Online Student Help

 

Known Issues - Blackboard

Proprietary Browsers
AOL/MSN Browser and Blackboard

Internet Service Providers such as AOL or MSN use a proprietary system to connect to the Internet.  Blackboard does not work well with these systems; using AOL could result in problems with downloading files, taking exams, or other aspects of Blackboard.  If AOL or MSN is your Internet Service Provider, follow these steps:

• Log in to AOL, etc., as usual
• Locate the "keyword" button to the immediate top right and click on it.
• Type in "smile4u" in the search field, click on "GO" (submit). A yellow smiley face should appear.
• Minimize the proprietary browser
• Open stand-alone browser
  (IE, Netscape, Opera, Firefox, Safari, etc. -- one can usually download a free version of these browsers from the company's web site, if the software is not already on your computer)
• Log in to Blackboard and go about work as usual
• If "smile4u" does not keep the connection up, return to AOL occasionally and click a link so the connection remains live.
• If possible, set preferences with ISP to allow long periods of inactivity on their browser or go to a web site that will do this for you, such as http://www.sector101.fsnet.co.uk/keepalive/

Recommendations

1. DO NOT use AOL to take online exams in Blackboard
   There are many known inconsistencies between Blackboard and AOL, and taking exams while using AOL can cause "lock-ups", "time-outs", and "incomplete submissions" of exams and tests taken on Blackboard while using America Online.
   
   
2. DO NOT use the AOL Browser to view/navigate the Blackboard site. The AOL browser causes many pages to constantly ask you to re-login with each visit to the page which can be very annoying.
   
   

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Vista - Workaround

A number of Blackboard problems for users of Vista can be fixed by making Blackboard a trusted site in Internet Explorer.

1. Click on "Tools" in the IE menu bar
2. Choose "Internet Options"
3. Click on "Security" tab
4. Click on the "Trusted Sites" icon
5. Click on "Sites" button
6. Enter "http://bb.gcccd.edu/webapps/login/" in the Add field.
7. Click OK and then click OK again.
   CAUTION: Be sure that you don't unintentionally modify any other settings.