Читать книгу Online Learning For Dummies - Susan Manning - Страница 16

Many nontraditional or adult students shy away from online education because they’re afraid their computer skills aren’t sufficient or they worry that they need a state-of-the-art computer. Don’t let these thoughts scare you away from reaching your academic goals. Most institutions provide technological support and detailed lists of hardware, software, and competency requirements. Family, friends, and your local library also can serve as excellent backups when technology breaks or your Internet access is lost.

Don’t get us wrong, though: A few minimum requirements must be met in order to adequately learn online. Chapter 3 describes the technology you need and all the skills necessary to be an online learner. In short, persons taking online courses should have access to the following basic hardware and software:

 A computer with monitor, keyboard, and mouse (a laptop counts!)

 Access to a reliable Internet connection

 A web browser (for example, Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Safari)

 Speakers, microphone, or headset with microphone (optional, but may be required by some programs)

 Word processing software such as Word or Google Docs

 Presentation software such as PowerPoint or Keynote

Additionally, you should be able to handle the following basic tasks before taking an online course:

 Open your Internet browser and navigate to a given website address (or URL).

 Send and receive emails with attachments.

 Open a word processing application and format, save, and retrieve documents.

 Read and scroll web pages efficiently.

 Type quickly and accurately.

 Organize folders on your computer’s hard drive or an external flash drive.

 Download and install software.

 Run virus protection software.