Tools and Resources for Using Blackboard
Tools and Resources provides links that will expand your Blackboard capabilities. Here are the categories and items found within them.
Blackboard Manuals
CMC Virtual Library
Plug-Ins
Software Sites
| The CMC Virtual Library collection provides Students with an easy acces to supplementary and required readings and provides Faculty with extensive journal articles and books that can be used for your class. Visit the CMC Virtual Library for more information. |
| Adobe Reader |
| The free Adobe Reader 8 enables you to securely view, print, search, sign and verify the authenticity of PDF files. With Reader 8, you can easily collaborate on a document with the new "Start Meeting" conferencing button. |
|
Audacity
|
|
Audacity is free open-source software for recording and editing sounds. It is available for Macintosh, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems. You can use Audacity to:
- Record live audio.
- Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs.
- Edit Ogg Vorbis, MP3, and WAV sound files.
- Cut, copy, splice, and mix sounds together.
- Change the speed or pitch of a recording.
- And more! See the complete list of features.
|
|
AVG
|
| AVG Anti-Virus Free 2012 and AVG Internet Security 2012 are free anti-virus and anti-spyware protection tools developed by GRISOFT for home use. |
| Adobe Flash Player 11 |
| This capability is typically already installed in newer Internet browsers such as Internet Explorer. Installed on over 700 million Internet-connected desktops and mobile devices, Flash® Player enables organizations and individuals to build and deliver great digital experiences to their end users. |
|
Trial version of Impatica
|
|
Impatica for PowerPoint makes it easy to create and deliver fully narrated and animated PowerPoint presentations. Impatica for PowerPoint simply converts the PowerPoint file into a compressed format that is optimized for streaming over the Internet. Impatica for PowerPoint supports most of the features of PowerPoint, including text, graphics, transitions, animation effects and, of course, narration. Free trial version available.
|
| Check to see whether your Java is up-to-date here |
| Java software allows you to run applications called "applets" that are written in the Java programming language. These applets allow you to play online games, chat with people around the world, calculate your mortgage interest, and view images in 3D. Corporations also use applets for intranet applications and e-business solutions. |
|
|
| Windows Media Player offers great new ways to store and enjoy all your digital media. It's easier than ever to access all of your music, videos, pictures, and other media files on your computer. |
|
PowerPoint Viewer
|
|
Microsoft's PowerPoint Viewer lets you view full-featured presentations created in PowerPoint 97 and later versions. This viewer also supports opening password-protected Microsoft PowerPoint presentations. You can open, view and print presentations using PowerPoint Viewer, but you cannot edit them. All transitions, videos and effects appear and behave the same when viewed using PowerPoint Viewer as they do when viewed in PowerPoint 2010.
To install this download:
| 1. |
Download the file and follow the instructions in the dialog boxes, paying attention to the directory in which you save the file. |
| 2. |
Double click the PowerPointViewer.exe program file on your hard drive to start the setup program. |
| 3. |
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation. |
To use PowerPoint Viewer:
| 1. |
To open a PowerPoint presentation, double click the presentation file. The presentation will start. |
| 2. |
To remove the downloaded file itself, delete the file you downloaded to install PowerPoint Viewer from the directory where you originally saved it. |
To uninstall PowerPoint Viewer:
| 1. |
On the Start menu, select Settings/Control Panel. |
| 2. |
Double click Add/Remove Programs. |
| 3. |
In the list of currently installed programs, select PowerPoint Viewer. |
| 4. |
Click "Remove" or "Add/Remove." |
| 5. |
If a dialog box appears, follow the instructions to remove the program. |
| .6 |
When it asks you if you are sure you want to remove the application, click Yes. |
| 7. |
When it finishes removing the program, click OK on the confirmation dialog box. |
The Microsoft Product Support web site should be used to answer any questions you might have if you are experiencing problems with this download.
|
| Apache Open Office |
| Apache OpenOffice.org is both a fully-featured office suite compatible with leading office products. It is multiplatform and multilingual. It is a free alternative to Microsoft Office suite and seems to work better than MS Works. |
| PrimoPDF |
| PrimoPDF is a free tool for high-quality PDF creation, comprising a user-friendly interface that enables printing to PDF from virtually any Windows application. Although you are choosing to "print" your file, you'll be creating a PDF. |
| QuickTime |
| QuickTime Player requires no set up for content that streams over the network. Instead, QuickTime Player automatically determines your system’s connection speed and chooses the highest quality stream for the amount of bandwidth you have available. |
|
RealPlayer
|
|
RealPlayer lets you to:
- Play every major media format
- Control video streams using LivePause and Perfect Play
- Transfer music to many portable devices
|
|
Respondus
|
|
Respondus is a powerful tool for creating and managing exams that can be printed to paper or published directly to Blackboard. Exams can be created offline using a familiar Windows environment, or moved from one eLearning system to another. This software is not currently functional with MACs.
We do not have a site license for this software. However, if you would like to see how Respondus works, we offer the following:
- We will convert the first 2 or 3 tests for you. Contact Daryl Yarrow at 970-947-8336 for more information.
- If you like the results, we suggest you try the trial version by downloading it by visiting this site.
- If you like its capabilities, request your department to authorize you to purchase your own version.
|
| Timeline Creator |
| This tool allows individuals without multimedia development skills to create an interactive timeline for teaching or presentation purposes that can be published on the World Wide Web or displayed directly from a computer. The interface can display up to six simultaneous timelines to compare and contrast various "events" with descriptive text and digital images. |
| Microsoft Download Center |
| Think of the Download Center as a portal to the many Microsoft sites that offer you free downloads. We make it easy for you to find a download, then send you to the site where more download information is stored. Office Update offers downloads for the Office family of products; Windows Update for the Windows family. |
| Firefox Download Page |
| Mozilla.org provides Firefox for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X in a variety of languages. |
|