Necessary Technical Knowledge and Digital Literacy Information Skills for Distance Learning
When participating in distance education courses, it is vital to consider the technical skills needed in order to have a successful course. Students in distance education courses must know basic computer and Internet skills listed below.
Note: Contact your professor or refer to your course syllabus for any additional technical knowledge or skills you may need in your course.
Required Basic Technical Knowledge and Skills
- Accessing the Internet using a computer browser (aka. "getting online").
- Using an Internet browser. (Recommended browsers: Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. Avoid: Internet Explorer since this is no longer supported by Blackboard.)
- Downloading, saving, opening, and printing material found online.
- Composing e-mail/course messages and attaching documents. (Blackboard Student Help Link: Course Messages)
- Posting to a discussion forum. (Blackboard Student Help Link: Threads)
- Submitting to a drop box or assignment. (Blackboard Student Help Link: Submit Assignments)
- Writing and editing with a word processor, such as Notepad, MS Word, etc. (Link: Office Quick Start guides)
- Take online examinations.
- Using web conferencing tools, such as Blackboard Collaborate. (Links: Collaborate Get Started and Presenting)
- Learning new computer skills.
Required Digital Information Literacy Skills
- Conducting Internet searches.
- Navigating through TAMIU library's search tool to locate appropriate texts, documents, and resources. (Link: TAMIU Library Main Page)
- Navigating through TAMIU library's website to utilize various databases for research. (Link: Killam Library A-Z Databases)
- Citing sources in academic submissions, using appropriate style (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.) (Link: TAMIU Writing Center Handouts)
Office of Information Technology
Instructional Technology & Distance Education Services
Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library (KLM) 259
Phone: 956.326.2792
Fax: 956.326.2299
E-mail: elearning@tamiu.edu