The computer system(s) you will be using needs to have the “right stuff” to access Blackboard 7.3, Ohio University’s Web-based course management system. This page provides the information you need to assure you are ready to connect to your course.

CHECK YOUR SYSTEM: Click on the button below to run a test that checks to see if your browser and system are compatible with Blackboard. The results page that opens in a new window of your browser will:

1. describe what was checked
2. report the status
3. provide details to help resolve issues

HOW TO LOGIN TO BLACKBOARD 7.3

• Open your Web browser and go to:  http://bb7pilot.ohio.edu.
  (Note that there is no "www" in this Web address)  Or click on the tab "Login to Blackboard 7.3" at the top of this page.
  
• To make it easier to go to Blackboard 7.3 for future use, you may want to add the URL (web address) to Favorites (if you use Internet Explorer) or Bookmarks (if you use Firefox)
• When the Blackboard 7.3 Gateway page appears, you also might want to create a desktop shortcut to this URL.
• While you're still on the Blackboard 7.3 Gateway page, click the User Login button.
• The page that opens will say "have an Account? Login Here" Enter your Oak ID and your Oak password, then click the Login button.
• When you see "Welcome" followed by your first name, you have successfully logged in to Blackboard.
• Proceed to "Access your Online Course"
• If you have problems with any of the above steps: 

Call 1-888-386-8971 (toll free) anytime.
Or visit the Tech Support Portal at 
http://d2.parature.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=8087

ACCESS YOUR ONLINE COURSE(S)

• Locate the "My Courses" box on the "My Ohio" page. Click the name of your course
  • If you don't see your course, don't worry!
  • Some instructors make their course unavailable while they are finalizing course content. They will make the course available when it is ready for student access.
  • If you completed your online registration less than four hours ago, wait until four hours have passed, then try again.
  • If you still don't see the name of your course, contact me.
• When your course appears, read the welcome message from your instructor. Then explore!
• If you want to communicate with your professor:
  • Select "Communication" from the menu at left
  • Select "Send Email"
  • Select "All Instructor Users"
  • Compose your message
  • Click the "Submit" button

Don't hesitate to call 1-888-502-8989 or
e-mail onlinecomplete@ohio.edu if you have questions during the quarter.

TODAY - If you have applied recently, submit your transcripts immediately

Registration for winter quarter opens:
Wednesday, Nov. 4 at 9:30 am

If you want to read more about specific technical requirements, click on a topic below.

• System Requirements
• Connection Speed
• Browser Compatibility
• Browser Configuration
• Browser Plug-ins
• Virus Protection
• Firewall Setup
• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Log in to Blackboard 7.3

System Requirements

If your computer does not have the proper hardware, Blackboard 7.3 may run slowly or may not run at all. Prior to using Blackboard 7.3 on your computer, compare your current system configuration with the system requirements below.

Connection Speed

Once you have ensured that your computer has the proper operating system and hardware to run Blackboard 7.3, you should verify that your Internet connection is fast enough to support Blackboard 7.3. Online courses may require you to download/upload large files and often include streaming audio and video, both of which require faster connections.

1. Check your Internet connection download and upload speeds using the connection speed test at http://www.pcpitstop.com/internet/bw.asp.

   If your download speed results are 384 kbps or faster and your upload speed results are the same or higher than those listed below for your type of service, you should proceed to Web Browser Compatibility. If your download speed results are slower than 384 kbps and your upload speed results are less than those listed below for your type of service, please proceed to Step 2.
   
   Here are some guidelines for upload speeds:

   • Dial-up users can expect 40 kbps or lower depending on the quality of phone lines and modems.
   • Cable modem providers often cap their customer's upload bandwidth at 128 kbps or 256 kbps, but if they don't it can be as fast as 1000 kbps.
   • Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) users can expect 64 kbps to 1,500 kbps depending on the level of service purchased.
2. If your Internet connection is slower than the recommended speeds listed in Step 1, you may still use Blackboard 7.3. However, you will encounter difficulties when loading pages, especially during peak usage times. You will also find that both audio and video playback can be very choppy. Additionally, downloading or uploading assignments may take a long time.

Browser Compatibility

Blackboard has certified the following browsers for computers running Windows Operating Systems:

• Windows XP: Internet Explorer 6, Internet Explorer 7, Netscape 8.0, and Firefox 2.0
• Windows Vista: Internet Explorer 7, Netscape 7.1, and Firefox 2.0

We highly recommend that Windows users use Internet Explorer 7 or Firefox 2.0 to access Blackboard 7.3.  We have consistently found that Firefox 2.0 users encounter fewer issues with Blackboard 7.3 than those who use other browsers.

