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Center for Teaching & Online Learning

Students: is online learning right for you?

Access to Technology

Being successful in an online learning environment means having access to reliable technology. This includes hardware, software, and internet access. 

At minimum, you will need:

  • Access to a desktop computer or laptop where you can view web pages, download files, and create attachments 
  • A reliable and stable internet connection and access to email.
  • Many classes require you to record videos, so a computer with a web camera and microphone is helpful. 

PLEASE NOTE: While mobile devices are convenient, many assignments and activities require a full computer. A mobile device is not enough to be successful in an online course. 

Chromebooks are tempting as inexpensive laptops for online learning. However, some students find that the Chromebooks do not provide enough computing power (very slow) and do not always work with online software that can be required for courses like Math and foreign languages. 

Even though you can complete some your work via the Canvas app on mobile devices like smart phones or tablets, you can access all the functions of Canvas and other online learning tools only on a desktop computer or laptop. 

As a student at SPSCC, you gain access to a student email account and Office 365 which includes Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more that can be downloaded on your personal computer (visit MySPSCC for more info (Links to an external site.)). These tools can be used to complete most of your online assignments, but you must have internet access in order to submit assignments and complete online coursework through Canvas and other applications. 

SPSCC also offers access to media pods for recording videos. But you will need to come to campus during regular business hours to take advantage of these services. You can learn more about services available to students by visiting the Center for Teaching and Online Learning resource page on the SPSCC website.

A few questions to ask yourself:

Do you have access to a computer that is powerful enough to provide reliable and responsive access to your online learning environment?

Do you have a reliable internet connection?