It is possible to take an online course by using publicly available computers, such as those in the public Library, but it is very difficult to access them whenever you need, and is not recommended.

To succeed in an online class it is far better if you have access to a computer where you can do your class work. This will involve reading or printing materials, and may well involve uploading completed assignments or even downloading and installing browser helper programs if your computer is not adequately configured.

The location of this computer is also important. It needs to be located in a relatively quiet place, free of constant distractions, so that you can concentrate on your work.

You must have:

- A reliable Internet connection that is reasonably fast (DSL speed is recommended).

- An email account

If you have these, you have the equipment needed to take an online class. Read on to find out the technical details.

Computing specifications for taking online classes

Computer:

The hardware requirements for taking an online class are fairly minimal. Certainly any computer bought retail within the last four years should be sufficient, given that it meets some basic requirements. Your computer should have a sound card and be running a current operating system such as Windows XP or Mac OS X, with the current operating system updates. For example, a Windows XP computer should be updated to the latest Microsoft Service Pack; an Apple computer should be updated as far as possible (at time of writing this is OS X 10.4).

Of greater importance is the web browser software used to access the online course.

Browsers:

 Where do I obtain the latest free version of Internet Explorer? Here.

Where do I obtain the latest free version of Firefox? Here.

Where do I obtain the latest free version of Safari? Here.

Email software:

You must have a reliable email account to take an online class.

Free browser plug-ins:

Many online classes will use browser helper programs or "plug-ins" to access certain class materials. We recommend installing the following free plug-ins:

The latest version of the Windows media player.

The latest version of the Real player.

Adobe's Acrobat reader.

The Flash player.

General Software Recommendations

If you use Microsoft Word or any other word processing program such as WordPerfect or Works to type your answers before copying and pasting to the online class, you might be required to save your documents in "Rich Text Format," commonly known as "RTF" format.  If you need help with this please contact kjenkins at 706-866-5390.