Getting Tech-Ready

If you are thinking about taking an online course or another kind of course with technology enhancements, you already know that it will require some basic technological skills. While you don’t necessarily need to be a computer scientist to take a class that involves a lot of online work, you should have a solid understanding of the basic technical skills needed to succeed. Understanding what these skills are up front will make it much easier for you to be a tech-ready student.

What Will I Need?

Students now are taking their online courses using a range of devices, from desktop and laptop computers to smartphones and tablets. You may choose to do your schoolwork on one or more of these gadgets. It’s really about finding out which form of hardware best suits both your needs as a student and the requirements of the course. If you’re going to buy a computer, select something reliable, and more importantly, make sure that you have access to a fast Internet connection such as a broadband connection.

If your computer isn’t particularly reliable, or if you don’t have a computer or other internet-capable device, don’t worry. There are plenty of places where you can find computer access, and oftentimes for free: for instance, your local library or a computer lab on campus. Just make sure that the device you choose to work on is dependable and that the space you choose to work in is conducive to your study habits. Slow computers and poor internet connections can significantly increase the time it takes for you to access and complete the requirements for your online course, and the last thing you want to deal with all semester is Internet, hardware, or accessibility issues.

Operating Systems

There are some basics that your device will need to be equipped with in order to interact with your school’s course management system properly. For instance, you’ll want to make sure that you have an up-to-date operating system. Your computer’s operating system is the software that manages the programs and functions of your computer.

Hardware

Your individual course may also have its own hardware requirements. Check with your instructor or take a look at your syllabus to see if there is anything else you might need for your course. Some of these common hardware requirements might include

• a printer,
• a headset,
• speakers, or
• a web cam.

Web Browser Requirements

Another factor that you’ll want to keep an eye out for is whether your course or learning management system (LMS) requires a particular browser for viewing internet content. Some content does not display properly or particular functions may not perform adequately in certain browsers; however, if you view the same content or page in a different browser, it will look and work perfectly. So make sure that if your instructor asks you to use a particular browser when completing a certain task, you follow their instructions. It is always a good idea to have several browsers installed on your machine when possible. That way you have a few options to choose from if you run into any problems. Here are some popular browsers:

• Apple’s Safari
• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Microsoft Edge

These browsers should work fine with your school’s LMS, but again, they may not all work well with particular resources or applications that your instructor may need you to access for certain assignments. If there are any compatibility issues you need to be aware of, your instructor will let you know which browser to use for the most reliable experience.

Plug-Ins

In addition to having a browser to view online content, sometimes your course will require you to install one or more of the following plugins so that you can view other media that the browser alone may not be able to handle: like animations, sound clips, PDFs, or any number of other things. Some common plug-ins you may need to install could include the following:

• Java
• Adobe Reader
• Windows Media Player
• Quicktime
• Microsoft Silverlight

These are free applications you can download from the Internet, and your instructor will let you know when you need a particular plug-in in order to view something.

Email Account

You will also definitely need an email account if you don’t already have one. Lots of schools provide free email accounts for registered students and some insist that you use this account for any school-related emails. Take a look at your school’s email policy and figure this policy out before you sign up for any online course because email will be one of the chief ways that you will communicate with your instructors and classmates. Your instructor will probably state in their syllabus what the preferred means of communication will be for the term. And if you’re not required to use a school email account, you can use one you’ve already set up, or set up a new one with a free email service like Gmail or Yahoo. In fact, even if you have an old email account, you may want to make a new one that reflects your status as a college student.

If you were an instructor, which of these would you rather receive a student email from? jrodriguez@gmail.com or badboipunk4958@hotmail.com?

Technical Difficulties

Now it’s time to talk technical difficulties. Here’s the bad news: during the course of your studies, you’re bound to have an issue with your computer hardware or software.

The good news is that most technical problems are relatively easy to solve. Most of the issues you might encounter when taking a course online don’t require a complicated fix from tech support. In fact, you should be able to solve most problems yourself, and some may be so simple that they seem borderline ridiculous.

Some of these troubleshooting suggestions we’re about to give you are really, really obvious, but you’d be surprised at how often these obvious solutions are overlooked. Try some of these quick fixes if you experience common hardware issues.

Is it plugged in?

Check your computer cables and connections to make sure a cable or connection has not loosened or become unplugged. Sometimes things shift around without you noticing, and it’s an easy place to start.

Is there power?

If your computer is plugged into a surge protector make sure that the surge protector is turned on. It’s often a good idea to reset the surge protector by turning it off and on, just in case this is the source of your problem.

Using a portable

If you are using a laptop, Netbook, notebook, or tablet, it is a good idea to check your battery status often while you work. You can generally move your mouse over the battery icon shown on your screen and it will tell you just how much battery life is left. If the device will not turn on at all, try plugging it in and charge it for a few minutes before trying again. Some devices have a battery indicator on the outside of the device as well, usually near or on the battery itself.

No picture?

If your computer monitor is blank, make sure it is plugged in, connected to the computer, and turned on. Next, check the brightness control, generally located on the monitor or keyboard.

No sound?

If you have no sound on your computer, check the volume control for your computer to see if it is turned up high enough. Some applications have their own volume controls as well. Make sure you check both places to resolve any sound issues. If you’re using speakers, make sure they are plugged in, turned on, and properly connected to the audio port. It can be helpful to test your system’s sound by plugging headphones into the audio port on your computer to see if you can hear anything that way. If trying one of these easy fixes does not solve your issue, save your work and try restarting your computer. Surprisingly, this troubleshooting technique often works best!

Getting Help

One last way to find a solution is to simply conduct an Internet search for your issue. With billions of computer and Internet users around the world, chances are that someone has had the same problem you’re having, and that someone else has posted a solution. The Internet is full of these kinds of resources, from companies’ official troubleshooting pages to community help forums. You’ll often be able to pretty easily find the solution you’re looking for. Here is some important advice: when attempting to solve a technical problem on your computer, keep track of any messages your computer displays, and the steps you’ve taken in your attempt to fix it. If the problem is really complicated, you might need to explain to tech support everything you’ve done to try to fix it on your own. If none of these strategies work, however, don’t hesitate to contact your school’s tech support team. Write down their phone number, and call if you need some assistance. Remember, they’re here to support you and your studies. They’ll do their best to help you quickly find a solution to any issues they can.