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This section is dedicated to the technical questions involved with connecting to an online course at Washburn University. These days, many people have computers in their homes, and most of them have Internet access. Students may also access the Internet via a computer lab at their local university or other public institution.
Connecting
At CollegeStudents that attend one of Washburn's 2+2 Partner Colleges can use the college computer labs to complete online coursework for Washburn. For more information, contact 2plus2@washburn.edu.
Most students enrolled in online courses will be accessing the courses from work or home. Convenience is the most frequently mentioned incentive for online courses. Students can study when time allows, without the restraint of a classroom (or computer lab). Because the online courses are available on the World Wide Web, either a Macintosh or IBM compatible computer will work. However, computers must meet certain requirements to utilize the course software.
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| Minimum
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|---|---|---|
| Processor | Pentium III 600 Mhz or faster | G3 |
| Operating | Windows 98 | Mac OS 9.0 or 10.1 |
| Browser | Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1 | Internet Explorer 5.1.X (OS 9.0) |
| Modem | 56K | 56K |
| Memory | 128 MB RAM | 64 MB RAM |
| Hard Drive | 8 GB | 6 GB |
| Sound card, Speakers, & Mouse | Yes | Yes |
| Plug-ins | Adobe Reader | Adobe Reader |
Display | 800X600 | 800X600 |
After obtaining a computer, it is necessary to connect to the Internet. A number of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) exist. There are local ISPs, national ISPs, no-cost ISPs and online services. Consult a local telephone book or search online for Internet Service Provider options in your area.
AOL users and free ISP users must use an alternate web browser and may experience problems accessing Washburn online courses. A good substitute browser for AOL users is either Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. For more information, refer to the minimum system requirements, visit WebCT's browser tune-up page, or contact webtech@washburn.edu
MSNtv and WebTV cannot be used with Washburn University's online courses. It is incompatible with WebCT.
The Washburn University WebTechs recommend Internet Explorer because it has been extensively tested with WebCT and performs well. In addition, certain features of WebCT are only available for Internet Explorer.
As an alternative to Internet Explorer, students can also download and install Firefox. This browser is similar to browsers like Netscape Communicator and Mozilla but only comes as a browser, with no additional tools like an e-mail, calendar, HTML editing, and other features. As a result, this small download is a friendly alternative for dial-up users.
After a new browser is installed, or if students are having problems using the browser, it may be neccesary to adjust a few settings to ensure compatibility with WebCT and Washburn. For more information, see the WU WebCT Technical Support page.