Technical Competencies for Distance Learning Classes
Before enrolling in an online course, you should be able to do the following:
Basic Computer & Troubleshooting Skills
- Start up and shut down computer system and peripherals
- Identify and use icons, windows, menus
- Start an application and create a document
- Name, save, retrieve, revise a document
- Use printing options
- Insert and eject floppy disk and CD-ROM
- Copy documents from hard disk to floppy disk and vice versa
- Open and work with more than one application at a time
- Protect and care for floppy disks
- Make backup copies of key applications and documents
- Use self-help resources to diagnose and correct common hardware and printing problems
- Install and upgrade an application
- Protect against computer viruses
- Obtain technical assistance resources from your Internet Service Provider
Word Processing Skills
- Enter and edit text
- Copy and move blocks of text
- Change text format and style, set margins, line spacing, and tabs
- Check spelling, grammar, word usage
- Insert page numbers
Internet and E-mail Skills
- Connect to the Internet or an online service
- Use electronic mail (e-mail): compose, send, retrieve, read, respond to, and forward messages, attach files
- Be able to send and receive email attachments
- Access and use resources on the Internet and World Wide Web
- Obtain/maintain an account on the Internet or an online service that provides Internet access
- Connect a computer to a modem and telephone line for dial-in access
- Create and use group addresses for e-mail
- Install and change options/preferences in a web browser (Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator