The Georgia Virtual Technical Connection offers Internet courses that combine synchronous (students & instructor online at the same time) and asynchronous (everyone works when they have time) instructional delivery technologies. Although some courses may require periodic on-campus class attendance, most do not! Internet classes allow you to arrange your class attendance around your own schedule. Except for turning in assignments when they are due, your schedule is totally up to you. You can review lectures, ask questions, and participate in discussion groups at a time and from a place that’s convenient to you. Prior to registering for an online course, you should:
- Take the distance learner self-assessment,
- Determine if you have access to the minimum computer hardware/software,
- Ensure that you have the basic technology skills, and
- Complete the Internet 101 self-paced tutorial
Distance Learner Self-Assessment
Distance learning courses are not for everyone. Some people learn best by interacting face to face with the instructor and other students. To be successful in an online course, you should be self-motivated and work well independently.
Minimum Hardware/Software Requirements
You must also ensure that your computer meets the minimum hardware and software requirements. For more information on technical requirements, click here to check the minimum technology requirements page. A browser compatibility test is also available to help you determine whether or not you will be able to access course materials with your current computer.
Student Technology Skills
The following computer skills are needed prior to taking online courses through GVTC. Students are responsible for assessing their own skill levels. If you do not possess these skills, check into the computer literacy courses offered at your local Technical College. Your instructor will not be teaching these skills as part of the course.
Basic Skills
- Familiar with the operating system of the computer being used to access the Internet course
- Understand terms such as mouse, drag, open, select, file, choose, double-click, download, upload, send, etc.
- Save, copy and find files/folders on floppy and hard drives
- Navigate between two or more applications without closing and re-opening (multitasking)
- Minimize/maximize Windows
Email Skills
- Send, open, reply to, and forward a message
- Enter a message subject
- Send an attachment
- Open and/or save an attachment
Web Browser Skills
- Go to a specific URL
- Print a page
- Follow a hypertext link
- Conduct a basic search using a search engine
- Download and install plug-ins
Word Processor Skills
- Open a new file
- Open an existing file
- Save a file
- Rename a file (Save As)
- Cut, paste, format text
- Print a document
Internet 101: A Self-paced Tutorial
Students will learn what the Internet is, how to connect, how to use the two most popular browsers Netscape Navigator/Communicator and Microsoft Internet Explorer, how to use search engines to find information, and how to download that information using various methods. In addition, students will learn how to contact other users through email, chat groups, listservs and newsgroups.