Set Up your Computer to work well with the Moodle Program
Recommended Browsers
For Moodle courses, the recommended Internet browser is Mozilla Firefox Version 2.
Using AOL:
- Connect to the Internet using AOL version 4.0 or higher
- Open a private chat within AOL (this allows the AOL client to remain open, without asking if you wish to disconnect while minimized)
- Minimize AOL - you will not use the AOL browser
- Launch a recommended browser (ie Firefox)
Recommended Hardware
- Windows: Windows 98, ME, NT, 4.0, 2000, or XP and a 56k V.90 modem or better Internet connection.
- Macintosh: Mac OS X and a 56k V.90 modem or better Internet connection.
- Depending on the use of streaming media, interactive multimedia, or other content in the individual courses, you might need additional hardware/software or browser plug-ins.
Pop-up configuration
Some of the Moodle courses use pop-up windows, therefore you will need to disable pop-up blockers in your browser. Some blockers may be turned off on Windows by right clicking an icon on the system tray, next to where the clock resides.
Firefox
- Go to Tools > Options.
- Click Content tab.
- If Block pop-up windows is checked, then click Exceptions button near it.
- Type moodle.umn.edu.
- Click Allow, click Close, click OK.
Internet Explorer’s Built-In Popup Blocker
- Go to Tools: Popup Blocker. At this point you can either just turn the pop-up blocker off, or continue with the settings below.
- Select Popup Blocker Settings.
- For Address of Web site to allow, type "https://*.umn.edu."
- Click the Add button.
- Click the Close button.
- Close and restart Internet Explorer.
Cookies
Cookies are files often set by websites in your browser to record certain information about your visit to a website. For example, cookies can be used on to remember your username the next time you visit, or to keep track of if you are logged in or not.
Cookies need to be enabled in your browser to use Blackboard and Moodle.
How to enable cookies in your browser:
Internet Explorer:
1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click on the 'Tools' menu.
3. Select 'Internet options'.
4. Select the 'Privacy' tab.
5. Move the slider to Medium.
6. Click 'OK'.
7. Close Internet Explorer to save changes.
Firefox:
1. Click on the 'Tools' menu.
2. Select 'Options'.
3. Click on 'Privacy'.
4. Click on 'Cookies'.
5. Make sure the box marked 'Allow sites to set Cookies' is checked.
6. Click 'OK' to save changes.
Browser Cache
Browser caching is when your internet browser saves copies of web pages you visit onto your computer. Caching occurs in order to help you access regularly visited web pages more quickly as your computer 'remembers' that you have been to that web page already.
Browser caching can cause problems in Blackboard or Moodle as the browser will display older versions of the pages you access. Some students have been able to resolve login and other issues by clearing their browser cache.
How to clear your browser cache
Internet Explorer:
1. Click on the 'Tools' menu.
2. Select 'Internet options'.
3. Click on 'Delete Files' under 'Temporary Internet Files'.
4. Click on 'Clear History' under 'History'.
5. Click 'OK'.
6. Close down Internet Explorer to save changes.
Firefox:
1. Click on the 'Tools' menu.
2. Select 'Options'.
3. Click on 'Privacy'.
4. Click on 'Cache'.
5. Click on 'Clear Cache Now'.
6. Click 'OK'
JavaScript
JavaScript must be enabled in order to use Moodle.
How to enable JavaScript
Internet Explorer
1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click 'Tools'.
3. Select 'Internet options'.
4. Select the 'Security' tab.
5. Click the 'Custom level' button.
6. Scroll down and enable all 3 Scripting options.
7. Click 'OK'.
8. Close down Internet Explorer to save changes.
Firefox:
1. Click on the 'Tools' menu.
2. Select 'Options'.
3. Click on 'Content'.
4. Make sure the box marked 'Enable JavaScript' is checked.
5. Click 'OK' to save changes.
Free downloads
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Win |
Mac |
Firefox |
win |
mac |
Internet Explorer 7 |
win |
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Netscape |
win |
mac |
Opera |
win |
mac |
Adobe Reader |
win |
mac |
Flash Player |
win |
mac |
Shockwave Player |
win |
mac |
Windows Media |
win |
mac |
RealPlayer 10 |
win |
mac |
QuickTime Player |
win |
mac |
PowerPoint Viewer |
win |
mac |
Excel Viewer |
win |
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Word Viewer
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win |
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Visio Viewer
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win |
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Works 6.0 Converter for Works and Word Users |
win |
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PowerPoint 98 Viewer for Macintosh |
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mac |
Microsoft Word 97, 98, and 2000 Converter for the Macintosh |
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mac |
Set up Your Computer
Adobe Reader is a free software you can download and install on your computer so you can read files which might be in your online class in the PDF format.
Microsoft PowerPoint Reader is Free and allows you to read any PowerPoint files your instructor might provide for you to download. You do not need to purchase PowerPoint to read files, only to create or make changes to them. Another PowerPoint Reader for both Mac and PC is available from TonicPoint.
Microsoft Word Reader is free and allows you to read any MS Word documents your instructor places in your virtual classroom for downloading. You do not need to purchase MS Word to read the documents, only to make changes or to original new documents. If you are using Mac OS you can search the Microsoft site for a reader for your computer. Another Microsoft Word Reader for Mac, PC and other platforms is available from Antiword.
Pop-up Blocker tutorial - shows how to set the Pop-up blocker on the most popular web browsers. You will need to allow pop-ups in order to use course management software.
Setting Cookies in Internet Explorer provides directions on how to access and manage cookies in the most recent versions of Internet Explorer.
1. Browser - pick Firefox 3 - the best browser on the internet (much better than Internet Explorer) - see http://mozilla.com to download it.
2. Clean up your files on your computer - with Tune up Utilities 2009 - free - download it at http://www.tune-up.com/download/tu2009/ - once downloaded then run the clean up on "start up manager" and make sure you have a minimum of programs open and running when you start up the computer. This will speed up your computer a lot.
3. Spyware - if you get any email you probably have ads running on your computer. download the free program "ad-aware" - download it at http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html
4. Download and install - free anti-virus - http://free.avg.com/
5. More Memory for your Computer - If you computer is still slow after you have done the above, you may want to get more memory for your computer. Contact the local PC Club - at http://pcclub.com and take your computer in for an memory upgrade, or for them to check out your computer and why it is so slow. Hope the above helps. Also make sure the settings on you computer are correct, see below information and instructions.
6. Get Open Office (if you do not have MS Office Program) - If you do not have MS Word, etc. you can still download a free easy to use and full-featured office suite that supports all kinds of documents, including Microsoft Office, Acrobat PDF and Open Document Format. - see http://openoffice.org
Problems Logging into your online class?
If you are having problems logging in, here are two possibilities
1. the class has not opened. Most online classes do not open until the first day of the semester or session.
2. Contact your online instructor - http://missiononline.pbwiki.com/faculty
3. Make sure you have selected the correct course management system for your online class. Our classes use etudes ng, or coursecompass, or moodle, or nicenet (Philosophy) - see http://missiononline.pbwiki.com/login
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