{"id":4621,"date":"2021-04-19T21:13:31","date_gmt":"2021-04-19T21:13:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-collegesuccess-2\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=4621"},"modified":"2024-05-01T18:24:35","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T18:24:35","slug":"getting-tech-ready","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-collegesuccess-2\/chapter\/getting-tech-ready\/","title":{"raw":"Getting Tech-Ready","rendered":"Getting Tech-Ready"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>Learning Outcomes<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Describe the basics of getting tech-ready for online and technology-enhanced courses<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>Getting Tech-Ready<\/h2>\r\nIf 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\u00a0a lot\u00a0of 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 <strong>tech-ready<\/strong> student.\r\n<h2>What Will I Need?<\/h2>\r\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5571\/2021\/04\/28211235\/thisisengineering-raeng-a7A9O5htrKs-unsplash.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5152\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5571\/2021\/04\/28211235\/thisisengineering-raeng-a7A9O5htrKs-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"A student uses a computer program to model an object.\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><\/h2>\r\nStudents now are taking their online courses using a range of devices,\u00a0from desktop and laptop computers to smartphones and tablets. You may choose to do your schoolwork on one or more of these gadgets.\u00a0It's really about finding out which form of hardware best suits\u00a0both your needs as a student and the requirements of the course.\u00a0If you're going to buy a computer, select something reliable,\u00a0and more importantly, make sure that you have access to a fast Internet connection such as a broadband connection.\r\n\r\nIf your computer isn't particularly reliable, or if you don't have a computer\u00a0or other internet-capable device, don't worry.\u00a0There are plenty of places where you can find computer access,\u00a0and oftentimes for free:\u00a0for instance, your local library or a computer lab on campus.\u00a0Just make sure that the device you choose to work on is dependable\u00a0and that the space you choose to work in is conducive to your study habits.\u00a0Slow computers and poor internet connections can significantly increase the time it takes\u00a0for you to access and complete the requirements for your online course,\u00a0and the last thing you want to deal with all semester\u00a0is Internet, hardware, or accessibility issues.\r\n<div class=\"textbox exercises\">\r\n<h3>Computer readiness test<\/h3>\r\nThe <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.3cmediasolutions.org\/oei\/tools\/computer-readiness.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Computer Readiness Test<\/a> will test your computer and provide information about whether you have particular plug-ins installed, and if so, which versions.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h3>Operating Systems<\/h3>\r\nThere are some basics that your device will need to be equipped with\u00a0in order to interact with your school's course management system\u00a0properly. For instance, you'll want to make sure that you have an up-to-date operating system.\u00a0Your computer's operating system is the software that manages\u00a0the programs and functions of your computer.\r\n<h3>Hardware<\/h3>\r\nYour individual course may also have its own hardware requirements.\u00a0Check with your instructor or take a look at your syllabus\u00a0to see if there is anything else you might need for your course.\u00a0Some of these common hardware requirements might include\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>a printer,<\/li>\r\n \t<li>a headset,<\/li>\r\n \t<li>speakers, or<\/li>\r\n \t<li>a web cam.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3>Web Browser Requirements<\/h3>\r\nAnother 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.\u00a0Some content does not display properly or particular functions may not perform adequately\u00a0in certain browsers;\u00a0however, if you view the same content or page in a different browser,\u00a0it will look and work perfectly.\u00a0So make sure that if your instructor asks you\u00a0to use a particular browser\u00a0when completing a certain task, you follow their instructions. It is always a good idea to have several browsers installed\u00a0on your machine when possible.