Why is cross browser support so difficult for Blackboard
June 18, 2010 11:11 AM
What's so special about Blackboard that makes incompatible with all web browsers?
Lately I've been very frustrated, seeing my wife's frustration at attempts the use the 'upload' feature on blackboard, on safari and firefox mac. Does blackboard just suck?
Lately I've been very frustrated, seeing my wife's frustration at attempts the use the 'upload' feature on blackboard, on safari and firefox mac. Does blackboard just suck?
It was developed back in the day when testing involved just making sure it worked on IE. If you really can't get it to work in FF, Safari, or Chrome, Parallels is the way to go.
posted by Oktober at 11:21 AM on June 18, 2010
posted by Oktober at 11:21 AM on June 18, 2010
It was designed for people who don't know what they want (or want different things), i.e. school admin. Everyone has their own standard. As I recall, using it a few years ago, yes, it really is terrible.
posted by notsnot at 11:22 AM on June 18, 2010
posted by notsnot at 11:22 AM on June 18, 2010
Oktober: it actually works on IE?
I've never tried it on IE. I just always conclude that I don't want to have a special browser just to work with Blackboard and end up just posting stuff on my personal web page and not going to the trouble of maintaining an electronic grade book. (I think having an electronic grade book just fuels students' grade obsession.)
posted by madcaptenor at 11:25 AM on June 18, 2010
I've never tried it on IE. I just always conclude that I don't want to have a special browser just to work with Blackboard and end up just posting stuff on my personal web page and not going to the trouble of maintaining an electronic grade book. (I think having an electronic grade book just fuels students' grade obsession.)
posted by madcaptenor at 11:25 AM on June 18, 2010
Yes, Blackboard is "special". It makes baby Jesus cry.
It actually worked on Firefox for a while about 3 or 4 years ago, but then stopped - I think it only worked before by accident. Three quarters of the e-mails my prof. fiance receives for her online classes involves problems with Blackboard.
Suck it up and use IE. The IE tab extension for Firefox doesn't even work, if I recall.
posted by charred husk at 11:29 AM on June 18, 2010
It actually worked on Firefox for a while about 3 or 4 years ago, but then stopped - I think it only worked before by accident. Three quarters of the e-mails my prof. fiance receives for her online classes involves problems with Blackboard.
Suck it up and use IE. The IE tab extension for Firefox doesn't even work, if I recall.
posted by charred husk at 11:29 AM on June 18, 2010
I remember using early versions of Blackboard as an undergrad in 2002 or so, it sucked, but it worked on a bare minimum level on IE 6.
posted by Oktober at 11:30 AM on June 18, 2010
posted by Oktober at 11:30 AM on June 18, 2010
Oh, a Mac. Sorry, disregard my IE comment. Use Parallels.
posted by charred husk at 11:31 AM on June 18, 2010
posted by charred husk at 11:31 AM on June 18, 2010
It's been a while since I've used blackboard, but I remember it working in FF 2. It might help to just masquerade as an IE 6 user -- usually works for banking sites and other types of webapps created by Microsoft Gold Star ++ Enterprise Super Lobotomy Partners!!!. Change your UA string and see what happens.
posted by gunslingingbird at 12:03 PM on June 18, 2010
posted by gunslingingbird at 12:03 PM on June 18, 2010
It is very particular about the version of the Java runtime that you have installed. Use their browser check tool to see if you have the correct version.
That being said, the product is fucking garbage.
posted by purephase at 12:08 PM on June 18, 2010
That being said, the product is fucking garbage.
posted by purephase at 12:08 PM on June 18, 2010
i used to work as a Bb admin. IT SUCKS. I wish i could tell you something better, but it just sucks.
posted by capnsue at 1:57 PM on June 18, 2010
posted by capnsue at 1:57 PM on June 18, 2010
Blackboard should be avoided. The development and support are horrible. As mentioned upthread, it makes the baby Jesus cry and to be more ecumenical, Chuck Norris as well.
Really, get yourself over to Moodle as soon as possible and if you are beyond desperate then Desire2Learn. WebCT blew as well, but nothing is as bad as Blackboard. OK, my university using an end of life CMS -- yeah, browser based for IE. My IT group blows.
posted by jadepearl at 2:31 PM on June 18, 2010
Really, get yourself over to Moodle as soon as possible and if you are beyond desperate then Desire2Learn. WebCT blew as well, but nothing is as bad as Blackboard. OK, my university using an end of life CMS -- yeah, browser based for IE. My IT group blows.
posted by jadepearl at 2:31 PM on June 18, 2010
I'm not extolling it, but I [am forced to] use it [as a professor at a uni that's invested million on it] and the only browser I've had issues with was Chrome for windows 7. I have had no real issues with BB and any of Chrome, Firefox or Safari for Mac. My TAs and I did have an issue with the grade centre last term but that wasn't a browser issue and our IT folk fixed it.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 2:33 PM on June 18, 2010
posted by ethnomethodologist at 2:33 PM on June 18, 2010
I was able to trick BB's validation code into accepting uploads from a Linux system by creating a folder with a colon in the name (e.g. "BB:").
posted by djb at 4:18 PM on June 18, 2010
posted by djb at 4:18 PM on June 18, 2010
I've used it for the past 3 years on a Mac with the current FF versions at the time. I never had a problem actually, I just had to ignore (hide, not close) the initial "unsupported browser" error message upon logging in. Even the "upload" worked fine for assignments, email, and discussions. I vaguely recall the rich text editor not working, so I started handcoding whatever links/images were necessary.
posted by unknowncommand at 5:33 PM on June 18, 2010
posted by unknowncommand at 5:33 PM on June 18, 2010
Yup, can't say I've found it thrilling, but it hasn't caused me any trouble either. Mind you, I barely used it in my 'teacher' capacity--tiny course, not worth the bother. But I got added to the student group for a language class I sat in on this year and it seemed to work alright. This in a class where zillions of different things got uploaded each week: readings, videos, quizzes, VoiceBoard. As a 'sitter-in', I only used it for the readings, but none of the other students complained about problems with Bb.
I use Firefox on a Mac; the language teacher uses a Mac, not sure which browser she's using to upload things.
posted by lapsangsouchong at 9:15 PM on June 18, 2010
I use Firefox on a Mac; the language teacher uses a Mac, not sure which browser she's using to upload things.
posted by lapsangsouchong at 9:15 PM on June 18, 2010
It would help to know what version of BB; different versions suck in different ways. Do make sure Java is updated.
posted by theora55 at 1:37 PM on June 19, 2010
posted by theora55 at 1:37 PM on June 19, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by unixrat at 11:20 AM on June 18, 2010