I can't open a Chat session...
Tips for using Chat in Blackboard
- Check your computer! You must have Java installed for chat to work. Download Java. Also, if behind a personal or corporate firewall, you must open port 2304 to enable chat and whiteboard communication. Check the documentation for your personal firewall for instructions on how to do this, or check with your network administrator.
- Be patient! The Chat applet takes a while to load (could be as long as a minute or more, depending on your computer and internet connection speed). It may look like nothing is happening, but Java is loading in the background.
- Click once! Do not double-click the icons. Click only ONCE on the chat room icon to start. Double-clicking or clicking several times may cause your browser to freeze or your computer to lock up. This is true for clicking any link or URL online--you only need to click a link once.
- Problems? If "Chat is unavailable" when you click on the chat room, log out and then log back in and try the chat again. If bumped out during a session, log out and then log back in and enter the chat room again. Clearing you Java Cache may also resolve the problem.
First, make sure that you have disabled any pop-up blockers for your browser, including those included in the popular search toolbars.
Second, quizzes are typically set up with specific date and time parameters by your instructor. If you are not able to either see the quiz title in your course, or if you can see the quiz listed, but can't click on it to start, then please contact your instructor. He or she may need to change a setting on the quiz to make it visible during the scheduled time.
Beginning in the Summer of 2006, students might be required to use the Respondus Lockdown Browser to take assessments. If the “Begin Assesments” button is grayed out and the instructions tell you that you must use the LockDown Browser then that is the only way to take the assessment.
Links don't work or content pages
don't load...
If you get a "Page not Found" message, first try go back to course homepage and try again or clicking once on the link to load the page again. Note that pages with large graphics or other media may take longer to load, especially when accessing over dial-up. If the page or link cannot be found, please contact your instructor. They can verify the address of the link or content file.
Your My Grades icon should appear on your course toolbar, if it has been enabled by your instructor. If you don't see the My Grades icon on your toolbar, first check under the "More Tools" link on the toolbar.
If you do not have a My Grades icon, please contact your instructor to request that it be added to the toolbar. Also, note that specific assignment or quiz grades can be seen within the particular tool. For example, to see a grade on your quiz, go to the Assessments tool and look for your grade in the Grade column.
"More tools" doesn't open on
the course toolbar
This problem has been seen with some SBC Global users. If, when trying to click the More Tools button on the course toolbar, nothing happens, then you may need to update your SBC Global browser. Open your SBC Global browser and go to the Help menu. Choose Browser Help and then Update. Follow the instructions provided in the update.