Web Browsers
Hardware Requirements | Software Requirements
Because your digital or Distance Learning course takes place on the web, you will need a web browser. Specifically, you will need the a recent version of either Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. These are the two browsers that are recommended for accessing your digital courses.
However, there are a couple of issues regarding available browsers that you will want to be aware of:
Special Note for users of Netscape 6.0/6.1 & Internet Explorer 6:
Incompatibilites with the latest versions of the Netscape Navigator Internet & Microsoft Internet Explorer browser have been discovered involving Java scripting and other features used in WebCT. It is suggested that you use Internet Explorer 5.5 Service Pack 2 (SP2) or Netscape Navigator 4.5 while running WebCT.(until Netscape Navigator 6.0 /6.1 Internet Explorer 6 is proven to be more reliable). For window users: when downloading Internet Explorer 5.5, make sure that you download Sevice Pack 2 and NOT Service Pack 1. There are bugs in SP1 which have been corrected in SP2. For MAC users: Either version of Interenet Explorer 4.5 and 5 can be used.
Special Note for users of America Online:
Limitations in the AOL web browser prevent it from working properly with some web sites on the Internet. It MAY cause problems with digital courses using WebCT. If problems do occur within the AOL brower, feel free to use other browers.
Version 6.0 of the AOL software features a new web browser--a version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer 5.x that has been "customized" specifically for AOL. Unfortunately, some of the customizations, even in the new version, make the browser incompatible with digital education courses and some other web sites. Therefore, even if you have installed AOL version 6.0, you will still need to download and install the latest version of either Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer. It is important to note that students and faculty using AOL as their Internet Service Provider (ISP) CAN still access WebCT. They will simply need to use a different browser while logged onto the Internet through AOL. The following instructions will aid you in accessing digital courses through AOL:
- If you are viewing these instructions online, print this page if you have not done so already.
- Download and install the latest version of the America Online software if you have not already done so.
- If you needed to disconnect from AOL during the upgrade process, reconnect now.
- Download and install either Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator by following the Web Browser links below.
- If you needed to disconnect, close AOL, or reboot your computer during the installation of your new browser, reconnect to AOL now.
- While you are connected to AOL, start your new web browser. You don't dothis through the menus or buttons inside of AOL. Instead, find the browser on your desktop or in your "Start" menu (if you're using Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows NT) or on your hard drive using Finder (if you're using a Macintosh). You may want to minimize AOL by clicking on the minimize (not close) button in the top right corner of the AOL screen. Then you can open your new browser up to the full size of your screen and begin surfing the Internet.
- Return to the Software Requirements page by entering
http://www.millersville.edu/~muonline/software.php/ into the Address or Location bar of your web browser. - Follow the directions below to finish installing the software you will need for your distance or digital course.
From now on, when you wish to access your distance or digital course, connect to AOL, minimize the screen, start your new browser, and use it to access your course.
Now that you know which browsers to avoid, you can download either of the two browsers listed below. The digital courses work with the latest versions of both Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator (see note above re: Netscape 6.0). Therefore, you may choose to download and install either browser (or both) on your system:
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Microsoft Internet Explorer
PC users: Download Microsoft Internet Explorer. If you already have a version of IE, but not version 5.5, we recommend that you down load this version.
Before downloading please see the special note above involving Internet Explorer 6
For MAC Users: Download Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 Macintosh Verion - Netscape Navigator
For MAC and Window users: Click on the button to the right or the the following link to download Netscape Navigator or Communicator (which has Navigator as one of its parts) from http://www.netscape.com/download/
Before downloading please see the special note above involving Netscape Navigator 6.0
