Students must have access to a computer to communicate effectively and a telephone. The specifications for hardware and software are:
Hardware
To use the learning material learners will need a computer with the following features:
• IBM® compatible with a 1000 MHz processor running Windows 2000, XP, Vista, or
• Apple Macintosh® with a 500 MHz processor running OSX v10.3.0 with:
• 256 Mb of RAM
• 1024 x 768 pixel display
• CD-ROM drive
• Internet access
• Sound card
Software
Learners will also need the following software/plug-ins installed on their computer:• Internet Explorer 6.0 or above (http://www.microsoft.com/ )
-- OR --
• Firefox 2.0 or above (http://www.mozilla.com/ )
-- OR --
• Safari 1.3 or above (http://www.apple.com/ ) – see notes below.
• Microsoft® Word 97 or a similar word processing program to open and use downloadable forms, checklists and worksheets.
• Adobe® Flash Player 9. If you haven’t got this plug-in, you can download and install the latest free version from: http://www.adobe.com/
• Adobe® PDF Reader 6.0 or above. If you haven’t got this plug-in, you can download and install the latest free version from: http://www.adobe.com/
Incorrect versions of these applications could result in information being shown in an unreadable form or not shown at all.
Special note for Safari users (MAC)Some of the features in this Toolbox will not be available to people using the Macintosh® Safari browser version 1.3, because of its limitations in handling Javascript. Specifically:
• the search feature in the ‘Resources’ section will not be available
• the table in the ‘Resources’ section will not be available
• ‘grey-box’ pop-ups will appear in a new window
• the ‘accordion’ components on the content pages will default to open view, that is they will be fully expanded at all times and users will not have the option to collapse/expand items
• the Tour will be presented in plain text format rather than the interactive version with navigation buttons
• the ‘Show Help’ feature on the content pages will not be available.
Users will not be aware that these features are not available to them, as we have put a ‘sniffer’ in to detect the Safari browser. Removal of these features/functions for Safari users does not degrade the learning experience in any way, as all vital content will still be available.