Technology

What technology will I need?

Adapted from Technical Basics, TRU Open Learning.

When learning in alternate modes this term, you will want to ensure that you have the right technology including computer hardware and software.

If you own a newer computer (last five years), you likely have the tools needed to complete a course delivered using an alternative format to face-to-face delivery. If courses have special requirements, details will be included in the course schedule. Please check course details before you enroll.

If you are purchasing new computer hardware, you should ask for educational pricing. There may be savings available to you as a student.

Operating system /computer hardware

Supported operating systems are Windows 10 or newer and macOS 10.7 (Lion) or newer. There may be special considerations if you are using a Mac, so please check course details. Newer computers have more storage capacity and memory, making tasks faster and videos easier to access.

Webcam and microphone

Webcam and microphone capabilities are highly recommended for students enrolled in courses being delivered in alternative formats. These will be especially helpful in courses which have online lectures or office hours through BigBlueButton or Microsoft Teams.

Tablets and phones

Tablets and phones are not recommended to access course content. Although a tablet or phone can provide access to some online course content, neither device enables reliable access to all content. In some cases, you may not be aware that the course content is not displaying correctly. To successfully access all course content reliably, you will need a computer running Windows or Mac.

Internet connection

A high-speed connection is recommended for alternative delivery courses. Although a dial-up connection allows you to send email and access your learning environment, download and upload times are slow, and you may have trouble viewing certain types of media and participating in video conferences.

Web browser

Your web browser will be your most important tool in your alternative delivery course. You should use the newest versions of web-related software to avoid problems.

We recommend you have at least two browsers, such as Chrome or Firefox, installed on your computer. Some pages and software function better on some browsers than others. Internet Explorer and Safari are not recommended.

If you have trouble viewing course content, your browser likely needs to be updated. You can check by going into the browser’s File, About or Help menus.

Browser add-ons

Some courses may have additional interactive content that requires Java software to be installed in order to display correctly in your browser.

Microsoft Office

We recommend that you have access to Microsoft Office or compatible software. The latest version of Microsoft Office is available to you with a free subscription. Visit IT Services for Students for currently available programs.

Is training for Office 365 available?

The Microsoft Office 365 Training website provides introductions on how to use Office 365 apps for the first time.

The OneDrive QuickStart guide provides instructions for how to upload and save files in OneDrive.

QuickStart guides and other training are also available for:

Word: For creating, editing, and sharing documents.
Excel: Spreadsheet software.
PowerPoint: For creating presentations.
OneNote: Digital notebooks.
Teams: For collaborating online, including through audio and video meetings

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Acrobat PDF files may be included in your course material. Adobe Acrobat Reader allows you to open, read and print these PDF files.

Additional software for students

You can download a variety of software options onto your home computer for free or a small fee through IT Services. These software offerings can be helpful for online coursework, communicating with fellow classmates and professors and helping to protect your computer. You can view all the available options and details on the IT Services for Students website.

If you have any questions about your computer’s capabilities, or are not sure how to check if your tools satisfy these requirements, send an email to itservicedesk@tru.c a

Software for home use

At this time software vendors have extended their licenses to allow home use of their software. Feel free to download and use any software on this page that you would have normally used in the TRU lab environment. As always you can get access to Office 365 (5 desktop install licenses), Read & Write, Microsoft Azure tools on https://www.tru.ca/its/students/software.html

Please report to ITServiceDesk@tru.ca if you have any difficulty accessing the software on this page.