Interested to read the comments about using Blackboard on a Mac. In
my experience, the issues are much more about which browser you use.
I have always used a Mac to access our Blackboard server, and usually
find that if there are occasional problems, I should use IE rather
than Netscape, or vice versa. The main problem, as David Morrison
says, is the virtual classroom, but this runs fine in IE. There's
also a problem with setting the CD drive for off-line content (if you
use it). Because the Mac doesn't have the same concept of drive
letter, the CD volume has to be referenced with its name - a pain if
you have more than one CD to use.
One of the other issues is to do with how documents open for the
student - is, in the Blackboard window, or in a new window for the
application (eg Word, Acrobat, etc). My experience again, suggests
that this more to do with how the browser preferences are configured
to deal with certain document types - ie, whether they use a plug-in,
or an application.
I've just started using 5.5 on a Mac and have found no problems,
though currently only as an Instructor. I have also used Bb5 for
quite a while as a Sys Admin, and have also had no difficulties. I'd
be interested to hear whether anybody else has found other problems
using a Mac.
PS, I might introduce myself. I'm Mark Northover, lecturer in
Learning Technologies at UNITEC in Auckland, NZ. Though I may be at
the other side of the world, we are 12 hours ahead of the UK in time,
so we get to sort out problems first.
I actually run the staff development programme here, and have been
working with helping our academic staff put their programmes into
Blackboard for about 18 months now. I have found some of the
discussions on this list to be quite relevant to our own experiences
(though I've only been subscribed for a couple of weeks).
Mark Northover
Learning Technologies
UNITEC Institute of Technology
Private Bag 92-025 Ph (0064) 09-815-4321, ext 8538
Mt Albert, Auckland Fax (0064) 09-815-4312
New Zealand email [log in to unmask]
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