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Skills for Online Learning
Online course instructors assume that all new students possess a fundamental level of computer literacy. They don't expect you to be an expert, but you shouldn't be a complete novice either.
Suggested skills needed to be successful in on-line courses
Online learners are expected to come to the program already possessing these fundamental computer literacy skills:
ability to do word processing;
knowledge of the procedures for sending/receiving e-mail, including e-mail with attached files;
knowledge of navigating and conducting information searches within the World Wide Web;
fundamental understanding of common computing terms;
general familiarity with their own hardware, software, and operating system environment (i.e. know how to install your own software and be sufficiently familiar with basic computer terminology to correctly describe problems over the phone or by e-mail;
skills to avert or handle a crisis (knowing how to restart your computer).
Also, you may encounter technical barriers to learning if you do not have the following minimum equipment and skills:
Your computer operating system and your Web browser must be on the list of those supported by WebCT.
*56 Kb modem or faster connection speed.
*proficiency in navigating the World Wide Web (the Web) and ability to download and install plug-ins.
*an E-mail account with the ability to send and receive attachments. (For Macs, Eudora is recommended as an E-mail application.)
An online course requires accessing the web on a regular basis. You need a reliable ISP that seldom responds to your call with a busy signal.
If you are accessing these classes from behind a firewall (from your office), you must contact the instructor and find out what services are going to be used in the class, then contact your ISP or Network administrator, and find out if those services will work through the firewall.
Your instructor may require documents in Microsoft Word or Works and NOT WordPerfect. You should have the ability to read and write MS Word files.
You should have the ability to install and troubleshoot course-specific applications that must be run on your computer. Faculty cannot help with installations and problems that occur when installations do not work.
The following software is suggested but is not required for many classes:
Macromedia Shockwave browser Plug-In http://www.macromedia.com)
RealPlayer with FLASH support (http://www.real.com)
Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.0+ (http://www.adobe.com)
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