Netscape 4. The quickest thing to do when this happens is to click on either the "Welcome" or "Courses" tab to again access to your classroom or close the window with your classroom and click on the "Go to Courses" button again (instructors may need to log back into their classrooms). Upgrading to Internet Explorer 5.1 or higher or Netscape 7 or higher should prevent this from happening again.

With Internet Explorer 5.0 there can be a few different causes for this kind of error, and usually improper settings on the browser are at fault. You can change the problem settings from within the "Edit" menu in the "Preferences" area. Once in the Preferences area:

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How do I clear the browser's cache?

You may want to try clearing your browser's cache. Your browser stores temporary files in an area on your computer called a cache. Over time, the cache can become large and cause Web pages not to load properly. It is recommended that you clear your browser cache at least once a month.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.2

  1. From the Explorer menu, select Preferences.
  2. In the Internet Explorer Preferences window, look under Web Browser.
  3. Click on Advanced.
  4. In the Cache area on the right, click Empty Now.
  5. Click OK to exit the Internet Explorer Preferences window.

Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.1

  1. From the Edit menu, select Preferences.
  2. In the Internet Explorer Preferences window, look under Web Browser.
  3. Click on Advanced.
  4. In the Cache area on the right, click Empty Now.
  5. Click OK to exit the Internet Explorer Preferences window.

Netscape Navigator 7.0

  1. From the Edit menu, select Preferences.
  2. In the Category area, double-click Advanced. Then click Cache.
  3. Press the Clear Memory Cache button.
  4. Press the Clear Disk Cache button.
  5. Choose OK to exit.

Netscape Navigator 7.2

  1. From the Netscape menu, select Preferences.
  2. In the Category area, double-click Advanced. Then click Cache.
  3. Press the Clear Cache button.
  4. Choose OK to exit.

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How does chat work on a Mac?

For users of Mac OS 10.x:

Blackboard 6's chat software should run on the Mac OS 10.x versions of Internet Explorer 5.2 or higher (http://www.microsoft.com/Mac/download/default.asp#IE) and Netscape 7 (http://browser.netscape.com/ns8/download/archive.jsp) or higher. Blackboard 6's chat software only runs on Internet Explorer 5.2 or higher.

Apple released a Java update http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/javaupdateformacosx1039.html for Mac OS 10.3.9 (latest version). With this update, the Virtual Classroom works for Internet Explorer 5.1, Netscape 7.2, and Safari 1.3.

For users of Mac OS 9.x or earlier:

The Lightweight chat and the Virtual Classroom will NOT work for Mac OS 9.x or earlier; however, a transcript of the chat can be made available to students who could not participate in the chat.

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What is the Zip compression format and how do I use it?

File compression is used to share large files or package several files together into one file. The most common file compression format on Windows computers is the Zip format. Most Macs already have Aladdin's Stuffit Expander (http://www.stuffit.com/expander), which opens many types of compressed files, including Zip

When Mac users compress large files or want to send several files together compressed as one file, they commonly use the .sit (Stuffit) or .hqx (binhex) formats. Windows users do not normally have the software to open Sit or .hqx files, however, so Mac users are better off using the Zip format instead. Mac users can use the shareware program ZipIt (http://www.maczipit.com) to create Zip files.

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I saw an instruction that told me to "right click" on something. How do I do this?

Mac users usually have a mouse with only one button, so to "right click" requires they hold down the control key on the keyboard while clicking the mouse. Some capabilities (like saving a file in a browser window) are displayed when Mac users simply click and hold down their mouse button for a few seconds and then choose from the menu options that pop up. However, Mac users should know that simply holding the left click button on a Windows machine will not prompt any menu options-- Windows users need to right click on their mouse.

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I saw an instruction that told me to use the "control key" on something, but it didn't work properly on my Mac. Why not?

The control key as used in Windows is the Apple or command key (they're the same key on a Mac keyboard, next to the spacebar) on a Mac.

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What are some things that I need to know about taking an Exam?

Blackboard is recommending that students be made aware of the following issues.

Taking the Exam.

Students should realize when they start to take a quiz or exam, once they have begun, they must be able to finish in that seating. Also, while taking the exam, the student should not attempt to print the exam, go to another website, or log off without submitting.

Connectivity.

Since the browser does not generate any network traffic while a student is completing an assessment in Blackboard, the student's ISP may drop the connection due to inactivity (no traffic passing over the connection). If a student's connection is lost, as long as they re-establish the connection without closing the Blackboard window before they submit or make any other changes to the browser window, then they should be able to submit without a problem (and be sure not to minimize the browser window if using Netscape).