\u00a0That way you have a few options to choose from\u00a0if you run into any problems. Here are some popular browsers:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.apple.com\/safari\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple's Safari<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/chrome\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Chrome<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mozilla.org\/en-US\/firefox\/new\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mozilla Firefox<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/edge\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Microsoft Edge<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nThese browsers should work fine with your school's LMS, but again,\u00a0they may not all work well with particular resources or applications\u00a0that your instructor may need you to access for certain assignments.\u00a0If there are any compatibility issues you need to be aware of,\u00a0your instructor will let you know which browser to use\u00a0for the most reliable experience.\r\n<h3>Plug-Ins<\/h3>\r\nIn addition to having a browser to view online content,\u00a0sometimes your course will require you to install one or more\u00a0of the following plugins so that you can view other media\u00a0that the browser alone may not be able to handle:\u00a0like animations, sound clips, PDFs, or any number of other things.\u00a0Some common plug-ins you may need to install could include the following:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/java.com\/download\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Java<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/get.adobe.com\/reader\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Adobe Reader<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"http:\/\/windows.microsoft.com\/en-us\/windows\/windows-media-player\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Windows Media Player<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/downloads\/quicktime\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Quicktime<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/getsilverlight\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Microsoft Silverlight<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nThese are free applications you can download from the Internet,\u00a0and your instructor\u00a0will let you know when you need a particular plug-in\u00a0in order to view something.\r\n<h3>Email Account<\/h3>\r\nYou will also definitely need an email account if you don't already have one.\u00a0Lots of schools provide free email accounts for registered students\u00a0and some insist that you use this account for any school-related emails.\u00a0Take a look at your school's email policy and figure this policy out before you sign up\u00a0for any online course because email will be one of the chief ways\u00a0that you will communicate with your instructors and classmates.\u00a0Your instructor will probably state in their syllabus\u00a0what the preferred means of communication will be\u00a0for the term.\u00a0And if you're not required to use a school email account,\u00a0you can use one you've already set up,\u00a0or set up a new one with a free email service like <a href=\"https:\/\/mail.google.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gmail<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/mail.yahoo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Yahoo<\/a>.\u00a0In fact, even if you have an old email account,\u00a0you may want to make a new one that reflects your status as a college student.\r\n\r\nIf you were an instructor, which of these would you rather receive a student email from?\u00a0<em>jrodriguez@gmail.com<\/em>\u00a0or\u00a0<em>badboipunk4958@hotmail.com<\/em>?\r\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\r\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\r\nhttps:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/6ed98004-ef1e-4ee7-924f-39c6200304d7\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2><img class=\"alignright wp-image-5151\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5571\/2021\/04\/28210835\/niclas-gustafsson-pNhb9NtNs_c-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"Decorative image.\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" \/><\/h2>\r\n<h2>Technical Difficulties<\/h2>\r\nNow it's time to talk technical difficulties. Here's the bad news:\u00a0during the course of your studies,\u00a0you're bound to have an issue with your computer hardware or software.\r\n\r\nThe good news is that most technical problems are relatively easy to solve. Most of the issues you might encounter when taking a course online\u00a0don't require a complicated fix from tech support.\u00a0In fact, you should be able to solve most problems yourself,\u00a0and some may be so simple that they seem borderline ridiculous.\r\n\r\nSome of these troubleshooting suggestions we're about to give you\u00a0are really, really obvious, but you'd be surprised at how often these obvious solutions are overlooked.\u00a0Try some of these quick fixes if you experience common hardware issues.\r\n<h3>Is it plugged in?<\/h3>\r\nCheck your computer cables and connections to make sure a cable or connection\u00a0has not loosened or become unplugged.\u00a0Sometimes things shift around without you noticing,\u00a0and it's an easy place to start.\r\n<h3>Is there power?<\/h3>\r\nIf your computer is plugged into a surge protector\u00a0make sure that the surge protector is turned on.