Acabo de enviar este email a los estudiantes, facultad y empleados de la UPR-Cayey:
Saludos.
Les incluimos un aviso de Blackboard advirtiendo sobre problemas que tendremos con la plataforma luego de que se apliquen los próximos “updates” del Internet Explorer el martes 11 de abril.
No todas las actividades de Blackboard se afectarán, pero sí algunas que sabemos muchos de los docentes y estudiantes utilizan. Trataremos en conjunto con OTI de minimizar el impacto de los problemas previstos por Blackboard. Los problemas descritos no deben afectar el contenido de la base de datos ni los archivos depositados en el servidor de Blackboard. El efecto será sobre la interacción entre el usuario y algunas secciones del sistema.
Para evitar algunos de los problemas, sugerimos usar el navegador Firefox en sus hogares. Pueden descargarlo aquí: http://www.mozilla.com/firefox
=== Comienzo del mensaje de Blackboard ===
From: Blackboard Inc.
To: jecolon@cayey.upr.edu
Sent: Friday, April 7, 2006 1:05:00 PM GMT-0400
Subject: Blackboard Announcement: Internet Explorer Update Expected April 11, 2006
Blackboard Announcement: Internet Explorer Update Expected April 11, 2006
April 7, 2006
Blackboard and WebCT Communities:
On April 11 , Microsoft is releasing a critical update in response to patent litigation between Microsoft and Eolas ( http://msdn.microsoft.com/ieupdate ). The update also includes critical security fixes for Internet Explorer. Most users will receive this update automatically via Windows Update. After the update, users will be required to activate applets, ActiveX controls and other embedded objects and plug-ins before they can interact with them. Activation requires hitting the space bar, pressing the enter key, or using the mouse to click on the item. Users running the Firefox or Safari web browsers will not be affected by this update.
Administrators who want to test specific Building Blocks, courses, or content are encouraged to download the upgrade early to verify their content, and to do the same for any other campus websites they manage. Issues arising from this Microsoft update will affect many sites across the Internet.
We have reviewed the Blackboard and WebCT applications in anticipation of this update, and have learned the following:
General issues affecting all products
• Embedded content (including video, audio, Flash) cannot be controlled until activated. Each item is framed with a window that prompts the user to “Press SPACEBAR or ENTER to activate and use this control.” After users follow the instructions or click using their mouse; users can use the controls to start, stop or replay embedded content.
• An item that contains an equation, or was created from the Equation Editor, will launch a text window that prompts the user to “Press SPACEBAR or ENTER to activate and use this control.” The equation will still render on the page.
• In general, our testing has uncovered increased instability with the IE browser after this update has been applied. We are escalating this issue with Microsoft.
Blackboard Academic Suite™ & Blackboard Community System™ (Versions 6 and 7, including Application Packs)
• Each Visual Text Box Editor (commonly known as “WYSIWIG editor”) will require activation prior to entering text.
• The Virtual Classroom and Lightweight Chat applets will require activation after a student or instructor joins a chat.
• The Blackboard Content Player (SCORM) feature fails to function after installation of the Microsoft update.
WebCT Campus Edition 4.x™
• The HTML editor requires activation before it can be used.
• The Chat applet requires activation before it can be used.
• The accessible interface of the Whiteboard requires activation before the user can click ?Start Whiteboard’.
WebCT Vista 3.0.x, WebCT Vista 4.0.x, and WebCT Campus Edition 6.0.x
• The My Computer applet requires activation before it can be used.
• The HTML editor applet requires activation before it can be used. The applet is not displayed correctly until the user clicks somewhere in the page outside of the HTML Creator applet.
• SCORM modules must be activated before they can be used.
We are continuing to monitor this update, and to work with Microsoft to resolve the subsequent issues. Questions about how this update may affect your institution’s Blackboard or WebCT platform can be directed to Support.
Sincerely,
Craig Chanoff
Vice President, Support
=== Fin del mensaje de Blackboard ===
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Oficina de Tecnologías para la Docencia
Ofic 203 Edificio Informática
Ext. 2227, 2229
Usar Firefox no resolverá todos los conflictos porque de todas maneras Firefox no reconoce objetos Microsoft ActiveX. La ventaja de diseñar aplicaciones web siguiendo estándares es que el rendimiento no dependerá de ningún navegador ni sistema operativo particular.
Casi todo el mundo en la universidad acaba de irse para comenzar este fin de semana un largo receso de Semana Santa. El fatídico “update” será este martes. Veré el daño en vivo para entonces aminorar el impacto en la medida en que pueda. Tal vez no sea tan malo como Blackboard anticipa … 
(Lecturas: 565) 
. Tampoco estuve de viaje por Disney o la Copa Mundial.
Hace dos semanas cambié de oficina y mi rol en la universidad se extendió un poco: Director de la Oficina de Tecnologías para la Docencia (OTD) en UPR-Cayey.
