Blackboard End User Information--Operating systems, browsercompatibility, etc. (pdf)

Easy Instructions for IE 8 and Quiz Submit Button Fix

There is a known issue with IE8 and Blackboard when a student is taking a Timed Quiz. In normal IE8 mode, the Submit button will be obscured by the Elapsed Time Clock which will block the ability to record their response and move on to the next test question. We can offer the resolution below, as well as continue to recommend that students use Firefox, or try the compatibility View in IE8.

• How to Set Compatibility View Settings in Internet Explorer 8 

1. Launch Internet Explorer
2. Select Tools
3. Select “Compatibility View Settings”
4. Type csudh.blackboard.com in the “Add this website:” text box
5. Click Add
6. Click Close
7. Restart Internet Explorer

• How to Set Trusted Sites in Internet Explorer 8 

1. Launch Internet Explorer
2. Select Tools
3. Select Internet Options
4. Select Security Tab
5. Click on Trusted Sites
6. Click on Sites
7. Type csudh.blackboard.com in the “Add this website to the zone:” text box
8. Click Add
9. Click Close
10. Click Ok
11. Restart Internet Explorer" 

The text in IE 7 is too small to read.  How can I make it larger?

To increase the text size in Blackboard, you will need to increase the font size that your browser displays text.

For Internet Explorer: Select View -> Text Size -> Medium (or choose other large size)

Can I access my Blackboard class with AOL or another internal browser?

Using browsers such as AOL, CompuServe, MSN, and Prodigy is NOT recommended.  America Online uses its own web browser to view web pages. Unfortunately, the AOL browser is NOT recommended for accessing Blackboard courses. Using this internal browser may cause sporadic problems with Blackboard. In order to minimize the possibility of browser-related problems, we strongly recommend that you use an external browser, such as Internet Explorer, when accessing Blackboard.

AOL workaround:

• Connect to the Internet via your AOL browser
• Open a private chat within AOL (this allows the AOL client to remain open, without asking if you wish to disconnect while minimized)
• Minimize AOL
• Launch a recommended browser (Internet Explorer 7) to access BlackboardDiscussion Board

Discussion Board

How do I "Add a Thread" to post a response in the discussion board?

1. Log in to your class.
2. Click the Discussion Board button on the left hand side.   
3. Click on the title of the forum that requires the response i.e. Introductions, Student Coffeehouse, Icebreaker, Module #3 topic, etc.  
4. Next, Click on the "Add New Thread" button, and type in the Subject and response in their respective textboxes.
5. Click the "Submit" button when you are finished typing your response in the textbox.

How do I attach a file with my response in the discussion board ?

1. Log in to your class.
2. Click the Discussion Board button on the left hand side.   
3. Click on the title of the forum that requires the response i.e. Introductions, Student Coffeehouse, Icebreaker, Module #3 topic, etc.  
4. Next, Click on the "Add New Thread" button, and type in, the Subject, and message response in their respective textboxes.
5. Click  the "Browse" button to the right of the Attachment textbox, and locate the file you want to attach.
6. Click the "Submit" button when you are finished.

Why can't I see my discussion board posting?

Discussion board allows students to save a draft of their post until it is ready to be published.  However, when students go back to the discussion board to complete, or submit their response, they often don't see their draft copy.  By default, only published posts are displayed. 

Testing

What can I do about the Elapsed Timer Clock blocking the Submit button? 

There is a known issue with IE8 and Blackboard when a student is taking a Timed Quiz. In normal IE8 mode, the Submit button will be obscured by the Elapsed Time Clock which will block the ability to record their response and move on to the next test question.

We can offer the resolution below, as well as continue to recommend that students use Firefox instead of IE8.

There is a known issue with IE8 and Blackboard when a student is taking a Timed Quiz. In normal IE8 mode, the Submit button will be obscured by the Elapsed Time Clock which will block the ability to record their response and move on to the next test question. We can offer the resolution below, as well as continue to recommend that students use Firefox.

How to Set Compatibility View Settings in Internet Explorer 8

• Launch Internet Explorer
• Select "Tools"
• Select “Compatibility View Settings”
• Type csudh.blackboard.com in the “Add this website:” text box
• Click Add
• Click Close
• Restart Internet Explorer

What advice should I follow when taking a test?

• Many ISP's drop a user if they detect no activity for a certain amount of time. Unfortunately, this can occur when taking an assessment, because you work on the test without any interaction with the Blackboard web server.
• One workaround is to submit the test at various intervals by pressing the Submit button at the bottom of the page. Blackboard responds with "Are you sure you want to continue?" Click OK. Each time an incomplete test is submitted, Blackboard responds, "You have left the following question(s) incomplete... To go back and complete the assessment, click Return". The student clicks Return and continues taking the test, pressing Submit and Return at sufficient intervals until the test is completed.
• When taking a test, DO NOT use your browser's Back and Forward buttons. Blackboard pages are not always accessible when you click the Back or Forward button. If you try to use the buttons when you are taking a test, you will exit the test. At that point, you will not be able to get back into the test, because Blackboard thinks that you have already taken the test. Instead, you will need to ask your teacher to reset the test, so you can re-take the test.