Essential Technical Skills

For a successful online learning experience, students should possess these essential computer, word processing, web navigation, communications and learning management system skills.

Basic Computer Functions

• Use a mouse to point, click, and double click
• Type
• Open a software application
• Exit a software application
• Create a new file
• Locate a saved file
• Upload a file
• Copy and paste

Word Processing Functions

• Use the Enter/return key to create a blank line
• Use the Tab feature
• Apply basic formatting: bold, italics, and centering to text
• Insert a picture
• Use spell check
• Use "Save As" feature
• Save a file (including naming the file and locating where to save the file)
• Print a file

Website Fluency

• Use multiple browsers
• Opening a web browser
• Typing a web address
• Click on a link
• Scroll through a web page
• Use the Back button
• Use a search engine
• Identify search results
• Download and view a file from a web page
• Print a web page

Communications Skills and Blackboard Proficiency

• Send and receive email with your IRSC Rivermail email account
• Attach a file to an email message
• View course announcements
• Create a discussion board post and respond to students and faculty
• Upload documents for assignment submissions
• Download course files
• View multimedia presentations
• Navigate through Blackboard
• Use the Blackboard tools and resources