Which Browser to Use

Most online courses at West Valley College either use Angel as their course management program. The browser that you use to access your course is very important because some browsers may cause problems with certain portions of online course content.

Using a Macintosh computer:

If you are using a Macintosh computer, you must use a browser called Firefox. This is a free download from a site called Mozilla.

If you are on MAC OS 10.4 or higher you will want to use Firefox 3.0.
If you are on MAC OS 10.3 or lower you need to use Firefox 2.0.

To access the free download site, click on the URL below:

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all.html

The link for Firefox 2.0.0.x is directly below the links for Firefox 3.

Firefox may also be used on a Windows PC computer system.

Using a Windows PC computer:

If you are using a Windows PC computer, our online courses will best display using Internet Explorer version 6.0 and above. If Internet Explorer does not work for you use Firefox. Firefox is available as a free download as explained above under "Using a Macintosh computer." You can download a free version of Internet Explorer from Microsoft using the following URL.

http://www.microsoft.com/

• Click on the link on the left called "Downloads" (under Product Resources)
   
• Find the link for Internet Explorer
   
• Use the pull down menu to select your download speed (dial-up, DSL etc.)
   
• Check to make sure that your computer's operating system complies with the Internet Explorer system requirements, then click Download to start the download process.
   

If you are already using Internet Explorer, you should download this newer version in order to verify that your program is optimized for online course use.

Problem Solving

• Be sure you are using the right browser to access your online course as explained above.
  
• Enable Java - Java is necessary for most online courses. Your broswer may have Java turned off. It must be turned on or "enabled" by going into the Preferences menu within your broswer.
  
• Turn off "Block Pop-up Windows" - Many of the linked pages within online courses (like Assignment #1, etc), have been created to open in a new browser window so you will always have the course window open in the background and not have to log back into the course, even if the new linked page sends you out elsewhere to the World Wide Web. If your computer is set to block pop-up windows, these new linked pages may not show up. Within the browser program you must either use the Tools pull down menu to turn on pop-up windows, or it may be in the Preferences menu. You may also have installed a separate pop-up disabling program like Norton. You must disable it when accessing your online course. You will be unable to access all of the windows and quizzes while your pop-up disabling program is enabled. These applications work in the background while you browse the Internet. When they detect a pop-up window that may be an unwanted advertisement, they automatically close the window. Unfortunately, they also inhibit your online course from performing properly. If you are unable to view Discussion postings, Quiz windows, and download links, then search your hard drive for any software with "pop-up" in the name and disable it.
  Note: Norton Internet Security 2003 has an automatic ad-blocking setting that must be disabled for WebCT to perform properly. Please disable this function within Norton.
  Some other popular pop-up killers include:
  :: Pop-Up Stopper
  :: Pop-Up Defender
  :: Pop-Up Zapper
  
• Automatic refresh of cache - If you find that your computer is not displaying new information or links, your computer may be keeping a "cached" copy of the page in its memory in an attempt to decrease download time. It is important, with the constant changes being made to online course pages, that your browser always display the most recent version of the page.
  To change the setting in Explorer, do the following (or perform the equivalent steps in your browser):
  1. Open the browser
  2. Click on the Preferences menu
  3. Under "Web Browser", select Advanced
  4. Under Cache, select "Always", meeting update pages always and never use an old cached version of a page
  5. Click OK
  
• Update your supporting computer software including several types of plug-ins before you attempt to log-in to an online course. Before you log into the course, use the following link to check whether or not your individual computer needs an update. Downloading any needed updates can be done within this "Browser Update" link below:
  
  http://browsertuneup.pearsoncmg.com/browser_tuneup.html

• For best results with AOL, connect to the Internet using AOL version 4.0 or higher and open a private chat within AOL (this allows the AOL client to remain open, without asking if you wish to disconnect while minimized).
   
• You can then minimize AOL and start your Explorer or Firefox browser
   

Hardware and Application Requirements

1. Computer - Pentium-class or Macintosh with system 8 or above
    
2. Operating System - at least Windows 95 or Mac OS 8 or above
    
3. Hard Drive with at least 150 megabytes of free space
    
4. 64 MB of RAM or above
    
5. Recent video & sound card
    
6. Speakers
    
7. Internet Service Provider - e.g. MSN, AT&T, Earthlink, AOL, Comcast, etc.
    
8. 56K speed modem or higher (DSL or Cable Modem is best)
    
9. CD/ROM drive
    
10. Internet Browser (AOL is NOT recommended, but can be used - some functions may not work with our online courses)
     
11. Email Account