Ako Ipurangi: Learning Online

2. Getting started

• 2. Getting started

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    Topic 2 'Getting started' answers the following questions:

    • Where do I start?
    • Where am I now? How can I access this course again?
    • What computer hardware and software do I need?
      
    • How do I access Moodle on my mobile device?
      

    Click on the questions above to go directly to them.
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    Where do I start?

    You can access everything you need for online learning through My NorthTec - your student homepage. To access My NorthTec, follow the steps below. 

    Use the arrows under the instructions to move through the steps, or click on the progress bar. 
    

    
    

    
    

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    Where am I now? How can I access this course again?
    
    

    You are reading NorthTec's guide to learning online. You are accessing the guide through NorthNet, which is NorthTec's online learning platform. You will be using NorthNet to access all your online course materials, and to communicate with your tutor and other students.
    

    To access NorthNet again, follow the steps below.

    
    

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    What computer hardware and software do I need?

    The main tools you will be using to learn online and how to access them are covered in Topic 3 'Online learning essentials'.

    This section focuses on the computer hardware and software you will need to access these tools and ensure they perform reliably.

    Refer to the table below to check that you have everything you need for a trouble-free online learning experience.

    	At home			Mobile
    	Windows PC	Mac	Chromebook	Windows for Mobile	iOS	Android
    Getting online	For the best experience, you will need a broadband internet connection – either ADSL or Fibre. Online learning – particularly video-based lessons – can use a lot of data, so make sure your plan has enough to cover both your online study and personal use.			If you intend to study on-the-go, you will need a mobile plan with a generous data allowance. Several providers are now offering plans with unlimited data.   Remember that when you are on campus and in many other public facilities, you can make use of the free wifi network. You can find instructions on how to connect your device to the NorthTec wireless network here.   If you plan to use your mobile device at home and you have a domestic broadband connection, make sure you connect your mobile device to this network when you are at home to save on mobile data.
    Accessing the internet	All modern devices come with software installed that enables you to access the internet. It therefore shouldn’t be necessary to install any software in order to get online. However, different devices have different internet browsers installed. These differ slightly in their design and layout, but they present website content in much the same way. You can therefore use any of these browsers to access your online course materials. You can also install an alternative browser if there is one you prefer, e.g. Firefox.
    	Your default browser is Edge	Your default browser is Safari	Your default browser is Chrome	Your default browser is Edge	Your default browser is Safari	Your default browser is Chrome
    Accessing NorthTec learning resources	All NorthTec’s online learning resources – including NorthNet and the library – are accessed via your browser. Go to www.northtec.ac.nz/mynorthtec to get started.
    Reading documents	Most documents can be viewed online using your browser. However, you may need to download some documents in order to read them, especially if you want to have access to them offline. These will typically be in PDF format. All modern desktop and mobile devices have PDF reading software installed by default, which will open automatically when you click on a PDF document you want to read. However, there are alternative PDF readers that provide additional functionality, including making annotations.
    	Adobe Reader is the most popular PDF reader for Windows and comes pre-installed on many devices. If you have a Google account, you can also read and edit PDFs using Google Docs.	The default PDF viewer Preview allows you to both read and make basic annotations to PDF documents. If you have a Google account, you can also read and edit PDFs using Google Docs.	Google Docs allows you to read a wide variety of document formats. Provided you have an internet connection, you can also use it to edit PDFs. You can then download these and read them offline.	Although you can read PDFs in Edge, Perfect PDF Reader – which is free to use – offers a more stable experience. If you have a Google account, you can also read and edit PDFs using Google Docs.	Files allows you to read and annotate a wide variety of document formats. If you have a Google account, you can also read and edit PDFs using Google Docs.	PDFelement allows you to read and annotate PDF documents. If you have a Google account, you can also read and edit PDFs using Google Docs.
    Playing audio and video	All modern devices can play video and audio content via their web browser. Most audio and video files you download to your computer or mobile device can also be played using your device’s pre-installed media software. If you have problems listening to or watching any of the media content from your course, download a free, versatile media player like VLC (https://vlc.onl) which is available for all desktop and mobile platforms.
    	Your default media player is Groove, Music or Windows Media Player	Your default video player is Quick Time and your default audio player is Music	Chrome OS has a native media player which can play most video and audio files	Your default media player is Groove, Music or Windows Media Player	Your default audio player is Music and your default video player is TV	Your default audio and video players will depend on the version of Android you are running
    Completing assignments	All NorthTec students have free access to Office 365. Just got to http://www.northtec.ac.nz/mynorthtec and click ‘Office 365’ to get started. You can also download and install the Office apps on your device so you can continue to work on your assignments offline.
    Attending online classes	Online classes are conducted using Zoom. You can find instructions on how to download and install Zoom here, and there are video tutorials on the Zoom support website. In order to participate fully, you will need both a microphone and webcam. These come as standard on most modern laptops and all mobile devices. However, if you’re using a desktop computer, you may need to source a webcam and microphone headset separately. When you start Zoom, you will have an opportunity to check that your device is working correctly before you join the class.
    Getting help	If you are having technical difficulties, first check the ICT self-help guides, which you can find here.   If the self-help guides do not resolve your issue, you can contact the ICT Service Desk in the following ways:   Email: ICTServiceDesk@northtec.ac.nz Phone: 09 470 3777   The Service Desk is available Monday to Friday from 7:30am - 5pm.

    
    

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    How do I access Moodle on my mobile device?
    
    

    To access Moodle from your mobile device, you need to install and sign into the Moodle mobile app.

    Follow the instructions on how to do this below for both Android and iPhone. 

    
    

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    Computer hardware and software requirements for learning online File

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    Download this PDF if you want to save a copy of this table for your own reference.