Registering for an online Computer Technologies course?
Online courses require you to apply technology to access course materials and complete assignments. This can require additional expenses for you. You are responsible for obtaining, troubleshooting, and paying for hardware, software, services, and technical support as needed to be successful in your online course(s).
As a student you already have access to Microsoft 365, Microsoft's suite of cloud-based office applications including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Microsoft 365 also provides the ability to install offline versions of Office 2106.
***Note: Microsoft 365 is not the same thing as an "operating system".
Requirements for online course completion:
- Reliable access to student e-mail and the Internet. This means paying a monthly fee to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). You will be required to send and receive e-mails. You may also need to send and receive email attachments. You should check your student e-mail and the course website every 48 hours.
- Access to software specific to courses – see course listings for software specifications.
- Reliable storage medium (USB Drive, hard drive, online "cloud-based" storage, etc.) to save your work.
Taking an online course is also quite different than a traditional classroom course, so be prepared! In general, you should:
- be capable of working independently.
- be very responsible for organizing your time and keeping up with the coursework.
- use e-mail, voice mail, and office hours to communicate with the instructor (the instructor will indicate his or her preference).
- be willing to travel to campus to take exams (if required by the instructor) or meet with the instructor.
- be aware that taking programming courses online can be frustrating and time-consuming because of the time needed to figure out coding errors and concepts without direct instructor support.
Technical Issues
Resolving technical problems that a student may experience while installing or using their software/hardware is the responsibility of the student. If students encounter problems, they may need to use campus labs, public libraries, or other means to complete coursework. A-B Tech and its staff are not responsible for resolving technical problems experienced by students, including the installation of software needed for coursework. Students who wish to use technology at home, but do not have the expertise, may need to pay for technical support.
Important: How to begin your online course
On the first day of the semester, students registered for online courses must go to Moodle and follow the instructions to log in. Once students have gained access to Moodle, they are to follow the link to their course(s). Announcements and other information will be provided by the instructor. Students are to contact instructors according to the method indicated on the course website.
Instructor email addresses are located in the Employee Directory. Instructors may use a different address than given in the employee directory; students should use the email address specified on the course website.
Please contact your instructor for questions about your specific course(s) requirements.