\u00a0It's often a good idea to reset the surge protector by turning it off and on,\u00a0just in case this is the source of your problem.\r\n<h3>Using a portable<\/h3>\r\nIf you are using a laptop, Netbook, notebook, or tablet,\u00a0it is a good idea to check your battery status often while you work.\u00a0You can generally move your mouse over\u00a0the battery icon\u00a0shown on your screen and it will tell you just how much battery life is left.\u00a0If the device will not turn on at all, try plugging it in and charge it\u00a0for a few minutes before trying again.\u00a0Some devices have a battery indicator on the outside of the device as well,\u00a0usually near or on the battery itself.\r\n<h3>No picture?<\/h3>\r\nIf your computer monitor is blank, make sure it is plugged in,\u00a0connected to the computer, and turned on.\u00a0Next, check the brightness control, generally located on the monitor or keyboard.\r\n<h3>No sound?<\/h3>\r\nIf you have no sound on your computer, check the volume control for your computer\u00a0to see if it is turned up high enough.\u00a0Some applications\u00a0have their own volume controls as well.\u00a0Make sure you check both places to resolve any sound issues.\u00a0If you're using speakers, make sure they are plugged in, turned on,\u00a0and properly connected to the audio port.\u00a0It can be helpful to test your system's sound by plugging headphones into the audio port\u00a0on your computer to see if you can hear anything that way.\u00a0If trying one of these easy fixes does not solve your issue,\u00a0save your work and try restarting your computer.\u00a0Surprisingly, this troubleshooting technique often works best!\r\n<div class=\"textbox examples\">\r\n<h3>top 5 troubleshooting steps<\/h3>\r\nCheck out the video below for more troubleshooting tips.<iframe src=\"\/\/plugin.3playmedia.com\/show?mf=7010051&amp;p3sdk_version=1.10.1&amp;p=20361&amp;pt=375&amp;video_id=sJGVaJIledM&amp;video_target=tpm-plugin-lrbprafm-sJGVaJIledM\" width=\"800px\" height=\"450px\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0px\" marginheight=\"0px\"><\/iframe>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>Getting Help<\/h2>\r\nOne last way to find a solution is to simply conduct an Internet search for your issue.\u00a0With billions of computer and Internet users around the world,\u00a0chances are that someone has had the same problem you're having,\u00a0and that someone else has posted a solution.\u00a0The Internet is full of these kinds of resources,\u00a0from companies' official troubleshooting pages to community help forums.\u00a0You'll often be able to pretty easily find the solution you're looking for.\u00a0Here is some important advice:\u00a0when attempting to solve a technical problem on your computer,\u00a0keep track of any messages your computer displays,\u00a0and the steps you've taken in your attempt to fix it.\u00a0If the problem is really complicated, you might need to explain to tech support\u00a0everything you've done to try to fix it on your own.\u00a0If none of these strategies work, however, don't hesitate to contact\u00a0your school's tech support team. Write down their phone number,\u00a0and call if you need some assistance.\u00a0Remember, they're here to support you and your studies.\u00a0They'll do their best to help you quickly find a solution to any issues they\u00a0can.\r\n<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\r\n<h3>glossary<\/h3>\r\n<strong>tech-ready:<\/strong> a state of adequate preparation where a student has the necessary computer skills, hardware, and connectivity to complete her schoolwork\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>Learning Outcomes<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Describe the basics of getting tech-ready for online and technology-enhanced courses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Getting Tech-Ready<\/h2>\n<p>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&#8217;t necessarily need to be a computer scientist to take a class that involves\u00a0a lot\u00a0of 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 <strong>tech-ready<\/strong> student.<\/p>\n<h2>What Will I Need?<\/h2>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5571\/2021\/04\/28211235\/thisisengineering-raeng-a7A9O5htrKs-unsplash.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-5152\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5571\/2021\/04\/28211235\/thisisengineering-raeng-a7A9O5htrKs-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"A student uses a computer program to model an object.\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><\/h2>\n<p>Students now are taking their online courses using a range of devices,\u00a0from desktop and laptop computers to smartphones and tablets. You may choose to do your schoolwork on one or more of these gadgets.\u00a0It&#8217;s really about finding out which form of hardware best suits\u00a0both your needs as a student and the requirements of the course.