Computing Requirements
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As a student in the nursing program, you will be required to use computer applications on a regular basis. These requirements and skills will be important, regardless of whether students take distance-learning courses or only take on-campus courses. All courses incorporate the computer into the learning process in some way. That process may be simply to write a paper. But more than likely, it will include a variety of computing activities like accessing learning materials from a web site, performing a search or communicating with the instructor and classmates electronically. Therefore, you must either own or have unlimited access to a personal computer while you are taking courses in the graduate program. The following is a checklist of minimum hardware and software requirements and computing skills that the graduate faculty and instructional design technology experts believe are necessary for our graduate students.
We understand that some students may not feel competent in all of the skills listed below or some may not understand what the software and hardware requirements mean. Many supports are available to you at Purdue Calumet to help you obtain these basic skills. These support include a one-hour course in basic computing skills that we recommend you take during your first term if you have little experience with computers or are anxious about using them. This course is taught by our instructional designer in the School of Nursing. Other support services include “the help desk” which is available by phone (219) 989-2888, the main computing lab with hardware, software and support staff available to all registered students and the "AT Lab" in the School of Nursing.
Required Hardware (these are minimums)
PC System Specifications:
PC with a Pentium 366 MHZ (recommended a multimedia system)
10 GB hard drive
256 MB RAM (512 MB RAM recommended)
Video card with at least 8 MB RAM (video memory)
Operating System: Windows 98, 2000. ME or XP
CD-ROM 16x
16 bit color display setting
15" Monitor with 800x600 display (or higher), .28 dpi (the lower the number the better) MINIMUM
56.6 KB modem, cable, DSL
Personal e-mail address (not just @calumet.purdue.edu)
Macintosh System Specifications:
Macintosh Power PC processor
9 GB Hard Drive
64 MB RAM (128 MB RAM recommended)
Macintosh OS, current version (OS 8.x or above)
other requirements of the PC list
Required Software:
*Windows operating system 98 or more recent
Internet Explorer 6.x
More than likely your browser comes with the following options activated. If not the following options need to be "on":
turn graphics on
turn java on
turn java script on
turn cookies on
*Office 97 or more current version
Virus shield-check periodically for free updates on the web once you own a licensed copy
**MacAfee or
Norton
Plug-ins for specific courses-these are all free, don't choose the optional applications (often the "pro" version) that must be paid for
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.x or later
(http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html)
Real Media player (http://www.real.com/player)
Quicktime player
(http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/)
iTunes
(http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/)
Shockwave player (Macromedia)
(http://sdc.shockwave.com/shockwave/download)
*Available from the Campus Bookstore for a nominal fee
**Available for free from the "Help Desk", second floor of the Power's Building
Required Computer Skills
Keyboard and use a mouse
Basic windows functions (maximize, minimize, move windows)
Word processing
Create text
Cut, copy, paste
Manipulate fonts
Name, rename and save files to a variety of storage devices (floppy diskette, hard drive, zip disk)
Create tables
Insert an object
Create a PowerPoint presentation
Create directories/folders, manage files
Attach files, send e-mail
Use "help"
Install an application from CD-ROM
Access the internet
Search the internet
Identify the type of internet source
Download a file/application
Install a downloaded application
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