Technical Requirements
You will need a few essential items. This guide is a checklist of those items. Just like having a pen and paper for traditional classes, the following items are essential to your success with online courses. Good luck with your studies.
BEST VIEWED To take advantage of the latest technology incorporated in this site, and to minimize the need for additional plug-in downloads, we recommend using Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher on a PC and 5.2.2 or higher on a Mac. A screen resolution of 800 x 600 pixels or higher We recommend you set your screen resolution to at least 800 x 600 pixels or higher. If you need help with your screen settings, please see instructions for resizing your screen.
MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS First on your checklist is a computer. To take full advantage of the interactivity of the courses, the following minimum system profiles are REQUIRED:
Microsoft Windows
Windows XP
256MB RAM
28.8 kbps modem (56K Recommended)
Sound Card & Speakers
At least one of the following browsers:
Macintosh OS
MacOS 10.3 (Panther) or 10.4 (Tiger)
256MB RAM
28.8 kbps modem (56K Recommended)
Sound Card & Speakers
At least one of the following browsers:
MINIMUM FEATURE REQUIREMENTS The following components are needed to access certain features of the system. You will be able to access your course without these; however, you may not be able to access the specific feature. Before downloading any of the applications below, we suggest you check with your instructor to make sure the feature is used in your course. Microsoft Windows
For ClassLive (synchronous tool):
64 MB Ram
Sun's Java 2 JRE (Java 1.3.1)
For ClassLive Audio:
56K kbps or higher modem
(Instructor Only Requirement for Audio Encoding)
Windows Media Encoder 9
(Instructor Only Requirement for Audio Encoding)
Microphone
(Instructor Only Requirement for Audio Encoding)
Windows Media Player 9
(Student Requirement if Instructor Utilizes Live Audio)
For ExamGuard:
ExamGuard is a browser add-on providing an extra secure environment for online test-taking
- Students must download and install the ExamGuard software from QuestionMark Secure
- Exams using ExamGuard must be taken on a PC; ExamGuard is not compatible with Macintosh computers
- ExamGuard works best with Internet Explorer
- ExamGuard will work with Netscape; however, students must have Internet Explorer installed on the computer—even if they are accessing the exam with Netscape—and the Netscape browser must be configured as follows:
- In the Netscape browser, go to Edit > Preferences
- In the Preferences window, go to Navigator > Applications
- Click the “New Type...” button
- In the New Type window, enter the following:
Description of type: QS
File Extension: .qmsb
MIME Type: application/x-qmsb
Application to use: click the “Browse...” button to find Questionmark Secure.exe. The default location is C:Program FilesQuestionmarkQS. - Click “OK”
- Close the Preferences window
- Customized, internal web browsers (such as those often used by AOL, Compuserve, and Prodigy) are not supported by ExamGuard.
Download and install ExamGuard software
Supported Browser Plug-ins:
Real One Player 2
Macromedia Flash Player
Macromedia Shockwave Player
Assistive Technology:
JAWS 3.7, 4.0
Window-Eyes 4.11
Tutorials & Information
Macintosh OS
For ClassLive (synchronous tool):
128 MB Ram
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.1, 5.2 or higher (Macintosh OS)
MacOS Classic Java (MRJ 2.2.5)
For ClassLive Audio:
Windows Media Player 7.1
(Student Requirement if instructor utilizes live audio)
For ExamGuard:
(a customized browser providing an extra secure environment for online test-taking)
ExamGuard is not compatible with Macintosh computers. Instructors can set up or create an exam that uses ExamGuard on a Mac, but students must take ExamGuard exams on a PC.
Supported Browser Plug-ins:
Real One Player
Macromedia Flash Player
Macromedia Shockwave Player
| ALT Access
In the event that you are unable to connect to your online learning institution you can use the ALT Access tool, which you can download below, to connect to the site via an alternate route. The ALT Access tool will essentially provide a detour to your online learning institution should the main connection fail. Downloading the tool will take less than five minutes.
Notice: This alternate route should only be used when the normal login page is unable to connect to your course(s).
ALT Access PC Download
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CoursePacks
Your instructor may choose to include a CoursePack (for example, a collection of readings, articles, video clips). Because actual CoursePack content varies, you may or may not have additional system requirements. Check with your instructor or with the third-party CoursePack provider for specific requirements.
Note: Courseware cannot be accessed using MSN TV (Formerly Web TV).
Second on your checklist is an Internet Service Provider (ISP). An ISP is a company that provides you with the software and access necessary for getting onto the Internet. You will need Internet access to take your courses.
Third on your list is an email account. Your email address is established when you sign up with an ISP. Check with your ISP if you do not know what your email address is. Special characters can cause problems with some systems that make it difficult to reach the intended mailbox. We suggest that you do not use special characters, for example +, &, $ etc., in your email address.
Fourth on your list is a Java capable browser. We support Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 and 6.0 for Windows and Internet Explorer 5.1 through 5.2 for Macintosh. Netscape Communicator 6.2 and 7.1 for Windows and Netscape Communicator 7.1 and Safari 1.x for Macintosh, are also supported.
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