\u00a0If you&#8217;re going to buy a computer, select something reliable,\u00a0and more importantly, make sure that you have access to a fast Internet connection such as a broadband connection.<\/p>\n<p>If your computer isn&#8217;t particularly reliable, or if you don&#8217;t have a computer\u00a0or other internet-capable device, don&#8217;t worry.\u00a0There are plenty of places where you can find computer access,\u00a0and oftentimes for free:\u00a0for instance, your local library or a computer lab on campus.\u00a0Just make sure that the device you choose to work on is dependable\u00a0and that the space you choose to work in is conducive to your study habits.\u00a0Slow computers and poor internet connections can significantly increase the time it takes\u00a0for you to access and complete the requirements for your online course,\u00a0and the last thing you want to deal with all semester\u00a0is Internet, hardware, or accessibility issues.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox exercises\">\n<h3>Computer readiness test<\/h3>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.3cmediasolutions.org\/oei\/tools\/computer-readiness.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Computer Readiness Test<\/a> will test your computer and provide information about whether you have particular plug-ins installed, and if so, which versions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Operating Systems<\/h3>\n<p>There are some basics that your device will need to be equipped with\u00a0in order to interact with your school&#8217;s course management system\u00a0properly. For instance, you&#8217;ll want to make sure that you have an up-to-date operating system.\u00a0Your computer&#8217;s operating system is the software that manages\u00a0the programs and functions of your computer.<\/p>\n<h3>Hardware<\/h3>\n<p>Your individual course may also have its own hardware requirements.\u00a0Check with your instructor or take a look at your syllabus\u00a0to see if there is anything else you might need for your course.\u00a0Some of these common hardware requirements might include<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>a printer,<\/li>\n<li>a headset,<\/li>\n<li>speakers, or<\/li>\n<li>a web cam.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Web Browser Requirements<\/h3>\n<p>Another factor that you&#8217;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.\u00a0Some content does not display properly or particular functions may not perform adequately\u00a0in certain browsers;\u00a0however, if you view the same content or page in a different browser,\u00a0it will look and work perfectly.\u00a0So make sure that if your instructor asks you\u00a0to use a particular browser\u00a0when completing a certain task, you follow their instructions. It is always a good idea to have several browsers installed\u00a0on your machine when possible.\u00a0That way you have a few options to choose from\u00a0if you run into any problems. Here are some popular browsers:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.apple.com\/safari\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple&#8217;s Safari<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/chrome\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Chrome<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mozilla.org\/en-US\/firefox\/new\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mozilla Firefox<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/edge\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Microsoft Edge<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These browsers should work fine with your school&#8217;s LMS, but again,\u00a0they may not all work well with particular resources or applications\u00a0that your instructor may need you to access for certain assignments.\u00a0If there are any compatibility issues you need to be aware of,\u00a0your instructor will let you know which browser to use\u00a0for the most reliable experience.<\/p>\n<h3>Plug-Ins<\/h3>\n<p>In addition to having a browser to view online content,\u00a0sometimes your course will require you to install one or more\u00a0of the following plugins so that you can view other media\u00a0that the browser alone may not be able to handle:\u00a0like animations, sound clips, PDFs, or any number of other things.\u00a0Some common plug-ins you may need to install could include the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/java.com\/download\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Java<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/get.adobe.com\/reader\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Adobe Reader<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/windows.microsoft.com\/en-us\/windows\/windows-media-player\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Windows Media Player<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/downloads\/quicktime\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Quicktime<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/getsilverlight\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Microsoft Silverlight<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These are free applications you can download from the Internet,\u00a0and your instructor\u00a0will let you know when you need a particular plug-in\u00a0in order to view something.