Before you begin work in this course, you need to be aware of a few technology expectations. Please read the following carefully. These expectations must be met before you begin your coursework.

General Technical Support

The University of Akron uses a centralized IT Help Desk to connect students with technical help.

If you need technical support, contact the IT Help Desk.  Phone: (330) 972-6888. Email: helpdesk@uakron.edu.

Please note that there is a Need Help widget on our course home page. You can use that to find your course number and your login ID. This information will help Zip Support personnel to assist you more rapidly.

Internet Connection

You will need a reliable Internet connection for this course. DSL or Cable or a high bandwidth connection on a campus will typically be suitable. While the course may be functional using a mobile device, this is not guaranteed. You should not rely on a mobile device as your sole method for completing this class. 

Browser Check

Browsers that are not supported in Brightspace could (will!) cause you problems in the course. Please use the Brightspace System Check to test your browser. The system check is also located in the My Help menu on your Brightspace My Home page.

Recommended Browsers

The most current version of the following browsers are recommended:

Use the system check to verify your version of your preferred browser will work with Brightspace.

PC Users: Please note that we have found that Internet Explorer may not be as stable as other browsers depending on the type of content within the course and the features of Brightspace being used. If you are using Internet Explorer and experience difficulties, try Firefox or Chrome before contacting IT Support.

Brightspace Tutorials and Help

Part of your success in this online course environment is your ability to work with the different technology tools in the course.

If you are in need of a tutorial or a quick reference on how to do something in Brightspace, visit the Brightspace Student Help Guides.

Additional student resources and guides can be found here.

The Documents You Submit

You will need access to software that supports Office documents in standard file types such as .doc, .docx, .rtf, or .pdf.

  • All University of Akron students have free access to Google Docs. This will allow you to compose and read documents in the Office format you need for this course. The one important thing about Google Docs is that you must have an internet connection to compose or read documents. To learn more about your access and the tools available, visit the the IT Help Desk page on Google Docs.
  • Microsoft Office will allow you to create the Office documents you need, even when you don't have internet access. You can purchase Microsoft Office at a reduced cost for students. To find the link to download the document, do the following:
    1. Log in to MyAkron at my.uakron.edu
    2. Click on the Technology Support tab
    3. Click on Home Software Downloads
    4. Click on Go To Managed Software (You will need to scroll down to see this option)
    5. Then click on Microsoft. On this page you can view the programs available to purchase.

Audio/Video

This course includes audio or audio/video presentations. If you have a documented and declared disability, accommodations will be provided to help you access this information in a format that works for you. Please contact the UA Office of Accessibility for assistance.

Learn more about Office Programs and Other Technology Skills with Honuit

The University of Akron provides access to a library of technology skills courses. This is through the program Atomic Learning. Atomic Learning includes extensive resources for learning about common programs, such as Microsoft Office, Google Docs, and many more. To access Atomic Learning, return to the home page of Brightspace (Click on My Home in the top left of any page), click on Student Resources, and then choose Atomic Learning. Search the library for specific programs, or click Discover to browse what is available.