What are the technical requirements to take an online course?
STUDENTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN AN ONLINE COURSE CAN ACCESS THEIR COURSE THROUGH DLCgo
Before you decide to take an online course it is a good idea to look over these minimum requirements to determine if you have or can acquire what you will need before you start the course.
Some courses have additional requirements, please refer to the course descriptions in the course list for more information.
Here are a few ways to tell if you have what you need to take an online course:
- Can you play YouTube movies on your computer?
- Can you listen to and/or download music on your computer?
- Can you write, save, and file documents?
- Can you upload and edit photographs? (Required for some courses.)
- Can you surf the Web?
- Can you send an email?
If you answered yes to these questions then you most likely have what is needed to take an online course. Here are some specifics:
Hardware ( your computer )
Sask DLC supports Mac and PC users. Beyond that, it will depend largely on the type of course you are taking. For instance, a course involving high-resolution images and video might require a more powerful computer than one involving only discussion forums, text submissions, and email communication. However, at a minimum, you will require a computer with reliable Internet access.
The older and the slower your computer the longer it will take to up and download files (images, texts, audio or video). If you are patient then the speed of your computer may not be a problem.
Older computers may not support some of the newer browsers e.g. Firefox. Newer browsers allow full interactivity in our online course environment (DLCgo).
Required:
For the APPLE MACINTOSH platform
- at least MAC OS X
- Sound card, speakers or headphones, and microphone (built-in or external)
For PC platform
- Windows XP Operating System or better
- Sound card, speakers or headphones, and microphone (built-in or external)
Software
INTERNET SERVER PROVIDER (YOUR ISP)
- Required: 56kbps band modem or greater (minimum) adequate for text-based courses only.
- Recommended: 300kbps High-speed internet connection (ADSL or Cable)
Please check your connection speed by visiting http://www.speedtest.net
BROWSERS
Disclaimer
Sask DLC assumes no liability for personal or workplace computing equipment used during your course. We are not liable for damages caused by or thought to have been caused by the installation of software purchased from us or through links posted on our website. We are not accountable for issues you may have surrounding the installation and /or use of said software.