Keep a second browser window open (say, to Yahoo or whatever) and make changes to it every few minutes to generate traffic. The best solution is for the student to download freeware/shareware "connection management" tools. These tools run in the background and generate a few bytes of traffic over the connection every few minutes (StayAlive Pro or KeepAlive). Some ISPs are wise to this tactic and block traffic from those kinds of applications. Individuals may need to experiment with these or similar tools to find one that works with their ISP.

Taking a quiz in Blackboard is straightforward and provides immediate results.

    1. Log in to Blackboard
    2. From the My Blackboard tab, under My Courses, click the desired course where the quiz will be found
    3. Under Announcements, or under the area designated by your instructor, click on the desired quiz. A dialog box appears asking if you are sure you would like to take the quiz now.
    4. Click OK
    5. Take the quiz
    6. When finished, click SUBMIT. A dialog box appears asking if you are sure you would like to submit the assessment now.
    7. Click OK or CANCEL as appropriate. Once you click OK, a screen appears showing you the results of your quiz and the score you received. You may click on the symbol (or your score if present) and your completed quiz will appear.
    8. When finished viewing quiz results, click OK
    9. A Check Grade screen appears showing you the grades you have in the rest of the course.
    10. When finished viewing course results, click OK
    11. The Tools screen appears. You may check your grade again or move on to other things in Blackboard.

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How do I change my Email Address on Blackboard?

Please submit a webform (http://www.uclaextension.edu/blackboardsupport) to have your Email address updated on Blackboard.

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Can Discussion Board messages be read without opening each of them individually?

Yes, you can "collect" the messages and view them in one page. The resulting page will give you the option of individually replying to any of the messages in the collection. To do this, you must first click on the "Show Options" button (it looks like a tab in the upper right of the screen). That will allow you to select individual messages through a checkbox to the left of the message. Once you have selected all you wish to view, click on "Collect."

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Can I "quote" a message I am responding to?

You can quote a message you are responding to, but Blackboard will not do it for you. You will need to copy the text out of the message to which you are responding (which is just below your reply box) and paste that text into your reply box. To differentiate your response from the original message, add a carat > before the text you are quoting, or quotation marks. Then space down a bit from the end of the quote before starting your own reply message. You can add the HTML tag ‹b› for bold to further distinguish your own reply. Just keep the message in the Smart Text default option and write ‹b› before your phrase and ‹/b› at the end of your phrase.

Keep in mind when a student is reading a reply to a message thread, the original message will always be displayed underneath, so it may not be necessary to quote the original.

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How do I format text in Blackboard?

Currently Blackboard does not allow you to format text with built-in editing tools. You can, however, use selected HTML tags around text to change its appearance while remaining within the Smart Text option. If you know how to write an entire message in HTML code, you can write the entire message in code and select the HTML option.

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Why do I keep getting disconnected?

If you are using AOL, MSN, Earthlink, etc. as your Internet service provider (ISP), you may get "timed out" of the system. When these ISPs sense you are not actively using its interface, it will think you meant to disconnect but didn't. Unfortunately, it doesn't recognize activity in external browsers, so it may disconnect you. Right now, the best option is using the internal browser to visit a site that continually updates, like cnn.com. If you are not using AOL and are having problems, first check to see if you are only getting disconnected from your classes, or whether you are getting disconnected completely from the Internet. If it is the former, contact your Course Manager. For the latter, you should contact technical support for your ISP to troubleshoot.

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I am having problems with accessing my course or course materials through AOL. What can I do?

AOL has an internal Web browser which does not have the same capabilities as the recommended browsers, Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. Often problems with accessing course materials can be most easily solved by using either of these separate browsers through your AOL connection. Simply connect to the Internet using AOL as you normally would, then hide or minimize the AOL software and launch either Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. Go to http://uclaextension.blackboard.com, login to Blackboard, and you should then have complete access to your course for as long as your AOL connection remains active. If you are frequently disconnected by AOL, please see our answer to Why do I keep getting disconnected?

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Where do I go for help?

The Course Manager is the primary contact person who can help you with any Blackboard-related questions, as well as general and administrative questions. You can contact the Course Manager at coursemanager@uclaextension.edu.

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Are there any differences in how course materials are displayed on a Mac and Windows?

One of the options instructors have when making course documents available is to make the documents display within the browser's window. While this feature usually works on Windows computers using Internet Explorer and Microsoft Word, RTF and Word .doc files will not display within a browser window on a Mac. On a Mac, both Internet Explorer and Netscape require that the file be downloaded and opened separately in a word processor, and Mac users may have to drag and drop the file onto a word processor's icon to open it.

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