Computer Requirements and Skills Assessment

 

 

 

Below you will find 2 Self-Assessments: 
1. Computer Equipment for Dakota State University online courses
2. Technical Computer Comfort Level
Continue on as you work through both of these self-assessment tools.  Please answer the questions truthfully.  In order to be successful in an online course it is to your benefit to determine what your skill level is.

I. Computer Equipment for Dakota State University online courses:

Minimum: Intel 486 or Mac equivalent, 32 MB RAM, with 28.8 K modem and Internet connection, Web browser Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 or higher, or Netscape Navigator.

Recommended: Pentium, 63 MB RAM, with 56.6 K modem, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5, or Netscape Navigator 4.

There may be course specific software requirements such as Real Player, NetMeeting, etc.

If you have a computer that meets minimum requirements then please use the following self-assessment to determine if you are technically comfortable  to take an online course.

Now that you have determined that your computer has adequate resources for the online courses at Dakota State University, let's assess your comfort level with your computer.

 

II. Computer Comfort Level Self-Assessment:

1.  Can you run the applications on your computer?

   No Yes

2. Can you create, save and manage files on your computer?

   No Yes

3. Do you know how to install software on your computer?

   No Yes

4. Do you currently have an email address?

   No Yes

5. Do you know how to send and receive email messages?

   No Yes

6. Do you know how to attach a file to an email message?

   No Yes

7. Do you know how to "copy and paste" text from a word processor into an email message?

   No Yes

8. Do you know how to receive and open a file attachment from an incoming email message?

   No Yes

9. Can you access Internet email and the World Wide Web 10 -12 hours a week to work on your course?

   No Yes

10. Do you enjoy learning new computer or technology skills?

    No Yes
    

    
    

    Adapted from:
    Self-Assessment for Online Courses, "Are you ready to take an online course?", http://xwing.cochise.cc.az.us/online-campus/selfassess.html.

If you have said "no" to any of these questions you may want to reassess taking an online course. You need to be at a comfortable skill level in order to use the technology and keep up the course materials.  All of the skills mentioned in the self-assessment are used in taking an online course. An online course is a big time commitment and if you are not comfortable with the skills needed to complete the course work, the time commitment will be even greater.

Office of Distance Education Dakota State University Madison, South Dakota 1-800-641-4309 or 605-256-5049 Email:  dsuinfo@pluto.dsu.edu Last updated:  09/08/00 09:56:36 AM