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Please follow the steps below to ensure that your Mac browser is properly configured for use in Blackboard Learn.

You can expand each section by clicking on the text. To enlarge screenshots, simply click on the thumbnail. 


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title1) Is your browser up-to-date?

There are three primary browsers that Blackboard Learn supports for the Mac platform - Safari, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Please select your preferred browser below to ensure that you have its latest version installed.


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titleSafari
  1. Select Safari on the menu bar and click About Safari. The About Safari window appears.

    (Click on image to enlarge)
  2. Verify whether or not your version of Safari is up to date. 

    (Click on image to enlarge)
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titleGoogle Chrome
  1. Select Chromeon the menu bar and click About Chrome. The About Chrome menu appears in a new tab.

    (Click on image to enlarge)
  2. Verify whether or not your version of Chrome is up to date. If so, Chrome will confirm with a green check mark.

    (Click on image to enlarge)
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titleMozilla Firefox
  1. Select Firefoxon the menu bar and click About Firefox. The About Firefox window appears.

    (Click on image to enlarge)
  2. Verify whether or not your version of Firefox is up to date. If so, you will see a confirmation from Firefox below the release version.

    (Click on image to enlarge)


For more information on browsers supported by Blackboard Learn, please refer to this link. 


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title2) Is your Java up-to-date?

Blackboard Learn relies on Java to run numerous applets. Among these are Blackboard Collaborate, Voice Tools, Wimba LiveClassroom, and others. Please refer to the instructions below to ensure that you have the latest version of Java installed on your computer.

 

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titleSafari and Mozilla Firefox
  1. Navigate to Oracle's Java Verification webpage and click Verify Java Version.

    (Click on image to enlarge)
  2. Confirm that your computer has the latest version of Java installed. If so, you will see a green check mark. If not, the webpage will prompt you to install the latest version of Java.

    (Click on image to enlarge)

 

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titleGoogle Chrome

Unfortunately, with the release of Java version 7, Google Chrome is no longer is a supported browser for the environment. If you have already upgraded to Java 7 and run into Java-related issues, please try using a 64-bit browser such as Safari or Firefox.

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title3) Is your browser blocking pop-up windows?

While most content within Blackboard Learn resides in one main browser window, occasionally various applets or pages will appear inside a pop-up window. It is important that your browser settings are configured to allow this to happen so that you can properly access all of your course's materials.

 

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titleSafari
  1. Navigate to https://uma.umassonline.net and log into Blackboard Learn.
  2. Select Safari on the menu bar and click Preferences. The Preferences window appears.

    (Click on image to enlarge)
  3. Navigate to the Security tab and uncheck Block pop-up windows.

    (Click on image to enlarge)

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titleGoogle Chrome
  1. Navigate to https://uma.umassonline.net and log into Blackboard Learn.
  2. Click on the View Site Information button () located on the left side of the browser's address bar. The Site Information window appears.
  3. Navigate to Popups and select Always allow on this site.

    (Click on image to enlarge)

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titleMozilla Firefox
  1. Navigate to https://uma.umassonline.net and log into Blackboard Learn.
  2. Click on the Lock () icon located on the left side of the address bar.
  3. Click on the More Information button at the bottom of the pane. The Page Info window appears.

    (Click on image to enlarge)
  4. Navigate to the Permissions tab and scroll down to Open Pop-up Windows. Uncheck Use Default and select Allow.

    (Click on image to enlarge)

 

 

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title4) Are your browser permissions set to block Java and other plugins?

On occasion, your browser's settings will interfere with the loading of a plugin within Blackboard. In times like these, you can manually configure your browser's permissions so that plugins like Java, Flash, etc. can either load by default or ask your permission before loading. Please note that, while the instructions below demonstrate how to unblock Java, you can also unblock other troublesome plugins in this way.

 

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titleSafari
  1. Navigate to https://uma.umassonline.net and log into Blackboard Learn.
  2. Select Safari on the menu bar and click Preferences. The Preferences window appears.

    (Click on image to enlarge)
  3. Navigate to the Security tab and select Allow Plug-Ins. 
  4. Click Manage Website Settings... The Website Settings window appears.

    (Click on image to enlarge)
  5. Navigate to Java (or any other plugin) and select your desired option - Ask, Allow, Allow Always. Click Done when finished.

    (Click on image to enlarge)

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titleGoogle Chrome
  1. Navigate to https://uma.umassonline.net and log into Blackboard Learn.
  2. Click on the View Site Information button located on the left side of the browser's address bar. The Site Information window appears.
  3. Navigate to Java (or any other plugin) and select Always allow on this site.

    (Click on image to enlarge)

Expand
titleMozilla Firefox
  1. Navigate to https://uma.umassonline.net and log into Blackboard Learn.
  2. Click on the Lock () icon located on the left side of the address bar.
  3. Click on the More Information button at the bottom of the pane. The Page Info window appears.

    (Click on image to enlarge)
  4. Navigate to the Permissions tab and select Java Applet (or any other plugin). Choose Allow.

    (Click on image to enlarge)

 

 

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title5) Is your browser blocking mixed or "unsafe" content?

On occasion, your browser will block various Blackboard Learn content that it deems "mixed" or "unsafe". The reason for this distinction is most often due to both HTTP and HTTPS content being delivered one one webpage. Since this conflict can sometimes deliver malicious code to your computer or intercept your sensitive data, most modern browsers have precautions in place to protect you from such attacks. Though this behavior will almost never occur in Blackboard Learn, it is advised that you review this page before configuring your browser to allow mixed or unsafe content. Once you feel comfortable with doing so, please follow the instructions below:

 

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titleSafari

Unlike Chrome and Firefox, Safari does not present an mixed or unsafe content warning. As a result, these materials are loaded by default.

 

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titleGoogle Chrome

When attempting to view certain types of content on Blackboard Learn, Chrome may prevent it from loading by prompting you that the page you are visiting has insecure content. A shield icon will appear in the address bar when mixed content is blocked by the browser. Follow the steps below to allow the content to display.

  1. Click the shield icon ( Insecure content shield icon ) on the far right of the address bar.
  2. Click Load unsafe script.

    (Click on image to enlarge)
  3. Repeat this for each time the shield icon appears on the page that you would like to load.

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titleMozilla Firefox

Similar to Chrome, Firefox may block certain types of content within Blackboard Learn for security reasons. Follow the steps below to allow the content to display.

  1. Click the shield icon ( Mixed Content Shield ) on the left of the address bar. This shield icon will appear when unsafe or mixed content is blocked. 
  2. Click the black triangle on the right of the Keep Blocking button and choose Disable Protection on This Page.

    (Click on image to enlarge)
  3. Repeat this for each time the shield icon appears on the page that you would like to load.