Tech Tips for Online Classes
Internet Access
Before you can take an Oakton Online Course, you need to have
Internet/WWW access. If you're working on campus or from a
networked office computer, such a connection is set and probably
beyond your control. If you're working at home, you do have
a choice and there are a number of factors to consider. Before
you read this section, it is recommended that you first see
the section on "How the Internet works" for an overview on
how Internet service providers fit into the technical scheme.
ISPs vs. OSPs
Not too many years ago when people would buy a computer
they would subscribe to an Online Service Provider (OSP)
such as Prodigy, Compuserve, or AOL/America Online. These
services were essentially self-contained worlds, collections
of information, message boards/chat rooms, and services
like travel reservations that were produced in conjunction
with aligned businesses. A subscriber would set up his computer
to directly dial in to one of these services for access
to these individual and exclusive "worlds..." and stay
there.
Though ISPs (Internet Service Providers, such as Mindspring
or Earthlink or ATT) and OSPs are similar in that a subscriber
typically uses a modem and phone lines to connect to them,
many ISPs tended to offer users little beyond an initial
home page and a connection to the Internet. On the other
hand, ISPs have always tended to offer the user a more seamless
access to the Internet and the Web, providing less proprietary
browsers and other tools as well as following stricter adherance
to widely accepted Internet protocols.
AOL, though it provides a viable connection to the Internet, is often problematic for online course students.
Its default web browser has been unfriendly toward
installing plugins and certain scripting languages that
may be necessary for taking an online class. AOL's proprietary
email service can also cause confusion.
AOL users will need to make some simple changes to their
setups to insure best access to online course materials.
Read the special
instructions for AOL users. These instructions basically
explain how to connect with AOL while using another browser
like Netscape or Internet Explorer. Users should also read
the section on browsers
and minimum
specs.
In the market for a service provider? While Oakton
cannot recommend a particular ISP, we can point learners
to a couple of informational sources where they can possibly
evaluate services and make a choice:
Also, you can find information about locally-based ISPs in
the Yellow Pages under "Internet" and frequently in the business
sections of local papers. Free & Low-cost ISPs
While again we can't recommend any particular company,
FreedomList offers
a comprehensive listing as well as descriptions and reviews of low-cost and sometimes free.
Be aware that companies change policies, go out of business,
or offer different levels of service (free & for a fee)
on an ever-changing basis. One of the main considerations with ISPs, free or otherwise,
is where you must call in order to access service. Look
for a service with a local phone exchange-- multiple nearby
numbers is even better as this can impact your chances of
connecting during high-demand times.
Wireless ("Wi-Fi," "802.11")
A number of public institutions and private shops (particularly
coffee shops and bookstores) have begun to offer wireless
internet access to users of notebook computers equipped
with wireless modems. Costs vary and may even be free. Be
aware that while the laptop owner is still resposible for
correct configuration of his browser, the wireless provider,
like any ISP, may block/ restrict browsing or cause other
issues beyond Oakton's control. Correctly set up, wireless
connections shouldn't cause any problems for Oakton's online
courses. More
information on wireless. See also Wikipedia on Wi-fi.
Oakton has begun offering wireless Internet access on campus
to students and public with their own laptops. More information
may be found in the Oakton
IT Knowledge Bank.
Cable and DSL
Apart from any hardware/software needs that your cable provider
should explain to you, this more recent addition to the
provider mix should operate similarly to other ISPs as far
as accessing online classes is concerned. The main functional
difference is the significant increase in connection speed.
A now-standard phone/modem connection will max out at something
a little under 56Kbps, depending on the quality of any connection
between your computer and your ISP. A cable Internet connection
should be many, many times faster though it can depend heavily
on how many people share a connection. More information
is available from the cable
modem FAQ.
A good deal of care has been taken to make Oakton online
classes run over standard phone/modem connections at an
acceptable speed.
WebTV and Small Mobile Devices
Oakton Online courses have not been tested on small mobile web accessing devices like smartphones, WebTV or similar
products. The technology at the time of this writing
would not seem to be appropriate for Oakton Online needs. |
