So, you have made the decision to take an online course.  Now, you need to “prep for the tech.”  You certainly don’t need to be a tech geek to be successful in online courses.  However, there are few things you can do to ensure you have all the technology worked out before you start your online course. 

A good place to start is to visit our Technical Support page. 

Let’s look at three main areas of tech prep you want to review before your online course begins. 

The Hardware

eCampus courses require that you have access to a laptop or desktop computer.  Chromebooks will also work.  However, a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet is not sufficient to complete your online course.  Other equipment such as a printer and headphones will be helpful.   

The Software

You will need access to word processing software.  We got you covered with this one.  All Peoria Unified School District students have free access to Office 365.  You can access applications such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint online without having to download any software.  What’s more, you have the option of downloading Microsoft Office to your personal device at no cost to you.  Our Help Center has all the resources you need.   

Browser

Although internet browsers are a part of software, this is an area that needs its own section. eCampus courses work best with the Google Chrome browser. Other browser’s such as Safari, Firefox, and Edge can still be used, but you may encounter some limitations with these browsers. We also recommend updating your browsers to the most recent version. You may need to turn off pop-up blockers in some of our courses. In addition, if you are experiencing issues, it is always a good idea to clear your browser’s cache then restart your device. Finally, we recommend you have at least two browsers installed in the event you experience any issues accessing a resource. 

You will use tech skills beyond what you experience with social media. Focus on getting the appropriate resources related to hardware and software and you will set yourself to have a successful online course experience.