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Technical Requirements for Online Classes

You will need to meet the minimum hardware/software requirements below in order to view your Online Course. Check your course welcome page for any additional course-specific requirements.

Requirements for Online Classes

  • A PC or Macintosh computer
    • Windows 98/Me/2000/XP
    • WebCT does not support Server versions of the Microsoft operating system
    • Macintosh Operating systems OS 10.1 or greater
    • 64 MB of RAM
    • 56.6kps modem
    • Keyboard and pointing device (mouse)
    • Sound Card and speakers
  • A color monitor 
    • 256 colors
    • 800 X 600 resolution
  • Access to the Internet
  • A supported Windows web browser or supported Mac web browser for WebCT Vista 3
  • The Java plugin
  • Word processing software.
  • Some classes may require additional software, like Microsoft Office, Quicktime or Windows Media Player. These requirements should be listed on in the course..

Browser Requirements for Online Classes

Please check WebCT's Browser Requirements page. We are using WebCT Vista 3. We recommend installing two supported browsers. Internet Explorer is a good first choice. Then, install one other browsers. Firefox is a very strong second choice. If you are having difficulty with one browser, then try your other browser.

You can also follow the steps found at the WebCT Browser Tuneup Page.

Windows Browser Settings

Once you have your browser installed, you must adjust the browser's settings to access your Online Course without any technical difficulties. The best and most up to date instructions for browser settings are found on WebCT's web site. Below, we have listed links directly to these pages for supported browsers.

Java Plugin for Windows

Legal disputes between Microsoft and Sun Microsystems have caused some difficulty and confusion over the Java Virtual Machine plugin for your computer. If you are having problems with Java applets in WebCT (Chat, Whiteboard, adding attachments to discussions or assignments and HTML Editor), then please try downloading the latest version of the Java Virtual Machine from Sun Microsystems by following the instructions below. This plugin is safe to install on your computer and does not include spware.

The following information was updated March 2008 and is as accurate as possible for CCC's WebCT Vista software at the time.

Java Version 1.5 is supported and recommended with install instructions below, however Java 1.5 (also referred to as '5.0') updates greater than number 12 ('Java 1.5.0.12) are not currently compatible. You may use older versions of Java that are at least version 1.4.2_09 or higher installed for WebCT to still function properly.

IMPORTANT: Java and WebCT compatibility changes frequently. We have done our best to keep this information current. It is possible, though, that because of newer versions of various software and plugins coming out incompatibility issue may arise.

Installing Java 1.5

  1. Follow this link and click the "Download JRE" link under the "JRE 5.0 Update 12" label. As of March 2008, Java 1.5 had updates beyond number 12 release. We have found that updates beyond number 12 are NOT COMPATIBLE with our version of WebCT Vista. The above link is an 'archive' page of the number 12 update that we know DOES work with WebCT Vista.
  2. On the next page you'll first need to select the small button next to "Accept License Agreement".
  3. Click on the "Windows Offline Installation, Multi-language" link in the first table on the page. This will download a .exe file to your computer which is the installer of the Java plugin.
  4. When the download has completed, run the .exe file and follow its instructions.

If you seem to have problems with WebCT using Java version 1.5, you may need to downgrade to an older version. In that case, we suggest you Download J2SE v 1.4.2_09 JRE. (Mac OSX users see the Java Plugin information lower on this page.)

WebCT supported Windows browser tuneups

Although our current version of Vista 3 supports AOL, we still recommend that you install Firefox or Internet Explorer. After you start AOL, launch a Private Chat, then start another browser and use it to access http://elearn.coconino.edu. Some AOL users may find that other browsers do not work after connecting, if you cannot get to any internet sites like Yahoo or Google, then you may need to call AOL support. We have found that creating another AOL login, sometimes resolves this issue. If anyone finds a better solution for this problem please email online.help@coconino.edu.

Mac OS X Browser Settings

Once you have a browser installed, you must adjust the browser's settings to access your Online Course without any technical difficulties. The best and most up to date instructions for browser settings are found on WebCT's web site. Below, we have listed links directly to these pages for supported browsers.

Mac Java Plugin

The Java plugin should be installed on OSX already. If you are unsure, run Software Update from the Finder to be sure.

WebCT supported Mac browser tuneups.

Although our current version of WebCT Vista supports AOL for OS X, we still recommend that you install another browser. After you start AOL, launch a Private Chat, then start Firefox, Netscape or IE and use it to access http://elearn.coconino.edu.

You can also check your browser for compliance in WebCT at the WebCT Browser Tuneup Page or download one of the versions linked above. The directions above are best for use at CCC.

If you choose to use a non-supported operating system or browser, please refer to the WebCT Browser Discussion group for help. This is a good place to find other users trying to use non-supported browsers as well as supported browsers.