<\/p>\n<h3>Email Account<\/h3>\n<p>You will also definitely need an email account if you don&#8217;t already have one.\u00a0Lots of schools provide free email accounts for registered students\u00a0and some insist that you use this account for any school-related emails.\u00a0Take a look at your school&#8217;s email policy and figure this policy out before you sign up\u00a0for any online course because email will be one of the chief ways\u00a0that you will communicate with your instructors and classmates.\u00a0Your instructor will probably state in their syllabus\u00a0what the preferred means of communication will be\u00a0for the term.\u00a0And if you&#8217;re not required to use a school email account,\u00a0you can use one you&#8217;ve already set up,\u00a0or set up a new one with a free email service like <a href=\"https:\/\/mail.google.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gmail<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/mail.yahoo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Yahoo<\/a>.\u00a0In fact, even if you have an old email account,\u00a0you may want to make a new one that reflects your status as a college student.<\/p>\n<p>If you were an instructor, which of these would you rather receive a student email from?\u00a0<em>jrodriguez@gmail.com<\/em>\u00a0or\u00a0<em>badboipunk4958@hotmail.com<\/em>?<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox tryit\">\n<h3>Try It<\/h3>\n<p>\t<iframe id=\"assessment_practice_6ed98004-ef1e-4ee7-924f-39c6200304d7\" class=\"resizable\" src=\"https:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/6ed98004-ef1e-4ee7-924f-39c6200304d7?iframe_resize_id=assessment_practice_id_6ed98004-ef1e-4ee7-924f-39c6200304d7\" frameborder=\"0\" style=\"border:none;width:100%;height:100%;min-height:300px;\"><br \/>\n\t<\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-5151\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5571\/2021\/04\/28210835\/niclas-gustafsson-pNhb9NtNs_c-unsplash.jpg\" alt=\"Decorative image.\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2>Technical Difficulties<\/h2>\n<p>Now it&#8217;s time to talk technical difficulties. Here&#8217;s the bad news:\u00a0during the course of your studies,\u00a0you&#8217;re bound to have an issue with your computer hardware or software.<\/p>\n<p>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\u00a0don&#8217;t require a complicated fix from tech support.\u00a0In fact, you should be able to solve most problems yourself,\u00a0and some may be so simple that they seem borderline ridiculous.<\/p>\n<p>Some of these troubleshooting suggestions we&#8217;re about to give you\u00a0are really, really obvious, but you&#8217;d be surprised at how often these obvious solutions are overlooked.\u00a0Try some of these quick fixes if you experience common hardware issues.<\/p>\n<h3>Is it plugged in?<\/h3>\n<p>Check your computer cables and connections to make sure a cable or connection\u00a0has not loosened or become unplugged.\u00a0Sometimes things shift around without you noticing,\u00a0and it&#8217;s an easy place to start.<\/p>\n<h3>Is there power?<\/h3>\n<p>If your computer is plugged into a surge protector\u00a0make sure that the surge protector is turned on.\u00a0It&#8217;s often a good idea to reset the surge protector by turning it off and on,\u00a0just in case this is the source of your problem.<\/p>\n<h3>Using a portable<\/h3>\n<p>If you are using a laptop, Netbook, notebook, or tablet,\u00a0it is a good idea to check your battery status often while you work.\u00a0You can generally move your mouse over\u00a0the battery icon\u00a0shown on your screen and it will tell you just how much battery life is left.\u00a0If the device will not turn on at all, try plugging it in and charge it\u00a0for a few minutes before trying again.\u00a0Some devices have a battery indicator on the outside of the device as well,\u00a0usually near or on the battery itself.<\/p>\n<h3>No picture?<\/h3>\n<p>If your computer monitor is blank, make sure it is plugged in,\u00a0connected to the computer, and turned on.\u00a0Next, check the brightness control, generally located on the monitor or keyboard.<\/p>\n<h3>No sound?<\/h3>\n<p>If you have no sound on your computer, check the volume control for your computer\u00a0to see if it is turned up high enough.\u00a0Some applications\u00a0have their own volume controls as well.\u00a0Make sure you check both places to resolve any sound issues.\u00a0If you&#8217;re using speakers, make sure they are plugged in, turned on,\u00a0and properly connected to the audio port.\u00a0It can be helpful to test your system&#8217;s sound by plugging headphones into the audio port\u00a0on your computer to see if you can hear anything that way.