MySpanishLab is an online Spanish workbook hosted by Pearson, the textbook publisher of the Spanish textbook, Gente. It can be found at:

myspanishlab.com

Students should use their own username and password provided by Pearson, it is not linked to Carleton systems in any way.

Here are System Requirements and a Browser Tune-Up .

Update as of 10/21/13

Java released an update (update 45) this past weekend and the lab computers started to have trouble using it. We are in the process of updating all LDC lab computers so that they receive Firefox 24 ESR, Java 7 Update 45, and the latest Flash update. Students are advised to update their own computers with the latest versions to avoid having trouble.

Update as of 8/30/13

There are several plugins that are necessary for various parts of the system, the two most important are Java (for oral recording) and Flash (for audio and video playback). These plugins should be up to date at all times. The Browser Tune-Up page will complain about Acrobat Reader, but the PDF files work fine.

On Carleton lab computers, students should use Firefox for their assignments. Safari (Mac) and Internet Explorer (Win) will work, but they are less stable. Oral recording is not supported in Chrome due to their lack of Java support, therefore it is not recommended.

Update as of 4/24/13

Java recently released Java 7 Update 21. Apple is blocking any version of Java that is not "current", so as soon as a new Java release is put out, Safari stops being able to use Java. Students can easily download and install the lasted version on their own computers. However, there may be a lag in the updates to campus lab and classroom computers until we are able to push that update out to the entire campus.

Even when Java is up to date, Safari on the Mac also prompts with the following message:

Students should choose "Don't Block" and then Safari will allow them to use the recording applet. There is nothing we at Carleton can do about this, it is prompted by the fact that Pearson has used unsigned code in their applet.

Students who have trouble getting their own computers to work properly should take their computer to the ITS Helpdesk for assistance.

Important Update as of 2/8/13

There are specific versions of both Java and Flash that should be installed for the recording and playback features to work properly. Students should install:

at least Java version 7 Update 13 (obtained from www.java.com)
at least Flash player version 11.5.502.148 (obtained from http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer)

Troubshooting

Students who have completed the Browser Tune-up but still have trouble using MySpanishLab should report their problems using our MySpanishLab Problem Report. This form emails Beatriz Pariente-Beltran and Carly Born, and one of these people will get in touch with the student who is having the trouble.

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