1. With upgrades to courseware and course delivery software it is recommended that for optimal experience Windows 2000 and higher and Mac OS 10 and higher are used. Using an operating system less than Windows 2000 or Mac OS 10 could be problematic for most e-Learning courses.

North Seattle has two on campus computer labs that can be used by e-Learning students. These computers have software and internet connections that will work with all of our e-Learning classes and e-Learning students with NET ID can use these labs.

2. Most e-Learning courses (online, hybrid or on campus courses with an online component) utilize technologies which requires a broadband internet connection (DSL, cable modem, or WLAN). With technologies such as video or audio streaming, Podcasts, Camtasia films, narrated PowerPoints and Learning Management Systems like ANGEL  or Moodle a broadband internet connection will make the online experience more accessible and less problematic.

For some courses students have the option to rent or purchase DVD's of the video materials if they are not able to stream them on their computers (see Registered Students page for more information).

3. It is recommended that users install the most recent versions of the browsers. This is a free upgrade which can be downloaded from the Microsoft website for IE 8 and the Mozilla website for Firefox. (Please note that there may be a compatibility issue with IE 8 which can be fixed by clicking on the "Compatibility Icon" located to the right of the Address bar) More information about the "Compatibility Icon" can be found on the Microsoft web site.

4. One course (MATH 102) requires CD ROM/DVD capability at present and is not MAC compatible. The e-Learning MATH series (081 - 098) has moved to a web based courseware and is accessible with the PC and MAC platform.

5. Some online courses utilize audio or video streaming. Other online classes may include short video clips. If your computer does not have audio or video capability, contact the e-Learning office or the instructor to check on the sound requirements of the specific classes in which you are interested. 

6. Your instructor may need to contact you through your personal email so in insure that you receive these in a timely manner it is important to update any changes to your contact information by going to North Seattle Online Services. North Seattle also offers "Google Apps" to all students with NetID. For more information about this benefit please go to North Seattle NetID page.

7. Some online courses may require the ability to upload, read and send MS Word document files (or files that can be read by MS Word) If you have any questions about this please contact your instructor by email before registering to insure that you have the ability to turn in your assignments in a format that will be useable. You can download a Microsoft Word Reader. It is also important if you are using Microsoft Office 2007 that you save your files in the .doc or . rtf file format (do not use the .docx extension) this will allow those users who do not have the upgraded software to read your documents.
For other compatible issues and readers please see Compatibility Support. If you do not have Microsoft Office software there is a free download of an office suite called "Open Office". This is compatible with Microsoft Office and will allow you to create and read documents that have been created with this software. Please go to http://download.openoffice.org/index.html for more information and for a download of this free office suite.

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