Online Learning Technical Recommendations

Owned by Michael Altobelli
Last updated: Jun 17, 2020
2 min read

Internet Connectivity Requirements

  • You must have a reliable Internet connection of at least 512 Kbps for Canvas use.
    Many classes utilize Zoom or another video conferencing solution, this will require 1.5 Mbps(Mb/s) Download and 1.5 Mbps Upload speed.

  • Check your speed at  https://speed.measurementlab.net/, and follow the below guide to see if your Internet meets our recommendations.

    Test Server 🏙This is just informational, it will typically pick a city within a few hours of you.
    Download 🔽Should be greater than 512 Kb/s or 0.5 Mb/s
    Greater than 1.0 Mbps for online class use with video, 1.5 Mb/s is preferred
    Upload 🔼Should be greater than 0.8 Mbps for online class use with video, 1.5 Mb/s is preferred
    Latency ⌚Should be less than 200 ms, if it's more than 200 ms try moving closer to your router or hotspot.
    Typical number is 30 ms.
    Retransmission Should be close to 0.00%, if it's greater than 1.00% try moving closer to your router or connecting via a network cable

    If you don't have internet connectivity at home and are current enrolled for a course, see COVID-19 IT Student FAQ for information on getting Internet access.

Computer Requirements

  • A computer less than 5 years old is recommended. 
  • ChromeOS/Chromebooks will not support most of our test taking software, it can be used for most classwork but you may not be able to take the tests.
  • If you want to borrow a laptop for the semester and have already registered for your classes, contact helpdesk@howardcc.edu.


    If you are looking for a new computer

    1. We recommend shopping online at first and looking for at least three retailers or manufacturer websites.
      Sometimes a specific vendor will run a discount promotion, some retailers also have student discounts.
    2. Look for a "tech specs" or "specifications" page and compare to the below items
    3. Once you have the laptop, install any software you'll need for class from the course Syllabus as well as under Software Recommendations 

    Typical Class Requirements

    The below are the requirements for most classes
    Classes such as graphic design or engineering will benefit from a more powerful machine in order to run the software at home. 
    Some music classes use software only available on Mac OS, review your syllabus to see if the class uses any Mac specific software.

    SpecificationRecommendationExamples
    Operating SystemWindows 8.1 or Windows 10 (Switch out of S mode)
                 Click here for info on switching out of S mode
    Mac OS 10.13 or greater    		Windows 10
    Windows 10 Home in S mode
    Mac OS
    Processor/CPUDual core CPU 2 Ghz or higher
    A 6th gen and newer i3, i5, i7 or AMD Ryzen are preferred
    We recommend against Celeron, Pentium, AMD A4, AMD A6, AMD A8, AMD A9.

    Core i5-1035G1
    i3-8145U
    Ryzen 3 3250U
    Ryzen 5 3500U
    i7-9700
    Intel 10th Generation Core i5

    Memory/RAMAt least 4 GB, 8 GB is preferred4 GB DDR4
    8GB DDR4
    8GB LPDDR3
    8 gigabytes LPDDR4X
    Hard driveAt least 128 GB, a Solid State Drive (SSD) is preferred
    Don't purchase a Windows laptop with an eMMC drive    		128 GB M.2 Solid State Drive
    256GB Solid State Drive
    256GB NVMe M.2 PCIe SSD
    1 TB HDD [Note: Slower than SSD]
    Screen resolution1024x600 minimum, 1366x768(HD), 1920x1080(FHD) or greater recommended15.6" HD Display
    14 inch FHD display
    2560 x 1600 Retina
    1600 x 900 HD+
    Webcam (For Video Conferences/Zoom)

    If your course meets over Zoom or is a language course, we recommend having a webcam that also has a microphone. Zoom/Video will also work on a smartphone if you have one.

    		Front-Facing HD Webcam
    Front-facing Camera

    Game Design

    Game design will require a good video card, we recommend looking at gaming computers.

    Engineering

    Engineering will want a better processor, video card, and more memory. Not all engineering applications support Mac OS, so we recommend Windows.
    We recommend looking for an AMD or Nvidia video card, and an i5, i7, Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 processor.
    We 8 GB of RAM is the minimum for many applications.

    Video

    Look for an Nvidia or AMD video card, we've had issues with Intel cards in the past when using video software.
    We recommend also moving up to 8 GB of RAM or more, and an i5, i7 ,Ryzen 5, or Ryzen 7

Software Recommendations

Web Browsers

These are utilizes heavily in online learning, we recommend having two browsers installed in case a website doesn't work on one browser.
Currently Firefox and Chrome are our recommended browsers.

Office Suite

Office Suite software are often used in classes to write papers and create presentations.
We recommend you install and familiarize yourself with at least one.

Office 365

Alternatives

Video Conferencing Software

If you are in a scheduled remote course your classes will have Video conference meetings instead of Face to Face class time.
Video conferencing can also be used to have office hours with your professor.

Currently most faculty members utilize Zoom.us for both, you can download and install Zoom below.

Assistive Technology/Screen Readers (If applicable)