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Helpful Tips for Visiting the MDE Web Site

If you have technical questions or problems with the site and you don’t find the information you are looking for here, please contact mde.it-helpdesk@state.mn.us.

If you cannot access a Web site always check a different site to verify that your Internet service is still connected. Difficulty reaching any Web address may be caused by temporary Internet files or cookies stored by your browser.

To delete these unnecessary temporary items:

For IE: In your browser go to Tools - Internet Options – under Temporary Internet Files, delete the cookies and delete temp files, click Apply, close and reopen the Browser.

Recommended Minimum Internet Connection:

One 56.6 Kbps Dialup Line Per 4 Users

One T1 Line Per 96 Users

Browser Version

This web site has been designed to be viewed by Internet Explorer Version 7, Internet Explorer Version 8 or Mozilla Firefox Version 11 or higher. To download a newer version of your browser, click one of the links below:

Internet Explorer

Mozilla Firefox

Directions for Downloading Files

You can save files to your computer instead of opening them in your Web browser by following these general directions:

WINDOWS:
"Right mouse click" on the download link. You'll see a menu like the one to the right. In Internet Explorer, choose "Save Target As..." and download the file to your desktop (in Netscape, you choose "Save Link As...").  

MACINTOSH:
Hold down the mouse button or (option-click) on the download link. You'll see a menu similar to the Windows menu to the right. In Internet Explorer, choose "Save Target As..." and download the file to your desktop (in Netscape, you choose "Save Link As...").  

Downloads & Plug-ins

Many of our publications and forms are in PDF format. Click here to download a free copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader

Click here to download a free copy of Adobe Access for screen readers.

Microsoft Office documents found on the website are in Microsoft Office 2010 file format. If you are using an earlier version of Microsoft Office, please do the following:

· Some of our PowerPoint slide presentations are in the original format. If you do not have PowerPoint on your system you can view the PowerPoint slides with this free viewer. Click here to go to the Microsoft Website to find and download the appropriate version of the viewer.
· With the Microsoft Word Viewer 2010, Microsoft Word users can share documents with those who do not have Word and users without Word can open and view Word documents. Click here to download the Word Viewer
· With Excel Viewer 2010, you can open, view, and print Excel workbooks, even if you don't have Excel installed. You can also copy data from Excel Viewer 2010 to another program. Click here to download the Excel Viewer
· If you would like to be able to open and edit Microsoft Office 2010 files, and you do not have Office 2010 installed, you can click here to download the Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel and PowerPoint File Formats

The Macromedia Shockwave Player lets users view Web content that has been created by Macromedia Director. Click here to download the Shockwave Player.

Yes, the standard for Excel spreadsheets is .xlsx (2010). If an end user is using an earlier version of Microsoft Office, they can download and install the compatibility pack for Word, Excel and PowerPoint file formats, which will allow them to open and use updated versions of Microsoft Office. Or, if they prefer, they can download and instal the Excel Viewer which will allow them to open the Excel file in their browser window.

How to turn on captions in your media player

Windows Media Player version 9 and higher (Windows)

Windows Media Player does not currently support descriptive video. It does support closed captions. However, there are several requirements for closed captions to be displayed.

Windows Media Player must be in Full Mode (Control+F1), rather than Skins Mode. Windows Media Player has a variety of visual skins available, but few support the display of closed captions.

Turn on captions by performing the following steps:

· Press Alt+P to activate the Play menu (this hotkey combination will work even if the application menu is not visible)
· Select Captions and Subtitles
· Select On if Available
In version 10 and higher, an additional step required in some circumstances because Windows Media Player's security settings block the display of captions by default. To assure that the display of captions is permitted, perform the following steps:
· Press Alt+T to activate the Tools menu (this hotkey combination will work even if the application menu is not visible)
· Select Options
· Select the Security tab
· Check the box beside "Show local captions when present"
· Select OK

QuickTime Player 7.2 and higher (Windows or Mac)

In QuickTime Player, all captions are open captions (if available, captions are always visible on the screen). The same is true for audio description.

· In the Windows version, select Edit > Preferences > Player Preferences. On the General tab, select "Show closed captions when available".
· In the Mac version, select Quicktime Player > Preferences. On the General tab, select "Show closed captions when available".

