TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS FOR NSBT STUDENTS
All online courses require all students to have access to your own computer, Adobe and Microsoft Word software, and a high-speed Internet Service Provider. A webcam and a headset or microphone for your computer is also required.
TECHNOLOGY PROFICIENCY
Students need to be proficient in basic computer skills including but not limited to:
Using Email
Sending/receiving email
Sending and receiving attachments via email
Internet
Finding resources through search engines
Downloading and installing software
Familiarity with using browser plug-ins (e.g. PDF reader, video, audio)
Writing, Documents, & More
Using a word processing, presentation software, or other productivity applications experience/familiarity with a variety of file formats such as: .pdf "Portable Document Format", .rtf "Rich Text Format", .doc or .docx "Microsoft Word Document", and .txt "Text document"
Familiarity with using document scanners or document scanning apps to convert handwritten work to a PDF file (How to submit assignments in Populi)
The ability to be self-directed in learning new technology skills (e.g. following a handout, a step-by-step tutorial, online video help, or access to support to learn necessary skills). NOTE: NSBT requires all beginning students to take a two-week orientation course prior to the start of their first course in their respective degree program.
COMPUTER MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Hardware
PC or Mac with Fast Processor
Monitor
Speakers
Microphone
Headset
Webcam
Additional Hardware may be Required (Details can be found in the Course Syllabus)
Software
Windows 8.1 or Above
OS 10.14 or Above
MS Word
Adobe / PDF Reader
Additional Software may be Required (Details can be found in the Course Syllabus) Please Note: Some software applications are not supported by Chromebooks.
Internet Connection
High speed Broadband Internet Connection is Required:
Test your Internet speed using speedtest.net, for an accurate speed test representative of your internet connection.
Recommended Internet speeds:
Ping response is less than 100ms
Download speed is at least 10Mbps
Upload speed is at least 2Mbps
Please consider the following while participating in our online courses:
Using a shared Internet connection will impact connectivity, such as additional household members using streaming TV, gaming, and other Internet usage.
Wireless connections may be impacted by the distance from the router and interference from microwaves and other electronics. (Wired connections are recommended.)
Your Internet Service Provider’s performance may vary throughout the day based on community usage.
Browsers
The most recent release of Chrome or Firefox is Recommended
At NSBT, all students are provided with an xxx.nsbt.org account. All email from the university is sent to this address. This includes any email sent from Populi. Your professor or classmates may email you from your course site, and those emails will go to your nsbt.org account. You cannot customize Populi for email to go to another email address. However, you can forward your Populi email to another email account if desired. You will use the same username and password for your nsbt.org email account as you use for Populi.
The Learning Management System (LMS)
NSBT uses Populi® as its learning management system (LMS). This is, in effect, the virtual campus that you enter to attend NSBT. Here you will find the digital classroom environment, news postings, reminders for upcoming assignments, and more about life at NSBT. After receiving verification of your acceptance and you have indicated your intentions to enroll, you will also be given instructions as to how to access Populi®, along with your login and a temporary password.