We are recommending that each student have a personal computer or laptop for classes this fall. In order to maintain social distance, many of our classes will be taught in a hybrid manner and students will need to have a device to attend classes remotely.
FAQ’s
I have a Mac, will that work?
Yes, a Mac should work. We have not found any programs that faculty require that do not work on a Mac so far.
Can’t I just use my smartphone?
We don’t recommend relying solely on your smartphone for class. Many of our classes have moved to eBooks, and will be using D2L Brightspace as the Learning Management System this year. Although Brightspace has a reliable phone application, engaging in all coursework from a smartphone can be extremely limiting.
I have an iPad, will that work?
If using an iPad, you will need to install the Google family of Apps (Chrome, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides) for the best experience.
Will a Chromebook work?
Yes, a Chromebook will work for most students.
What programs will I need?
Missouri Valley College is a Google campus and most classes use Google Drive, Google Docs. Google Sheets and Google Slides.
Most of the other programs used are web based.
Will I need a webcam?
Yes and most newer laptops come with one built in. If your device does not, external webcams can be purchased relatively easily.
If you are looking to purchase a PC / laptop here are our recommended specs:
Operating System – Windows 10 Home or MacOS Big Sur
Processor Type – 4-core processor or higher
Memory – Minimum of 4 GB RAM or higher
Hard Drive – Minimum of 250 GB; recommend 500 GB or higher
Nursing Students:
You are required to have a non-chromebook laptop with modern WiFi capabilities, a built-in camera, and microphone.