Hardware that online students need for effective e-Learning

Online degree programs have gained a lot of popularity with many great institutions of higher learning now offering online diplomas, bachelors and masters courses.

 There is a wide range of online degree programs from different fields such as business, IT, healthcare, arts, sciences and engineering among others, all which can earn you well respected and accredited qualifications from the comfort of your home.

In order to start and accomplish a successful experience in online learning, you will need to be adequately equipped with sufficient technology including hardware which may vary depending on the department and course.

The most common hardware for online learning includes:

1.) A good computer

Access to a good computer is a must since everything is done online. It should have plenty of memory and a good CPU speed.

The monitor should be large enough to accommodate learning management systems such as blackboard or D2L to avoid having to reduce the viewing size to eye straining levels.

For the e-learning tools peculiar to your course to function as they should, your computer should meet the required technical specifications.

2.) Modem

Slow internet connection can be very frustrating and can hamper your ability to learn.

Some of the software used in e-learning such as video and audio playing software requires a lot of bandwidth which means very reliable high speed internet connection is crucial to the successful completion of such courses.

3.) Ear phones/speakers/microphone

Some distance learning materials consist of audio files and recordings. If your computer does not have speakers, you will have to install them as well as a sound card so as to be able to listen to these files.

You should also invest in good earphones so that you can listen to the clips privately. A microphone is instrumental in the participation and recording of audio chats during virtual classrooms.

4.) Printer/scanner

Though you may feel comfortable accessing learning materials and other documents online, having hard copies of some of them can prove useful when studying or working on research projects. The printer should be able to print graphics, with a laser or inkjet printer being your best bet.

5.) Web camera

A webcam refers to a video camera that streams its images in real time via a computer to computer network through the Internet. Some online courses incorporate live video conferencing which is an effective tool in synchronised learning.

Web cameras enhance student-to-student and student-tutor interactions and connections eliminating the sense of loneliness usually associated with online learning.

Recorded videos can also be saved and sent to course instructors and other students through emails as attachments.

6.) Mobile devices

A computer, whether a desktop or a laptop can be quite cumbersome to carry around. As such, mobile devices such as smartphones, iPads and tablets come in handy allowing you to receive e-mails, tweets and instant messages anytime any place. These devices are also important in taking photos which can be used in presentations.