Getting ready for an online course–Line up your tech resources

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The first essential resources that come to mind for an online course, of course, are the technology tools. Again most of these you already know and have used by now . . . they are even more critical, however for online courses, so I’m going to restate the obvious–see if you can spot any I miss. And see if there is even one that has never been missed by someone, at one time, at school or at work. The plan is for you not to be that someone.

First, the basics:

  1. Of course you need a computer, tablet, or laptop that is compatible with your courses and has the memory, processing power, and storage to handle the communication and apps your institution and courses require. Sounds obvious, but one person couldn’t hide their unmade bed with a virtual background because their computer, adequate for all other course work, couldn’t handle the processing for custom backgrounds.
  2. Test your set-up by accessing the portals you will need, including department communications, campus email, library, course portals, etc. You may need to sign up separately for some of these. Be prepared for glitches as you or your institution update operating systems, virus protection, apps.
  3. Have enough bandwidth and a fast enough connection so that you and others in your household can all do your thing at the same time. Particularly COVID-19 and likely beyond, you may be video ZOOMing at the same time as your parents are in their business meets and a sibling is online gaming. You may wish to all chip in and get a bigger data plan to avoid unpleasant surprises.
  4. Check your WiFi–are you close enough to your router? Can everyone work at the same time? Do you have poachers locked out? Do you need to shut down some of the WiFi drain if you have a really Smart house? Do you need to put in boosters, or a mesh? 
  5. If you aren’t a techie (I’m not), have an online resource that can advise and walk you through these things. 
  6. Install or update any programs and apps you will need and trial them before class starts. For example, if the course is offered on ZOOM, practice screen sharing, whiteboarding, recording, messaging, etc. with a friend.
  7. If something like D2L is part of the course delivery, browse the entire site for your course. You will learn interesting things, for example, that your prof can see your activity, when you sign on, what you download, etc. (Bet not everyone knows that.)
  8. Know campus resources–workshops, familiarization and practice sessions, IT helpdesk, library helpdesk. (Also student services, writing workshops, test taking workshops–but that’s another blog. Just mentioning.)
  9. Have a Plan B. No, have many Plan Bs. Be aware of potential glitches.
  10. Have alternate hardware in case your computer fails. This can be a family member’s computer or your tablet–if it is your tablet, make sure you have all the programs, connections, apps etc. you would need.
  11. Be prepared for hardware and power failures–back up your communications and data, whether this is on the cloud or a separate external hard drive, and back up regularly. Save assignments in two different places. Back up your research. Back up group work.
  12. Pay your internet bill.
  13. Malware abounds. You will be less likely to be a victim if you have a password manager, keep your virus protection up to date, and keep your program and operating systems up to date. You will be less likely to lose critical research and work if you do get hacked if you have backed everything up. Institutions get hacked too, for ransomware–if your work is on the campus cloud, you will be a hero to yourself and your group if you have backup of your own.

So we all have done all of that. Probably not. The key is not to avoid technology glitches; it is to expect that they will happen, plan to prevent as many as you can, and have a plan to recover when they do happen.

Enhancements:

Depending on your budget, preferences, and course requirements, you may wish to budget for

  1. The capacity to scan and print (in colour).
  2. A better video camera.
  3. Better quality speakers, headset, and monitor.
  4. Dual monitors, especially if your course requires a lot of spreadsheet work, or you like to have your research articles on one screen and your assignment work on another.
  5. More memory!
  6. Faster processor!
  7. Video card! Gaming controls! 
  8. And, and, and . . .

Tech is an area where planning and maintenance are not particularly interesting. Like maintaining your car or your bike, it’s worth the time invested to get you where you want to go.

Let me know which of these you feel is unnecessary in the basics list, and which is essential in the enhancements list [email protected]