\u00a0If trying one of these easy fixes does not solve your issue,\u00a0save your work and try restarting your computer.\u00a0Surprisingly, this troubleshooting technique often works best!<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox examples\">\n<h3>top 5 troubleshooting steps<\/h3>\n<p>Check out the video below for more troubleshooting tips.<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/plugin.3playmedia.com\/show?mf=7010051&amp;p3sdk_version=1.10.1&amp;p=20361&amp;pt=375&amp;video_id=sJGVaJIledM&amp;video_target=tpm-plugin-lrbprafm-sJGVaJIledM\" width=\"800px\" height=\"450px\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0px\" marginheight=\"0px\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Getting Help<\/h2>\n<p>One last way to find a solution is to simply conduct an Internet search for your issue.\u00a0With billions of computer and Internet users around the world,\u00a0chances are that someone has had the same problem you&#8217;re having,\u00a0and that someone else has posted a solution.\u00a0The Internet is full of these kinds of resources,\u00a0from companies&#8217; official troubleshooting pages to community help forums.\u00a0You&#8217;ll often be able to pretty easily find the solution you&#8217;re looking for.\u00a0Here is some important advice:\u00a0when attempting to solve a technical problem on your computer,\u00a0keep track of any messages your computer displays,\u00a0and the steps you&#8217;ve taken in your attempt to fix it.\u00a0If the problem is really complicated, you might need to explain to tech support\u00a0everything you&#8217;ve done to try to fix it on your own.\u00a0If none of these strategies work, however, don&#8217;t hesitate to contact\u00a0your school&#8217;s tech support team. Write down their phone number,\u00a0and call if you need some assistance.\u00a0Remember, they&#8217;re here to support you and your studies.\u00a0They&#8217;ll do their best to help you quickly find a solution to any issues they\u00a0can.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox learning-objectives\">\n<h3>glossary<\/h3>\n<p><strong>tech-ready:<\/strong> a state of adequate preparation where a student has the necessary computer skills, hardware, and connectivity to complete her schoolwork<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-4621\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Getting Tech Ready. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: California Community Colleges; Modified by Lumen Learning. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/apps.3cmediasolutions.org\/oei\/02-Getting-Tech-Ready\/index.html\">https:\/\/apps.3cmediasolutions.org\/oei\/02-Getting-Tech-Ready\/index.html<\/a>. <strong>Project<\/strong>: Online Education Initiative. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/\">CC BY: Attribution<\/a><\/em><\/li><li>Puzzled woman trying to connect her laptop computer looking over the top of the desk with a bewildered expression while holding the cables. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: Niclas Gustafsson. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Unsplash. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/pNhb9NtNs_c\">https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/pNhb9NtNs_c<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/about\/cc0\">CC0: No Rights Reserved<\/a><\/em>. <strong>License Terms<\/strong>: Unsplash License<\/li><li>Female civil engineer working on CAD theme park attraction. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>: ThisisEngineering RAEng. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Unsplash. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/a7A9O5htrKs\">https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/a7A9O5htrKs<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/about\/cc0\">CC0: No Rights Reserved<\/a><\/em>. <strong>License Terms<\/strong>: Unsplash License<\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">All rights reserved content<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Top 5 Troubleshooting Steps in I.T. - Information Technology. <strong>Authored by<\/strong>:  I.T. Career Questions. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=sJGVaJIledM\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=sJGVaJIledM<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em>All Rights Reserved<\/em>. <strong>License Terms<\/strong>: Standard YouTube video<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":169554,"menu_order":6,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Getting Tech Ready\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"California Community Colleges; Modified by Lumen Learning\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/apps.3cmediasolutions.org\/oei\/02-Getting-Tech-Ready\/index.html\",\"project\":\"Online Education Initiative\",\"license\":\"cc-by\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"copyrighted_video\",\"description\":\"Top 5 Troubleshooting Steps in I.T. - Information Technology\",\"author\":\" I.T. 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