Congratulations on your first step to completing an online course. Before you can begin your course, there are a few technology requirements which will help ensure you'll be able to participant in your online course and can view all the learning materials properly! Past Participants have commented that they'd like to have the chance to download free plug-ins (plug-ins are software programs you add to your browser to help it handle special files) before the course begins. In response to these requests, we've provided links to the following plug-ins and supported Internet browsers, which you can download at your leisure before the course begains.

The information contained in this page is sectioned in four (4) parts. The first section is supported browsers which will outline the browsers that work best in this online course. Some browsers will not work in this particular online learning enviroment. The second section is the JAVA plug-in. JAVA allows you to complete interactive materials such as the self-tests and quizzes, so it is important you have the correct version installed. The third part, is other plug-ins for technology that we use though-out the course and lastly, is information on disabling pop-up blockers.

When you first login to WebVista (where the online course is housed) there is a test called "Check your browser" that will help you with sections one (1) and two (2) below. Section three (3) is given to you during Orientation with in the course. If you do not want to complete this now, you don't have to. This is simply for those that would like to get a jump start.

Supported Internet Browsers

WebVista has provided a list of browsers that are most compatible with their software. There are many other browsers that you may be using are are not fully supported by WebVista, however do work if set up properly. Below are the list of both sets of browsers.

Most compatable browsers:

Setting up other browsers: (note, by clicking the browser links below, you will be transfered to the WebVista site for the University of Minnesota. This is simply to provide you with the most up-to-date information regarding the browsers. Please do not contact them or call their help line. They will not be able to provide support.)

Windows

• Internet Explorer 6.0+, 7.0+

• Firefox 1.2+, 2.0+

• Netscape 7.2

Mac OS X

• Firefox 1.0+, 2.0+ (Mac OS X only)

• Safari 1.2, 1.3+, 2.0+

JAVA Plug-in

Windows Users: The compatible version is Java 1.5.0.

• Download the Java 1.5.0_11 installer. The file is 15 MB and it may take some time depending on the speed of your connection.

• Choose Save File and save the file to your desktop.

• Close this Web browser.

• Double-click the file you downloaded in step 2 above and run the installation program, choosing all the defaults.

• Restart the browser.

If your browser and Java are properly configured, and you continue to have problems with the following, a Java conflict might exist on your computer:

• attaching documents to assignments or discussions,

• viewing the grade book,

• grading assignments, or

• uploading or downloading files.

You may be able to resolve these problems by following the steps below:

1. Go to Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs (this may take a minute to load).

2. Scroll down to the "J" listings and remove all instances of Java Runtime Environment, JRE, or Java.

3. Shut down and then start up the computer.

4. Download the Java 1.5.0_11 installer.

5. Save the file to the desktop, then double-click on it to install it. Keep all the default settings.

Mac Users: The compatible versions of Java are 1.3.1 and 1.4.1 Release 2. Mac OS X now ships with the Java 1.3.1 and 1.4.1 Release 2. This is available through the Software Update feature

Other Plug-ins

Download and install the FREE Acrobat Reader at the Adobe Reader Download Site

Download and install the free Flash Player at Macromedia's Flash Player Download Center.

You'll need to download and install the RealPlayer on your computer. Go to RealPlayer - Free Download, choose a download for your operating system, and follow the instructions for download and installation.*

* You will only need to download and install RealPlayer if you are enrolled in Clinical Nutrition, Immunization and any of the Pharmaceutical Care Levels

Disabling Pop-up Blockers

The most recent version of Internet Explorer has a built-in popup blocker. To configure it, see the directions below.

Internet Explorer’s Built-In Popup Blocker

1. Go to Tools: Popup Blocker. At this point you can either just turn the pop-up blocker off, or continue with the settings below.
2. Select Popup Blocker Settings.
3. For Address of Web site to allow, type "https://*.umn.edu."
4. Click the Add button.
5. Click the Close button.
6. Close and restart Internet Explorer.

Search Engine Toolbars

There is no way to specify which pop-ups to allow in Yahoo! Toolbar and Google Toolbar before they are blocked the first time. One must first visit a site that creates pop-ups, have the windows get blocked, and then change settings for that site.

Yahoo! Toolbar 

1. Log in to the myU Portal.
2. Click the my Toolkit link.
3. Click a link to any Vista course listed under WebCT Vista.
4. Once you have entered course, click the Yahoo! Toolbar Pop-Up Blocker button.
5. Click Always Allow Pop-Up From...
6. Click vista.umn.edu.
7. Click the Allow button.
8. In response to the Always allow pop-ups from vista.umn.edu dialog box, click the OK button.
9. Click www.umn.edu.
10. Click the Allow button.
11. In response to the Always allow pop-ups from www.umn.edu dialog box, click the OK button.
12. Click the Close button.
13. Return to the My Toolkit page.
14. Click a link to any Vista course listed under WebCT Vista B (if you do not have any, you are done with this process).
15. Once you have entered a course, click the Yahoo! Toolbar Pop-Up Blocker button.
16. Click Always Allow Pop-Up From...
17. Click vista2.umn.edu.
18. Click the Allow button.
19. Click the Close button.

Google Toolbar

1. Log in to the myU Portal.
2. Click the my Toolkit link.
3. Click a link to any Vista course listed under WebCT Vista.
4. Once you have entered the course, in the Google Toolbar click the button which shows the number of pop-ups that have been blocked. The button will now say "Popups okay."
5. Return to the My Toolkit page.
6. Click a link to any Vista course listed under WebCT Vista B (if you do not have any, you are done with this process).
7. Once you have entered the course, in the Google Toolbar click the button which shows the number of pop-ups that have been blocked. The button will now say "Popups okay."