Technology Requirements

Computer Requirements

You do not have to be technologically sophisticated to study online. You do need to be able to troubleshoot with the assistance of others. Generally, you will need a computer (Mac or Windows) that is no more than five years old. You will need basic skills in sending and receiving emails, searching the internet and having a basic understanding of internet protocols, and basic skills in word processing. We DO NOT recommend Chromebook since it is not compatible with several educational software.

At this point you should make some minor modifications to your computer. These are necessary technical requirements for your online courses to run smoothly. Please read this information carefully, as you must ensure that your computer is properly configured.

If you have any questions or problems, please call the The Hub at 773-298-HELP (4357) or visit the website. They will provide technical support by phone and email during business hours.

Hardware and Software Requirements

Type	Components	Requirements
Windows User	Operating System	Windows 10
Mac User	Operating System	macOS X High Sierra (10.13.6) or newer
Common to both Mac and Windows	Browser	Chrome 80 or later Firefox 74 or later Respondus Lockdown Browser (supporting the latest system requirements)
	Browser Plug-ins	Java Adobe Reader Adobe Flash Player Silverlight
	Word Processor	Microsoft Office 2016 or higher
	Email	Must have ability to check email
	Storage Space	At least 10.0 GB of free hard-drive space (additional space may be needed for multimedia files)
	Screen Readers	JAWS for Internet Explorer and Firefox Latest version of VoiceOver for Safari ChromeVox for Chrome
	Multimedia (if used in course)	Monitor capable of 1024x600 resolution. To view Canvas on a smaller screen, we recommend using the Canvas Mobile App Speakers/headphones Webcam Windows Media Player for Windows QuickTime Player for Mac External CD Drive, DVD Drive (optional)
Mobile Operating System	iPhone	iOS (newest version)
Mobile Operating System	Android	Android (newest version)

System Check

If you are not sure how to check your computer Hardware and Software, in your web browser, go to Support Details.

Simply visiting that website shows you a report with your computer's key information - operating system, browser version, Java, Flash -- use this information to compare with the table above to see whether you need to make modifications to your computer.

Free download programs and players:

This list is subject to change.