In order to take online courses, students must have three primary technical resources: computer hardware, computer software, and Internet access.
Hardware Requirements & Software Requirements
Internet Access and Email Account
You are required to have a reliable Internet Service Provider (ISP) that permits access to the World Wide Web and email. Although it is possible to use free public computers and Internet access (e.g. at public libraries), it is not practical to use these as your sole system. Only you can determine if a shared system or one available at your place of work has the requirements and availability you will need.
E-mail accounts are included with an ISP contract but many people prefer to have a free e-mail account. Samuel Merritt College will provide you with a free e-mail address using the "samuelmerritt.edu" domain, but does not provide Internet access from off campus. Free e-mail accounts are available from sources such as Hotmail, Yahoo and others. You will however be able to access your SMC email from off campus, so another email address is not required.
There are many ISP companies available. We recommend that you have a High Speed Internet connection, such as DSL or Cable. WebTV is NOT advised for the online MSN program. An ISP requires a connection between your computer and their servers. Many students use a dial-up modem connection or DSL, using standard telephone lines (shared or dedicated). Faster connections can be established using cable modems, satellite connections, and other higher speed lines such as ISDN and DSL. Although most of the documents you read and write as part of an online course will be uploaded or downloaded from your computer (not directly written or read while connected to the website), there will also be significant need to "surf" the Internet, seeking sites and documents of interest. Students should obtain the fastest connection that is practical.
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Online Orientation for Students
Prior to enrolling in your first MSNOnline course, it is required that you complete the Introduction to Online Courses. This course is delivered online with BlackBoard, in the same format used for all other online courses. This Orientation will familiarize you with navigating the software.
You will learn the "Blackboard language" How to login; customize your personal student information; find announcements, assignments, course documents, and assessments; send email to other members of the class; drop and pick up documents; check your grades; and use other student tools such as discussion boards, chat, and shared white board. Although this course is not graded, it will definitely give you a leg up to insuring that all your hardware and software are functioning correctly and that you know how to navigate the course before the tough work begins. After you are accepted into the program, you will receive enrollment information on how to access the Introduction to Online Course.
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Technical Help
Since you may be located far from our Oakland campus, it is not possible for us to help you directly with hardware problems. What we can do is help you diagnose the problem and identify an appropriate correction strategy. Samuel Merritt College has several people who can work with you in this manner. It may be best, initially, to contact the Program Coordinator, Vicki Davis, at vdavis@samuelmerritt.edu, to help you determine the best resource. Vicki may be able to solve your problem. If not, she can direct you to the Information Technology Helpdesk, a librarian, the faculty, or a work-study student. If the problem appears to be your hardware, you may need to identify a local vendor who can assist you.
Every computer and software program comes with a hardcopy or electronic manual and, often, web site support. You should become familiar with the manual and help tools for your computer and each of the software programs you use. For our online courses, the Help link within the course will take you to an extensive (50 page) Student Manual. You will be most successful in this program if you become highly familiar with this document.
Please note: Faculty and staff are not available 24 hours/day or on weekends unless previously arranged. Do not wait for the last minute to complete an online assignment. Your faculty will have provided you with a variety of contact methods such as phone, fax, and email. Rarely is there only a single method of delivering a paper or project.