Technology Requirements

 What Technology Do I Need for Online Courses?

Technology is an essential part of online learning.  You will need to have sufficient technology in order to succeed in your course.  SLCC recommends the following:

 A Computer or Device with Access to the Internet

The type of computer you have doesn’t matter, but you will need regular access to a computer that connects to the internet. Our recommendation is to use a computer 5 years old or newer when possible. It is important the computer is reliable so that you can always submit your assignments on time. 

You don’t necessarily need to buy a computer; SLCC has computer labs, and local libraries and friends or family have computers you can use. The SLCC Bookstore has computers at discounted prices for purchase or rent.

Many students use smartphones or other mobile devices to do some of the work for their online courses. Replying to emails, reading course content, watching videos, and posting on discussion boards are all easily completed from your devices. However, we recommend using a computer for typing papers, formatting text, saving documents, and downloading course material. 

If using a device, Canvas has an app that has similar functionality as the web browser version, but it may not have all the features that you need. You should still use an internet browser to access Canvas on your mobile devices for full functionality.

 Updated Operating System

Your computer's operating system should be updated to the latest version. If your operating system is not updated to the latest version, please check Links to an external site. that you meet the minimum requirements below:

  • Windows - version 7 or higher 
  • Mac OSX - 10.6 and newer 

 Basic Software

There are some basic software programs you should have to be successful in an online course. The following list is not required but are recommended:

 Internet Speed 

The Canvas learning management system that your courses are in can operate with low bandwidth, but requires a minimum of 512 kbps. However, we recommend having a much faster internet speed (at least 3 Mbps) to watch course videos and download course content. 

 Screen Reader Support (if needed)