So you're taking online classes, but you're not 100% comfortable with computers?

Here are 5 easy steps to improve your skills and be a better Online Student.

1. Get to know your Operating System -  Some students become frustrated because they are not used to their operating system on their computer. There are a lot of good tutorials on the web to help you understand your operating system. My favorite is GCFLearnFree.org. You can find most active operating systems on their list of topics and they have tips on personalizing your computer and using the most common features.
2. Keep your browser up to date and cleaned out  -  Remember back in school when using the chalkboard/whiteboard at the front of the class, they would get hazy and sometimes they needed a good clean scrub? Your browser is very similar. You can pick up a lot of “stuff” while searching the web. Keeping your browser cleaned out by deleting cache, cookies, history and temporary internet files can keep your browser working its best. You also want to make sure you are running the most up to date version. In Google Chrome (our preferred internet browser at PCI) you can check to see if you have the most up to date version here. You can find out more about keeping your browser cleaned out here, I recommend deleting your cache, cookies, browsing and download history at least once a month.
3. Make sure you have a word processing program and other “office” programs on your computer.  -  Microsoft Office is the industry standard, and preferred program for PCI students to complete spreadsheets, written papers, and slide presentations. There is a really affordable option on the Microsoft website for students to have access on a PC or a MAC, with tablet/phone options! Find more information, click here. You can also use other Open Source Document-Management programs. In the Student Success office, we are familiar with LibreOffice and OpenOffice as open-source programs. Do your research, find out what works best with your computer and budget,  and keep it up to date so you do not have any interruptions while completing your course work.
4. Have and maintain an active Internet Connection -  To get into your online class, you must be online. From my experience, online course work is more challenging for students who don’t have an active internet connection where they live because it dramatically reduces the “convenience” and “24/7 availability” of your classroom and coursework . There are plenty of options around you to get WIFI, if needed. Make sure you have a plan, a backup plan, and stick to it! Consider your public library, local coffee shops, fast-food restaurants as well as friends/family or neighbors. If you are using an ebook for your course, make sure you download it to your device for use offline, just in case.
5. Be gentle and patient with your computer – Don’t throw it around (or out a window) no matter how frustrated it might make you. Computers need time to process your commands and clicking, re-clicking, and clicking 50 more times won’t get you want you want any faster.  Take time to shut your computer down regularly, let it sleep and restart. Sometimes we need a nap and time to recharge, too!

When in doubt, have you tried turning it off and turning it on again?