Student Expectations for Online and Hybrid Courses
Pacific Technology is committed to helping you get the technological support and assistance you need. In preparation for the fall semester, it is important to ready your remote environment using the information below.
Here’s a Quick Checklist to get you started:
- Verify your internet connection to ensure it has the recommended 4Mbps upload and download speed per device (see Test your connection below).
- Install required tools (Zoom, WebEx, etc.) and be familiar with their use.
- Have a microphone and web camera to improve your success with classes.
- Have a backup connection plan, such as “calling in” using a mobile phone if your computer/internet audio/video connections fail.
Test Your Connection
It is important to test your internet speed. You may use speedtest.net. After you run your internet speed test, note the download and upload numbers. Review this scale to assess whether your connection can support remote classroom instruction:
- Less than 4Mbps: You may experience audio and video problems.
- 4 to 8Mbps: Acceptable.
- 8 to 25Mbps: Good.
- Greater than 25Mbps: Excellent.
If multiple members of the household are using the internet simultaneously, internet capacity requirements increase for each device. Please see these frequently asked questions for further assistance.
Close any unnecessary applications on your computer so they do not impact internet speed or computer performance.
If you are having any type of technological difficulty that is preventing you from full participation in the remote learning classroom, please see these frequently asked questions or contact the Helpdesk for assistance. Assistance is available 24/7 from helpdesk@pacific.edu, 209.946.7400
Cable Connection
A very simple way to improve your home internet connection to your computer is to turn off WiFi and instead connect to your home router using an ethernet cable (sometimes referred to as a “Cat 5” cable.) This will dramatically increase the reliability of your internet by using ethernet rather than WiFi and is true whether you are at home or in a computer lab at school or work. So, how do you do this?
You will need 2 inexpensive pieces of hardware;
- An Ethernet Cable (16 ft. Approx. $6.00)
- The original version of this type of cable was labeled Cat 5. As of this post, the most recent versions are labeled Cat 7. Cat 5 will do just fine (I still use Cat 5 at home only because I’m too lazy to go buy a new cable). If you are purchasing, I would suggest going with at least Cat 6. Shop around online, the cables come in a variety of lengths and colors. Be sure to get one that has the connectors already wired on. (the colors don’t indicate quality or version, simply different colors).
2. A Thunderbolt Adaptor (approx. $30.00)
- This allows you to connect the ethernet cable to your computer’s thunderbolt port.
Connect one end of the cable to an open Ethernet port on the back of your home internet router. Connect the other end to the adapter. Connect the adapter to your computer’s Thunderbolt port.
Open your Network Preferences (located at the bottom of your WiFi menu)
You should now see the Thunderbolt option indicated as “Connected”. It is still not being used by your computer though. Click on it to make it “Active” and therefore the internet connection that you are now using.
You can turn off WiFi at this point from the top of the WiFi menu window.
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