Before enrolling in an online course, you should be able to do the following:

Basic Computer & Troubleshooting Skills

• Have virus protection installed and updated frequently (weekly-at least).
• 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, and edit a document.
• Use printing options.
• Insert and eject floppy disk and CD-ROM.
• Copy documents from hard disk to floppy disk or CD-ROM and vice versa.
• Open and work with more than one application at a time.
• 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.
• 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, page breaks, or section breaks.

Internet and E-mail Skills

• Have virus protection installed and updated frequently (weekly-at least).
• Obtain/maintain an account on the Internet or an online service that provides Internet access.
• Connect to the Internet through an Internet Service Provider.
• Connect a computer to a modem and telephone line for dial-in access.
• Use electronic mail (e-mail): compose, send, retrieve, read, respond to, and forward messages, attach files.
• Create and use group addresses for e-mail.
• Be able to send, receive, and open email attachments.
• Search the Internet and World Wide Web efficiently and effectively.
• Install and change options/preferences in a web browser (Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator).

Basic Computer Operations—Need to Review?

Visit the Basic Computer Operations web site, part of the Computer Awareness tutorials program from Western Carolina University. You can review the basic computer operations you will be expected to know before you enroll in an online course. If you cannot demonstrate these basic computer operations, then you should enroll in an introduction to computers or computer literacy class (such as CIS 110 or CIS 111) before you enroll in an online class.

Online classes are just as demanding as traditional, on-campus classes; you don't want to have to learn how to use your computer AND learn the subject matter of your online course at the same time!