Student Services | Student Orientation | Technical Basics: Hardware
Technical Basics: Hardware
You don't have to be a computer technician to complete an online course, but it helps to have a basic understanding of your hardware and software, common terminology and Blackboard settings. We will look at some of the basics and the minimum technical requirements.
Technical literacy refers to the ability of a person to use tools, resources, systems and processes to accomplish a goal. In this case, the goal is your successful participation in an online course and the tools are your computer's hardware and software and your ability to use the Internet effectively. This is a very basic orientation designed for those who are new to using their computer for online coursework.
Hardware Requirements
In addition to a confident level of computer and Internet literacy, certain minimum technical requirements must be met to enable a successful learning experience. Computers and operating systems change continually, but the computer that you have will probably be sufficient for the work you need to do.
A computer with hardware and software as described below is required for web-based courses delivered by TRU-OL. Computer skill requirements are also specified. Some courses may have other hardware or software requirements as detailed in the course description.
When students register for a web-based course delivered by TRU-OL, they are provided with a Blackboard account to access their course.
Details about computer requirements for TRU-OL courses delivered by SFU or UVic are specified on the institution's website as indicated in the course descriptions and welcome emails.
Hardware Requirements (subject to change)
Window users must have:
Pentium IV or higher microprocessor, or equivalent
Minimum 512 MB of RAM (memory)
Windows XP or higher
Cable modem or ADSL connection to the Internet
Macintosh users must have:
G4 or higher
Minimum 512 MB of RAM (memory)
Mac OS X or higher
Cable modem or ADSL connection to the Internet
Note: Some courses are not Macintosh compatible.
Some additional details about your Internet connection to consider are that a dial-up connection is no longer acceptable because it is not supported by Open Learning or the IT Department. If you are using dial-up, access will be very slow compared to a high-speed connection. Files may load slowly and there will be a delay in using features such as Chat. Also, over the air Internet access, such as through cellphones and satellite connections, cannot be considered as reliable. Please note that if this is the only type of connection available to you we cannot guarantee connectivity.
Microprocessor, RAM (Random Access Memory) and Operating Systems: Right click on "My Computer" and choose "Properties" from the dropdown menu that appears. The “System Properties” box will open. Under the "General" tab you should see the name of your operating system (such as Windows XP), your microprocessor (i.e. Pentium 4) and the amount of RAM on your computer. The name of your operating system also appears each time you start your computer.
To find out what kind of modem or Internet connection you have, click "Start" on your task bar and open the “Control Panel”, then choose "Network Connections”. This will show the type of connection you have.
There may be some additional hardware requirements for specific courses; each course description indicates the required hardware, if any. Typically, a basic sound card and graphics card are required to view short videos online. Some courses also provide a CD in the course package and you will need a CD player to access the content.
It is helpful to have a printer, or access to one, in case you want to print documents and read them offline. Most courses will not require you to print anything as all of your course content is delivered online, but it can be convenient to print documents or messages.
IT Service Desk
The IT Service Desk can provide help with login problems to myTRU and Blackboard.
Email: ITServiceDesk@tru.ca
Phone: 1.888.852.8533 (toll-free in Canada) or 250.852.6800 (Kamloops and International)