Typical Computer Requirements for Online Students
- Relax! You absolutely do not have to be a computer genius to participate in online courses!
- However, don't expect to be computer-savvy without some practice
- If you're behind the curve, there are lots of free resources online to get caught up
In the early 1980s, very few households in the United States had a computer.
Since then, technology has advanced rapidly, and the cost of owning a computer has decreased too. As computers have become more affordable, more households own a computer. Nowadays, some families own multiple machines!
If you are thinking about studying online, or enrolling in an online degree program, there are some basic computer skills that you must have.
To find out how much computer experience you'll need, your best resource is the college's enrollment/admissions counselor. This article is meant to give you some idea about how much computer experience you'll need for your online program.
Remember, all online schools are different and have different skill requirements. This article is a way to help figure out how much you need to know for your online degree program.
The Parts of a Computer
Can you name all the parts of your computer?
Being able to identify the different parts of a computer will help you communicate with your classmates, professor, and the good folks in tech support. Online education uses a lot of great technology, but when something goes wrong, you will have to explain the problem. Knowing the right words will save you time and energy!
Here is a quick list of words to know. We also have a glossary tool at eLearners.com that may help you too. Bookmark it for help during a crisis.
- Keyboard
A computer keyboard's origin can be traced back to the typewriter. The typewriter was made of different keys, and when you pressed on a key, a character would be typed. A computer keyboard works the same way; when you are typing on the keyboard, you see characters appear. As you become more familiar with the location of each key, your typing speed will improve. - Monitor
Your monitor displays all the data and information sent from the video card, which talks to the processor. Essentially, the monitor displays information that has been sent from the tower. - MOUSE
Mouse is actually an acronym that stands for "Manually-Operated User-Selection Equipment." The plural form of mouse is technically mouses, though many dictionaries now accept the plural form of mice. The mouse's function is to allow you to navigate around your monitor's display manually (usually using your hand). By moving the mouse with you hand, you are able to move a cursor on your computer screen. - Speakers
The speakers are the parts of the computer that provide the audio so that you can hear sound from videos, music files, and software programs. - Tower
The tower contains all of the parts that make your computer work.
Computer Software and Computer Applications
Can you use e-mail?
If you're taking a course online, then you will need to feel very comfortable using email. E-mail is a shortened term for electronic mail (as opposed to postal mail). Most schools will provide you with an e-mail address if you don't already have one, but it's good to have more than one address. Have a second email address for personal mail messages.
There are a number of tasks you can complete using email. It's best to know how to send, receive, reply, and forward e-mail messages. Also, be sure you know how to attach files to an e-mail message.
If you know how to do all of these things, then you should be very comfortable in your online class. We also have an article about doing research for an online class, if you need more specific information.
Can you navigate the World Wide Web?
The Internet provides a wealth of information and resources. Web users can access a range of websites, including sites maintained by private businesses, the government, public service organizations, and individuals.
Just like any other source of information, some websites are better than others. It is important to know which websites to use when surfing the Net.
Some key items to be familiar with include which Internet browser to use for your class (Firefox, Explorer, Safari, Netscape, etc.) Also, be sure to know some differences between major search engines (Google, Yahoo!, Ask.com, etc.)
Can you use a word processor?
A word processor is a computer application designed to help you create, edit, and save a document. The most familiar word processors are Microsoft® Word, Apple® Pages, and Corel® WordPerfect®. Being able to use a word processor is an essential skill for going to school online.
You should be comfortable creating and formatting a new document (know how to include footnotes, endnotes, page breaks, automatically numbering your pages, adding bullet points). It will help to know how to edit the words and phrases in your document ("copy","cut" or "paste") and being able to save the changes.
Can you make a spreadsheet?
A spreadsheet is a type of document used especially for mathematical calculations, but also has many other uses. Many spreadsheet programs allow you to manipulate data, and create graphs or charts to illustrate the data.
The most popular spreadsheet programs include Microsoft® Excel, Apple® Numbers, and Corel® Quattro Pro®. You should be able to create and edit a spreadsheet, as well as saving any changes you make to a spreadsheet.
It will be important to learn how to perform mathematical calculations using a spreadsheet and creating a chart or graph.
Can you create a presentation?
Presentation programs allow you to create and format a slide presentation for an audience. Presentation programs are very useful for online classes. You can add images, graphs, text, and even animate different parts of your presentation to make it more stimulating and engaging.
Some popular types of presentation programs include Microsoft® PowerPoint, Apple® Keynote, and Sun® StarOffice Impress. Your online course may require that you know how to create, edit, and save a presentation.
It will be important that you know how to:
- find and choose a design template;
- add text and hyperlink text;
- and add image files to your presentation.
Maintenance & Troubleshooting
What do you do when something goes wrong?
For the most part, computers operate without many problems, but occasional issues are not uncommon.
If you have a personal computer, or PC, running Windows, then you should know how to defragment your disk drives. This utility scans your hard drive and rearranges scattered files so it can runs as efficiently as possible.
Also, every computer owner should install software updates to keep their programs up-to-date and applications running smoothly. Another great tip is to keep in mind that it is important to keep your computer's desktop free of files. If you always save files to your desktop, you should move them into folders to help keep things organized!
If your computer freezes, meaning that it does not react when you type or move your mouse, then the best thing you can do is wait. Give your computer about 60 seconds before doing anything. Review your computer's manual; it should provide you with proper instructions about troubleshooting.
Victoria Patrick is Content Manager for eLearners.com.
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