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Expectations

Before committing to an online course, you should be aware of the following requirements and expectations for online students:

• Be prepared to work as hard in this course as you would in a face-to-face course.
• Test your technology prior to participating in any new activities.
  
• Read the Syllabus and Schedule. For an online course, the syllabus provides the guidelines and expectations for your participation. 
• Check your course site at least once every 48 hours. Some instructors might choose to send updates via email, while others might post announcements that you will only see by logging in to Blackboard and accessing your course. For activities that require prompt feedback, your instructor might expect you to access the course and participate at least once per day.
• Make sure your email address is correct and up to date in Campus Connect. After you log in to Campus Connect, the option to change your email address can be found under the Demographic Portfolio section of the left-hand menu.
• Check your email frequently. Accessing email at least once per day is highly recommended for online students.
• Review the resources available in the Academic Support section. Many university departments provide services for online students, including the library.
• Schedule regular times for your online activities. Plan to spend at least one evening a week and a few hours each weekend on your coursework.
• Be an active participant. Complete all readings, participate in discussions, and complete activities on time.
• Be proactive. Pay attention to due dates and don't expect your instructor to remind you when deadlines are approaching.
• Respect your fellow students. Many online activities require student-to-student interaction. Be respectful of others' opinions and contributions.

Technical Requirements

Internet Connection

All students must have access to a high-speed network connection (DSL or cable).

Windows Computers

Macintosh Computers

*If you are purchasing a computer, we recommend these specifications. DePaul students qualify for discounts on computer hardware and software. For more information, visit the Demon Discounts area of the DePaul website.

Required Software

All online students are expected to have certain essential software to participate in online courses. This includes:

• One of the following web browsers: Firefox 3 or higher, Internet Explorer 6 or higher. Please note that the following Web browsers are not supported: AOL, Prodigy, CompuServe, and Opera
• Flash Player
• QuickTime
• Microsoft Office 2003 or higher. Microsoft Office includes Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, which are essential for nearly all online courses. Excel may also be required for some courses. For discounted software pricing, visit DePaul's e-academy website.

Please note that Microsoft Office 2007 is strongly recommended for all online students. Documents saved in Microsoft Office 2007 have different file extensions from those saved in previous versions of Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. In order to open an Office 2007 document in an Office 2003 program, you must install the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats. Mac users should visit the downloads section of the mactopia website for compatibility updates for the Mac version of Microsoft Office 2004.

Some courses include video content that might cause a warning to display in Internet Explorer 8. To ensure you can see the videos, review this guide to viewing content in Internet Explorer 8. In addition, some courses use the Wimba Live Classroom, a real-time, virtual meeting space. Wimba is free for DePaul students; however, it does require that your web browser have certain free add-ons in order to work properly. Run the Wimba Setup Wizard to ensure your computer meets all of the requirements.

Some courses may require that students purchase additional software or install free software on their computers. Review your course syllabus for any unique software requirements

Required Skills

All online students must have the following skills and abilities in order to successfully complete an online course:

• ability to install programs on your computer (Computers that you share with others, such as those in a library or computer lab, will typically not allow you to install software.)
• ability to save files to your computer's hard drive and retrieve them later
• ability to perform a web search and use a web browser to navigate various websites
• familiarity with Blackboard, DePaul's online course management system. For an introduction, review the Blackboard Training Guide (.pdf file). If you are close to the Lincoln Park campus, you can attend Blackboard trainings given by the Instructional Technology Department (ITD).  View the ITD training page for more information.

Discussion Etiquette

While you probably know how to be professional and polite in a face-to-face discussion, there are certain guidelines for online interaction that you might not be aware of. Here are some tips regarding online etiquette or "netiquette" when interacting with your instructor and fellow students online.

• Spell check your writing and consider your tone before posting. In most cases, you will not be able to modify your comments after you post.
• Add your comment in the right place. If you’re responding to Jane Doe's comment, make sure her comment is the one you see when you click the "reply" button.
• Change the Subject line of your post to something that reflects your specific contribution.  This will make it easier for people to follow up on discussions that are of the most interest to them. 
• Add something new and justify your position. When responding to others' comments, don’t just say, "Yeah, I agree." Instead, say, "Yes, but we also need to consider…" Or, "I don’t agree because…"
• Edit—yes, that means correct spelling and punctuation. Draw attention to your great idea, not your poor spelling.
• Don't use capital letters to emphasize text. This is equivalent to shouting in person and it can make text difficult to read. To emphasize a word, phrase, or idea, use italics, bolding, or place an asterisk before and after the text. 
• Avoid offensive language, off-color jokes, and personal attacks. Make comments about ideas, not people.