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eHelp » Blackboard » Bb 7.2 Step-by-Step Guides for Faculty » Collaboration Requirement Set-up

A Flash Movie of this tutorial is also available at http://www.blackboard.com/quicktutorials/collaboration.swf.

There are a few things that the users should consider before using the collaboration tool. In order for Collaboration tool to function properly, the users should be sure that:
1. the appropriate Java plug-in version is installed
2. the pop-up is enabled

The following topic will discuss about Java plug-in and pop-up blocker.

Java Plug-In

The latest Java plug-in is required to use the Collaboration Tools.
To check your browser and plug-in, you can go to: http://www.csupomona.edu/~ehelp/web/browser.html

The Java plug-in may be downloaded from the page that appears when a user joins a Collaboration Session, or may be found at http://www.java.com

Users should take care to uninstall any existing Java plug-ins before installing a new version.
Here is the instruction of how to uninstall the existing Java plug-in:

1. Close all applications.
2. Uninstall the current Java Plug-in. Open Start > Control Panel > go to Add/Remove Programs > remove Java 2 Runtime Environment.
   
   
   
3. Open the Blackboard Learning System and launch the Collaboration Tool.
   If the system is running Internet Explorer, you will be prompted to install the lastest Java plug-in.
   If the system is running Netscape, the user will need to manually download the executable from the plug-in download page (select the link from the Collaboration Tool launch page) and open the file to launch the installation.

Mac OS 9, X and screen reader users should use the Accessible Version of the Collaboration Tools (a link appears on the launch page, which opens when “Join” is selected on from Collaboration Sessions). This link will open the Accessible Version of the Virtual Classroom, which resembles the Lightweight Chat. (Links to items that appear in the Virtual Classroom, such as items in the Course Map and Group Browser, will appear in this version. Documents created on the Whiteboard may be viewed if the instructor takes a snapshot of them, using the Snapshot button on the Whiteboard action bar. A link will be created for users to view the snapshot.)

If you have any problem with installing and uninstalling Java plug-in, please contact Helpdesk at x6776 or helpdesk@csupomona.edu. You can also call an Instructional Technology Assistant in Studio Six at x3099.

Enable Pop-up

The collaboration tool is a java applet that is considered to be a popup window. Some browsers are configured to block popup windows. Here are step by step instructions on how to turn off the pop-up blocker in both Internet Explorer and Mozilla.

Turning off your Popup Blocker in Internet Explorer:

1. Launch Internet Explorer
2. From the Tools option, point to Pop-up Blocker, and then click to Pop-up Blocker Settings
   
3. Type http://blackboard.csupomona.edu
4. Click Add
   
5. Click Close
   

Turning off your Popup Blocker in Mozilla:

1. Launch the appropriate browser window

2. From the Tools option in your menu bar click Options > Content > Exceptions

3. Type http://bbpilot.csupomona.edu and click Allow

4. Click OK

Sources: Blackboard, Inc., Frostburg University, The University of Texas at Austin, and University of South Carolina.

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