About Course Technologies
Information on this page tells students about the technology they need to be successful in the course, where to get help for those technologies, and the privacy policies for those technologies. This information signals a commitment to providing students with a high-quality and supportive educational experience with skills relevant to their academic and professional success.
This page is included to help your course meet Quality Matters standards 7.1 and 7.2, which are about providing technical support and providing information about accessibility. The digital information literacy and technical skills sections also helps your course meet Quality Matters standard 1.6.
Update this page as you need to with any additional technical requirements you use in your course. For each additional technology item required (e.g., a separate publisher LMS) in your course:
- add it to the list under the Technology Requirements section
- add a link to the technology’s privacy policy in the Privacy Policies section.
Getting Started About Course Technologies
The information below describes the minimum technology and technical skills required.
Technology Requirements
- Access to a computer and a stable Internet connection/browser is necessary to participate in discussions and assignments, access readings, transfer coursework, and receive feedback from your instructional associate and/or professor.
- View What are the browser and computer requirements for Canvas? Links to an external site.
- Free and reduced cost internet:
- Free campus Wi-Fi Links to an external site. is available to UTA students.
- FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program Links to an external site. provides options for discounted or free high-speed internet
- Check with public libraries, coffee shops, and fast food restaurants for other free Wi-Fi options.
- Access to speakers and/or headphones for multi-media.
- View the UTA Library Technology page Links to an external site. for peripherals available for checkout.
- Check with public libraries for devices and peripherals available for use or checkout.
- Word processing software, such as Microsoft Office or Open Office. Microsoft Office is the standard office productivity software utilized by faculty, students, and staff. View the download instructions below for obtaining.
View the full list of software supported by the Office of Information Technology (OIT) Links to an external site.. - A PDF viewer, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader DC Links to an external site..
- Any additional technology requirements listed in the syllabus.
Microsoft Office Download Instructions
These directions are from the OIT Links to an external site.. If you run into issues with the download, please contact them for support.
- Before downloading, it is suggested to erase the installed version of Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, & OneNote). Once you have erased the previous version/s, go to your student email via the UTA homepage or Office 365 Mail Links to an external site..
- Select your picture or initials at the top right of the screen.
You should see the "My Account" tab. - Select "My Account."
- Select "Install Status" (located on the left side of the screen).
- On the "Install Status" page, select "Install desktop applications."
You should see a white screen that says "Office" with numerous Office icons.
At the bottom of the screen, select the "Install" box.
A set-up wizard will pop up. It will have step-by-step instructions on how to finish downloading the software on your device. - Use your UTA email and password if it requires you to authenticate.
Technical Skill Requirements
- Must have a basic working knowledge of computers and Internet use.
- Must have a working knowledge of Canvas terms, such as Modules, Groups, and Collaborations.
View Canvas Basics Guide Links to an external site. - Must have a working knowledge of Canvas tools, such as how to submit an assignment and how to post in a discussion.
View Canvas Student Guide Links to an external site.
FAQs
- How do I view my grades? Links to an external site.
- How do I take a quiz? Links to an external site.
- How do I view the rubric for my graded discussion? Links to an external site.
- How do I reply to a discussion? Links to an external site.
- How do I view the rubric for my assignment? Links to an external site.
- How do I submit an assignment? Links to an external site.
- How do I submit an assignment on behalf of a group? Links to an external site.
- How do I view my Canvas groups? Links to an external site.
- How do I get more "how-to" help? View the Canvas Student Guide Links to an external site..
Digital Information Literacy Requirements
During this course, you may need to locate, evaluate, apply, create, and communicate knowledge using technology. The following digital information literacy skills are needed to do this:
- Searching for and accessing academic materials using UTA online libraries and databases. For help with library research, refer to the “Database Tutorials” and “Library Research” categories of the UTA Library Tutorials Links to an external site..
- Using web search engines (such as Google, Bing, or Yahoo) to locate and evaluate academic source materials. For help with evaluating sources, read this UTA Library Tutorials for Evaluating Sources Links to an external site..
- Citing academic sources using a standard citation style (such as APA, MLA, etc.). For help with citations, refer to the “Citing Sources” category of the UTA Library Tutorials Links to an external site..
Privacy Policies
The technologies listed below are commonly used across all courses, and each has its own privacy policy. Should you need to review this information, it has been linked below.
Canvas & UTA
UTA Privacy Policy Links to an external site.
Supporting Technologies
Adobe Privacy Policy Links to an external site. and Adobe Acrobat Privacy Policy Links to an external site.
Conferences (Big Blue Button) Privacy Policy Links to an external site.
Echo360 Privacy Policy Links to an external site.
Google Privacy Policy Links to an external site.
H5P Privacy Policy Links to an external site.
Microsoft Privacy Policy Links to an external site.
Respondus LockDown Browser Privacy Policy Links to an external site.
UTA Center for Distance Education. (2024). About Course Technologies. CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Links to an external site. .