What do I need for an online course?

Ultimately, what you need will depend on how your professor chooses to teach the course. Stay alert for communication and instructions from your professor.

Here are some general guidelines and recommendations. Note: these unofficial recommendations are not ACU requirements, and may not meet the requirements of your major or program. Refer to your major or program departments for their requirements.

If you need to participate with audio and video, check our article for What are Best Practices for Video Conferencing?

Your Space

You will need a space that allows you to focus. For some that means zero distractions, while others may not need such strict accommodation.

Your space will need an Internet connection. We recommend a speed of 30+ Mbps, and no lower than 20Mbps.

If you need to participate with video and audio, take this into consideration when choosing a space. Background noise will be picked up by your microphone, and you will need an appropriate level of lighting. Be aware of what is in the background, such as wall posters, mirrors, other people, etc. When you join a video conference, you will be shown a preview of what your camera sees before you join.

Think of a backup location before you need it. In the event your location loses power or Internet service, your sister throws a big party, etc., have a backup location or two already in mind.

Your Technology

Your Computer

• A laptop or desktop computer. A tablet such as an iPad can do some of the things you need, but is not a replacement for a Personal Computer.
• We recommend 4GB RAM or more and a 2.5GHz processor or better.

Applications

• Zoom - a video conferencing software. You can download the client, test it, and familiarize yourself with it at zoom.us/test.
• Google Meet - video conferencing web application from Google.
• Web browser - We recommend Chrome. Other web browsers you may use include:
  • Firefox.
  • Opera.
  • Edge.
• Google Drive for Desktop.
• Adobe Creative Cloud and Document Cloud (adobe.com).
• Office 365 (office.com).
• Respondus Lockdown Browser.

Other Equipment

If you need to participate with audio and video, or make recordings to submit, you will need headphones, a camera and a microphone.

• Headphones - The essential piece of video conferencing equipment is headphones. The critical factor is that headphones prevent audio feedback, a regular nemesis of video conferencing. Any headphones will work, from ear buds to professional headsets.
• Microphone - For the best audio experience, we recommend using a headset with a built-in microphone. However the built-in microphone of your laptop, all-in-one desktop, or webcam will work. Doing so will not always result in the highest audio quality, but it is the simplest to set up.
• Camera - Almost any USB webcam will suffice. For best results, we recommend a camera with a resolution of 720 or 1080. The camera built into your laptop or all-in-one desktop is in this range.