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Useful Downloads
Depending on the kind of extras included in a course, you may need to download and install what is knows as a "plug-in". A plug-in is a program that works in conjunction with your browser and handles specific types of (usually) media files that the browser alone cannot. Happily, all commonly used plug-ins have free downloadable versions - so no extra expense.
In the case of Blackboard, you will also need to make sure you have Java installed on your system so that certain tools (such as Chat, Assessments) work. It is also necessary in order to upload attachments from your system to a course.
Commonly Used Plug-ins
Office Plug-ins
- If you use MS Office 2003, there is a free download that allows it to open and save MS Office 2007 files.
- If you do not have Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or Excel installed on your system, Microsoft does provide programs they call "viewers", so that you can open, view and print files made with these programs.
Media Players
Anti-Spyware Software
Some very reliable anti-spyware programs are offered free, while others can be used on a trial basis. The comprehensive Internet security suites available from McAfee and Norton have anti-spyware components built in.
- Ad-Aware (trial version) from Lavasoft
- Spybot - Search & Destroy (freeware)
- Spysweeper (trial version) from Webroot
- Microsoft Windows Defender (freeware)
- McAfee Internet Security Suite
- Mac Anti-Virus Tools for OS X
Other Browsers
A number of non-Microsoft browsers interact well
with Blackboard, even if the Check Browser utility
hasn't caught up with them. The exception, as of May 2011, is
Google's Chrome browser - which does not interact well with certain tools.
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