Blackboard is a web based application that is run through a Web Browser.  If your computer can successfully run any of the popular web browsers out there like Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox then you will be able to use Blackboard.  Keep in mind that your browser must be configured to work properly with Blackboard.  This means having Java Installed, Pop-up Blockers disabled and cookies enabled.  To check if your browser is compatible with Blackboard you can do a browser check by visiting the Blackboard Browser Tune-up page or you can see a list of Blackboard compatible browsers.

 

Java Runtime Environment

For BlackBoard to function properly, you will need to have Java installed on your machine. This is important when using certain features in BlackBoard like the Chat Tool, File Uploads, quizzes etc. To ensure that you have the latest version of Java you can download the latest version at the link below.

Java Runtime Environment

Pop-Up Blockers

If you have software installed on your computer that keeps pop-up windows from appearing, you will not be able to use BlackBoard properly. You must disable the pop-up blocker or allow BlackBoard to use pop-ups. Most browsers also have pop-up blockers built in to them like Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. Internet serviceproviders like ComCast, AOL, Juno, Earthlink and some other smaller Internet service providers have options to control pop-ups as well. There are also toolbars from Google, Yahoo, MSN, Aol etc. that have popup blockers built inl. Below you will find links to help you allow or disable some of the more common pop-up blockers.

Internet Explorer Popup Blocker	MSN Toolbar Popup Blocker
Mozilla Firefox Popup Blocker	Norton Internet Security Popup Blocker
Google Toolbar Popup Blocker	AOL Browser Popup Blocker
Yahoo Toolbar Popup Blocker