Before you begin work in this course, you need to be aware of a few technology expectations. Please read the following carefully. These expectations must be met before you begin your coursework.

General Technical Support

The University of Akron uses a centralized IT Help Desk to connect students with technical help.

If you need technical support, contact the IT Help Desk.  Phone: (330) 972-6888. Email: support@uakron.edu.

Please note that there is a Need Help widget on our course home page. You can use that to find your course number and your login ID. This information will help Zip Support personnel to assist you more rapidly.

Internet Connection

You will need a reliable Internet connection for this course. DSL or Cable or a high bandwidth connection on a campus will typically be suitable. While the course may be functional using a mobile device, this is not guaranteed. You should not rely on a mobile device as your sole method for completing this class. 

Browser Check

Browsers that are not supported in Brightspace could (will!) cause you problems in the course. Please use the Brightspace System Check to test your browser. The system check is also located in the My Help menu on your Brightspace My Home page.

Recommended Browsers

The most current version of the following browsers are recommended:

Use the system check to verify your version of your preferred browser will work with Brightspace.

Troubleshooting Tip: Is something not working right? Try a different browser. Different browsers and plugins can impact your experience in Brightspace in unexpected ways. If something doesn't seem to work right, try a different browser first.
Chromebook Note: If you use a Chromebook, you may need to allow pop-ups and redirects. If pop-ups are not allowed for brightspace.uakron.edu, you may not be able to complete certain quizzes and exams.
Safari and iPhone/iPad Note: If you use Safari on an Apple device or, any browser on an iPhone or iPad, you may need to make a change to your security and privacy settings. If you find that certain third-party integrations (e.g. Panopto) don't load and display a "cookies" error, you will need to change your website tracking settings. Find your Safari Preferences. Locate the Privacy section and deselect the "Prevent cross-site tracking" option.

Brightspace Tutorials and Help

Part of your success in this online course environment is your ability to work with the different technology tools in the course.

If you are in need of a tutorial or a quick reference on how to do something in Brightspace, visit the Getting Started in Brightspace - Learners guide.

The Documents You Submit

You will need access to software that supports Office documents in standard file types such as .doc, .docx, .rtf, or .pdf.

All University of Akron students have free access to Microsoft Office. Office can be downloaded and installed on your personal computer, tablet and smartphone. It will also run in your browser. To access or download Office, follow the steps below:

  1. Visit https://portal.office.com/
  2. Log in with your UA email address and password
  3. Click on the application icons on the left to access the cloud-based version of an app.
  4. Or, click the Install Office link at the top-right side of the screen to download and install Office.

Audio/Video

This course includes audio or audio/video presentations. If you have a documented and declared disability, accommodations will be provided to help you access this information in a format that works for you. Please contact the UA Office of Accessibility for assistance.

Learn more about Office Programs and Other Technology Skills with LinkedIn Learning

The University of Akron provides access to a library of technology skills courses through LinkedIn Learning. LinkedIn Learning includes extensive resources for learning about common programs, such as Microsoft Office, Google Docs, along with advanced training on everything from Adobe Photoshop to web programming and project management. LinkedIn Learning also offers extensive training on Microsoft Teams. Click here to access LinkedIn Learning. Click the "sign in" button at the top right. Enter your UA email address. Click continue and then log in with your UANet ID and password when prompted.