There are several skills or prerequisites that are very helpful for you to have before taking an online class. The learning of these skills is outside the scope of this handbook, but are listed here for your reference.

• Some keyboarding (typing) skill - nearly all communication is done this way

• Computer literacy and experience with creating files, saving files, uploading files

• Ability to navigate web pages using links or buttons

• Ability to send and receive email using web based (ie. hotmail) or client based (ie. Outlook Express) email

• Ability to download and install software updates

• Copying and pasting text

Many people can take online classes. However, there are some inherent abilities that many people regard as helpful to ensure success:

• Self-starter - you should be able to get things done without a lot of hand-holding. There is no voice of authority at the front of the room telling you what to do.
• Time Management - be able to allocate enough time to "do your class"; perhaps more time than you would need for a face to face class.
• Patience - the technology doesn't always allow you to raise your hand and get an immediate answer. It may be a day or two before you get a response. This is normal.
• Early Bird - do not wait until the last day to hand something in or take a test. When a large class has a deadline at a certain hour, that is when traffic will be heaviest. Don't get caught in it.
• Stay Calm - always have some extra time in case of technical trouble. If the problem is on the college servers, your instructor will make allowances for due dates. If there is a problem with your computer, you are responsible for fixing the problem or using a different computer in order to get your classwork done. See the Technical Responsibility page for details.

It is important to use a computer system that is well maintained, up to date, and compatible with the current web technology. A vast majority of users coming to Chemeketa websites use Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 or higher. The other browser commonly in use is the popular Firefox. Many users install both browsers to take advantage of the unique aspects of each.