What sort of internet access will you be using?

A dial-up system is sometimes too slow. On the other hand, sometimes a very high-tech broadband internet access will become overloaded when fifty students get online at the same time. You may need to come early or stay late--when only a few users are taxing the system. Try these two tests:

Two tests to determine your computer readiness

Try these two tests to determine your computer readiness:

Test #1 for normal usage--After you type in or click on www.catherinecollege.net/moodle/, how many seconds does it take for your browser to completely display the front page? [Should ideally be less than eight seconds.]

If your time is over eight seconds, then make yourself a chart (as shown below) noting the seconds required for this test at various times and days when you come to use the computer. Do this for five different occasions. What day of the week and time of day is best for Abby? Which is worst?

Wandika's chart:

conditions in computer lab	day of week	time of day	seconds for full display
80% filled	Monday	10:45	12
20% filled	Tuesday	20:10	5
80% filled	Thursday	09:07	10
20% filled	Saturday	09:22	4
30% filled	Sunday	22:25	5

From Wandika's data, you can see that she can do her studies online at any time when the computer lab is not 80% or more filled. When Wandika went to a computer cafe next to her home, she discovered that the time for full display was always under 6 seconds. Thus she knew she had an alternative to fall back on in cases of emergency.

Test #2 for maximum usage--Click twice on the large icon of the Irish woman below to view a video of the poetry of Alicia Keys. The visual and audio portion of this video should be clear, continuous, and intelligible.

All courses will use some video material--some more, some less. You could get by without video reception; yet, you would be losing something in the process. In effect, this test pushes your computer system to its limit. If your reception is choppy (starts and stops), then try it again at a time and on a day that test #1 indicates best reception. If it is satisfactory, then you have learned something about your computer system that will save you a lot of heartaches in the future. So, you're ready to begin your adventure in learning.

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