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Blackboard courses may include many types of multimedia. In order to view this content you may want to have the plug-ins listed below:
Download these software add-ons, or sign up for services, to enhance your online experience. Many of these listed are free and available from
their developers. They should improve your ability to utilize all your Blackboard options.
Flash, Shockwave 
This plug-in lets you experience automation and entertainment in your Web browser.
http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
Adobe Acrobat Reader 
View and print .pdf document files.
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
http://www.macromedia.com/software/downloads/
Quicktime 
Quick Time allows you to add more than 200 digital media capabilities and components to your Mac or PC.
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/index.php
Powerpoint Viewer 
Although PowerPoint presentations can be packaged with the viewer, the best way to ensure success in viewing PowerPoint presentations is to download the PowerPoint viewer if the full.
http://office.microsoft.com/downloads/2002/ppView97.aspx
Real Player 
Multi-format media player and organizer for audio, video, and flash allows you download videos from the web.
Download Now!
Windows Media Player 
Plays Windows Media (WMA, ASF), plus MP3, WAV, MIDI, AVI, and other formats.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/en/download/default.asp
Java for the desktop 
Java allows you to play online games, chat with people around the world, , and view images in 3D, just to name a few. It's also integral to the intranet applications and solutions that are the foundation of corporate computing. Free Download of Java software for the desktop. Click on the link below to begin the download.
http://java.sun.com/webapps/getjava/BrowserRedirect?locale=en&host=www.java.com:80
Spell Checker
If you are completing forms online (like tests in Blackboard) or want to check your Discussion Forum comments before you submit them try ieSpell. This spell checker plugs into Internet Explorer automatically if you follow the instructions at the web site and allows you to check spelling even inside form input boxes you are viewing with the browser.
http://www.iespell.com/
Image Software
If you need to work with image files (such as photos or line art), take a look at the freely distributed GIMP software.
http://www.gimp.org/
Microsoft Works Converter
Do you receive documents created with Microsoft Works, not to be confused with Microsoft Word? Download and install the free converter, and Word will open Works documents (does not work with Word Perfect):
http://office.microsoft.com/downloads/2002/wp6rtf.aspx
Staying connected during exams
The exams in the Blackboard learning management system are web forms. Once you begin taking a quiz the form is downloaded to your computer and, if you do nothing else, there is no activity on your connection until you click the submit button. Most dialup Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will drop your connection to the Internet after five or ten minutes of inactivity. The software ensures that you have activity on your system when you are connected even when you are completing a test (web form) that takes more than an hour. Read this webpage carefully. This software may violate your service agreement with your ISP. Alternatively, you may want to log into an web-based radio station while testing.
http://www.stayaliveonline.com/index.php
FireFox - Internet Browser
Internet Explorer 6 - Internet Browser
Opera - Internet Browser
AnalogX POW! - Pop-up Blocker
Yahoo! Mail - Email Account
Gmail - Email Account
Hotmail - Email Account
WINZIP - File Zip and Unzip Utility