Blackboard has certified the following browsers for computers running Macintosh Operating Systems:

• Mac OS 10.2 ( Jaguar): (Safari 1 is compatible)
• Mac OS 10.3 (Panther): Safari 1.2  (Firefox 1.5 is compatible)
• Mac OS 10.4 (Tiger): Safari 2 and Firefox 1.5
• Mac OS 10.5 (Leopard): (Firefox 2.0 is compatible)

A certified browser is one that has been fully tested and is fully supported by Blackboard 7.3.  A compatible browser is one that has undergone limited testing.

If the computer you are using has a different browser than those indicated above, you still may be able to use parts of Blackboard 7.3.  However, you may also experience problems, especially when completing quizzes and tests or using chat and the Virtual Classroom. 

Blackboard 7.3 requires that your Web browser conforms to certain standards. If you have an out-of-date or unsupported browser, you will need to download either a certified version of your current browser or a different certified browser before attempting to log into Blackboard 7.3.

Note to America Online (AOL) users:
The AOL browser is not compatible with Blackboard 7.3. However, you can use your AOL Internet connection with one of the web browsers listed above for your operating system to access Blackboard 7.3.

Browser Configuration

Your browser must be configured properly as follows:

• JavaScript must be enabled.
• Cookies must be enabled.
• Pop-up windows must be enabled.
• Set Internet Explorer to Trust http://bb7pilot.ohio.edu/.

Browser Plug-ins

At a minimum, you will need three browser plug-ins to use Blackboard 7.3: Adobe Reader, Adobe Flash Player, and the Java Runtime Environment plug-in. (You may need additional plug-ins if the course you are taking includes multimedia elements.)

To download and install the current versions of Adobe Reader and Adobe Flash Player:

1. Go to http://www.adobe.com/.
2. Click the “Get Adobe Reader” button.
3. Return to http://www.adobe.com/.
4. Click the “Get Adobe Flash Player” button.

You will also need the correct version of the Java plug-in (note this is not the same thing as JavaScript). Blackboard 7.3 will not run properly if you are using an incompatible version of Java or if you have multiple versions of Java installed.

Boston University Online has an excellent tutorial that will walk you through the process of checking your version of Java and then updating and enabling it if needed. (The following links will open in a new window)

Windows users should go to:
http://www.bu.edu/webcentral/learning/vista/start/winxp-java.html

Macintosh users should go to:
http://www.bu.edu/webcentral/learning/vista/start/mac-java.html

Virus Protection

Ohio University provides free virus protection software for student use – McAfee for Windows and Virex for Macintosh.

To download McAfee VirusScan for Windows, go to:
http://www.ohio.edu/software/mcafee.cfm

To download Virex for Macintosh, go to:
http://www.ohio.edu/software/virex.cfm

Firewall Set Up

Many computers use a firewall to block harmful programs and data from their computers. However, firewalls are also capable of blocking certain aspects of Blackboard 7.3, so your firewall may need to be configured manually to allow Blackboard 7.3 to operate properly.

If you access Blackboard 7.3 from work (or a public library, community college or university), you may need to ask the technical support personnel for that organization to configure the firewall(s) that are between your computer and the Blackboard 7.3 server.

If you access Blackboard 7.3 from home and have a firewall installed, you may need to make changes to the firewall settings to allow access to Blackboard 7.3 at http://bb7pilot.ohio.edu/.  (The default settings of the Windows and Macintosh built-in firewalls will not interfere with Blackboard 7.3.)

Microsoft Office

Ohio University subscribes to the Microsoft Campus Software program, which provides both the Windows and Macintosh versions of Microsoft Office to students at a very reasonable price ($70). Consequently, we recommend that you use the current version of Microsoft Office – Microsoft Office 2007 for Windows or Microsoft Office 2008 for Macintosh OS X.

For information about purchasing Microsoft Office 2007 for Windows, go to:
http://www.ohio.edu/software/office2007.cfm

For information about purchasing Microsoft Office 2008 for Macintosh, go to:
http://www.ohio.edu/software/office2008.cfm

Ohio University would like to recognize and thank Boston University Online for providing much of the content in this document.