Real Player version 9 and higher (Windows and Mac)

· In the Windows version, select Tools > Preferences from the menu bar
· In the Mac version, select Real One Player™ > Preferences from the menu bar.
· Several Preferences categories appear in the left column. From these categories, select Content.

Under Content, there is a section titled Accessibility, which includes two checkboxes, one for toggling captions, and one for toggling descriptive audio.

Apple iTunes version 9

· Select Edit > Preferences. This opens a Preferences box. From this box, select the Playback tab, and check the box labeled "Show closed captions when available".
· Also, select Control > Audio & Subtitles, then select the desired language or option. This option is grayed out unless the video you are currently viewing has captions available.

To turn on closed captions on an iPhone or iPod touch, go to Settings > iPod and move the Closed Captioning slider to "on."

To turn on closed captions on an iPod nano, go to Videos > Settings and select "Captions".

On-Demand Presentations

Viewers may watch the on-demand presentations through a Web browser at any time. Following are the system requirements:

· PC users must have Internet Explorer 6.0, Firefox 2.0 or Google chrome 1.0 or later as a browser with the addition of Windows Media Player 9.0 or later
· Mac users must have either Safari 2.0.4 or Firefox 2.0 or later as a browser with the addition of Silverlight 2.0 or later.

Viewing Professional Development Modules (presentations)

Following is a list of the minimum software requirements for viewing published presentations:

· Flash Player 6.0.79 or later

· PC users using Windows 98, Windows Me or Windows 2000 must use Internet Explorer 5.5, Netscape 4.7, Netscape 7.x, Firefox 1.x, AOL 8 or Opera 7.11 (or later for all)

· PC users using Windows XP must use Internet Explorer 6.0, Netscape 7.x, Firefox 1.x, CompuServe 7, AOL 8 or Opera 7.11 (or later for all)

· PC users using Windows Vista must use Internet Explorer 7.0, Netscape 7.x, Firefox 1.x, CompuServe 7, AOL 8 or Opera 7.11 (or later for all)

· PC users using Windows 7 must use Internet Explorer 8.0, Netscape 7.x, Firefox 1.x, CompuServe 7, AOL 8 or Opera 7.11 (or later for all)

· Mac OS 9.x must use Internet Explorer 5.1, Netscape 4.8, Netscape 7.x, Firefox 1.x, or Opera 6 (or later for all)

· Mac OS 10.x must use Internet Explorer 5.2, Netscape 7.x, Firefox 1.x, AOL 7, Opera 6 or Safari 1.0 (Mac OS 10.2x or later only)

Printing

When printing a webpage, the banner image and navigation areas will be dropped from the page so that you only see the body area information.

Temporary Internet Files

Our website uses caching to improve speed. If you are experiencing difficulties, please go through the following:

· Open a Browser window
· Go to Tools – Internet Options
· Under Temporary Internet Files, delete the cookies and delete files
· Click on Settings
· Select “Automatically” to check for newer versions of stored pages
· Click on Apply
· Close the Browser window and re-open

Screen Resolution

To change* your screen resolution to 1024 by 768 pixels for optimal viewing of the MDE Web site:

PC users:

· Right-click on your desktop and select "Properties."
· A new window displaying several tabs will appear. Select the tab called "Settings."
· In the next window, there should be a small box called, "Screen Area." In this box is a slide that allows you to adjust your screen resolution. Slide it to "1024 by 768 pixels."
· Click "OK."
· A confirmation window will appear that reads, "Windows will now apply your new desktop settings...." Click "OK."
· A new window, called Monitor Settings, will appear with a message that says, "Your desktop has been reconfigured. Do you want to keep these settings?" Click "Yes."

Your screen will flicker and perhaps go black for a second or two - don't worry. When it is done, your resolution - and your view - will be changed.

MAC users:

· In the Apple Menu, select "Control Panels."
· Select the control panel called, "Monitors" or "Monitors and Sound," then "Monitor."
· Change resolution in box to 1024 x 768. Click “OK.” 

Your screen might flicker and perhaps go black for a second or two - don't worry. When it is done, your resolution - and your view - will be changed.

*These instructions will work for most workstations. However, your operating system may require a slightly different process.

Contact Us:

MDE Webmaster: mde.webmaster@state.mn.us

Phone: 651-582-8200

 
  • Copyright 2012
  • Minnesota Department of Education