Online Instruction Requirements

Fall 2007 on the Internet

Merced College Internet-based classes give students an opportunity to complete most of the course work outside the classroom at times they find most convenient.

Currently, most of the Internet-based classes require some time on campus in face-to-face contact with the instructor. This requirement will vary from class to class, so read the schedule carefully.

Students who take Internet-based classes should have a strong sense of self-motivation and dedication to school work, particularly as it relates to meeting deadlines. Students should also realize that Internet-based classes take as much time, if not more, as regular classes to complete.

Students must already possess the following technology skills:

• Use of email
• Ability to create and email documents in attachments
• (Word and RTF)
• Experience with uploading and downloading files
• Experience with posting to discussion boards, on line chats, and electronic bulletin boards

Students must have reliable personal email and an Internet web access account. Merced College has an open computer lab where students can access the Internet to take these classes, but it is not open around the clock, on holidays, or Sundays.

It is strongly recommended that students have easy and regular access (preferably from home) to the following types of equipment and software. These are minimum standards:

Students will require a PC with:

233 MHz minimum required (300 MHz recommended)
Super VGA (800x600) or higher resolution video adapter and monitor
Keyboard & Microsoft mouse or compatible pointing device
Windows XP operating system
128 MB of RAM or higher recommended
or Mac With:
400 Mhz power PC G4 or better
800 x 600 or better display
OSX 10.2 or later
128 MB RAM (256 MB Recommended)
and Internet access:
56k modem or higher connectivity
Netscape Navigator 7.2 or Internet Explorer 6.0
Safari 1.2 or later

Note: Students using only AOL will encounter several challenges.