Minimum Tech Skills

So what are the minimum technical skills required to take an ACCESS class? To take an ACCESS class, students must be able to

  • use a web browser
  • save files
  • attach files

That’s it! We will show you how to do the rest!

Tutorials – File Storage and Organization

As you work through your class, you will create a lot of assignment files. You should keep these files organized. Two things you can do to keep your files organized is to name them clearly and to save them in folders.

Naming Files

File names are important. You don’t want to open every file to find out what is inside! We suggest that all of your ACCESS filenames include

  1. The course name or abbreviation.
  2. Your name (first, last or both)
  3. The task number

You cannot use the following characters in filenames: ” * / : < > ? \ | –

So, if Joe Smith is saving his 1.03 Triangles assignment, he would name it geometry_joesmith_01-03. You are not required to name your files exactly like this, but following a regular pattern will help you stay organized.

Saving Assignment Files

Open Saving Files in a new tab

Organizing Files

Folders keep work organized. Depending on your school, you might save your files to a flash drive, your user account, the computer desktop, or a cloud drive, like Google Drive. Make sure you always save your files to the same drive or device, if possible. No matter how you save your files, you can make sure that they are organized.

Start by making a folder for your class. This is especially important if you are taking more than one ACCESS class. If you do not know how to make a folder, choose the appropriate tutorial below.


Within your class folder, create a folder for each unit. Save all of your work for your unit within the unit folder.

With good file naming and organization, you will always be able to find your work.

File Types

While Schoology accepts many filetypes, it does not accept all filetypes.

If you are using Pages to complete your work, make sure to download or save your files as .docx files before submitting them to Schoology. This will guarantee that your teacher can open and grade your work. Go to Student Technology Resources for instructions on downloading and saving files as .docx files.

.docx is not the only filetype that can be submitted to Schoology, but it is the one you will use most frequently.

Tutorials – Tech Support

So we have gone over the basic skills needed to complete an online class. But what if you have a technical problem you cannot solve? Who do you contact for help?

The first person you should ask is your facilitator. If your facilitator cannot help, your school may have someone else who can help.

Where do you go for help next?

Support Center

If you still cannot resolve your problem, contact your ACCESS Support Center’s Technical Support. You can reach them by telephone or email. Don’t be afraid to reach out if you need help. If you do not know your support center, look at your course title.

You will also find contact information for your support center’s technical support under Materials >> Course Information >> Technical Resources and Support.

Reporting Problems

When reporting technical problems, include as much information as possible. That includes

  • the device and browser you are using
  • the name and number of the lesson, assignment, or activity
  • a description of the problem
  • the wording of the error message (if appropriate)
  • a screenshot of the problem (if appropriate)

This will help Tech Support to diagnose and solve your problem. You should also let your teacher know that you are having difficulties.

Reporting Broken Links

If you find a broken link in your class, you can report it through the Report Broken Links link in your course. This is found under Materials >> Course Information >> Technical Resources and Support.

Student Technology Resources

In your course, there is a topic in Materials >> Course Information >> Technical Resources and Support titled Student Technology Resources. It contains instructions on how to complete basic tasks, like

  • finding and using images online
  • creating and uploading audio files
  • taking a screenshot
  • inserting special characters (like accented letters in foreign languages) into text

You will also find information on common problems for Chromebooks, iPads, Apple products, and other devices. Students who use Macs should look over these tutorials for information on saving files to the correct file type. Use these tutorials as needed to help you complete your work.

Question

If you need help with technical issues (computer not working, cannot open a file, problem with a link, etc.), you can ______________________________.

  1. Ask your facilitator for help
  2. Call or email your support center
  3. Look for help in the Student Technology Resources
  4. All of the above

Answer: d. All of these are things you can do if you need help. Depending on the problem, you should probably start with your facilitator or the Student Technology Resources. However, if they cannot help you, contact your support center.

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