Technical Requirements for Online Learning

Home Technical Requirements for Online Learning

Our Teaching and Learning Platform incorporates communications software, digital resources, interactive messaging and real-time assessment tools. We require that parents enrolling their child in WICA ensure full access to:

A sufficient and stable internet connection and power/battery supply at your child’s device.
Requirement: broadband (hi-speed internet) with a minimum Internet download speed of 10 Mbps.
A PC (strongly recommended) or laptop with webcam and audio, capable of managing our online and e-learning resources.
Requirement: Processor (CPU): Intel Core i5 (or equivalent) and above
+Memory: 4 GB of RAM, 8 GB is preferred
+Operating System Microsoft Windows 10 or later
+Browser for Windows: IE 11+, Edge 12+, Firefox 27+, Chrome 30+
or Browser for Mac: Safari 7+, Firefox 27+, Chrome 30+

Please note:

1. Apple Mac computers can be used but must have ‘Office for Mac’ installed in order to fully integrate with our Teaching and Learning tools, functions and resources.

2. Laptops or desktop computers are recommended over mobile phones or tablets as the primary devices for online school lessons and activities. This preference is based on considerations such as the smaller screen size, limited functionalities, and the necessity for a full keyboard associated with the latter devices.

A device with sufficient screen size to preserve your child’s eyesight from strain and tiredness
Requirement: a minimum size of 15″ (laptop) or 19.5″ (PC Monitor), measured diagonally
A full QWERTY keyboard for ease of typing, using hotkeys, and writing at length
A noise-cancelling headset with attached microphone to ensure sound quality, to provide privacy and to avoid outside sound disturbances for the teacher and the students
A writing tablet which connects to your PC or laptop and stylus pen with which to write on it
Requirement: Minimum writing area of 10″ by 6″
A scanner and a colour printer to scan, send, download and print schoolwork as required
Sufficient desk space somewhere away from distractions, so that every child is able to take greatest advantage of their online education
We will be specifying a simple Virtual Reality Headset in order to access the virtual worlds within our resource library.

* Children in the same household cannot share the above items of equipment, except the scanner/printer.

Compatibility across all of the devices and peripherals noted above is vital. Parents are encouraged to take special care in ensuring that what they purchase will work across all of these pieces of equipment and with the requirements noted above by the WICA Technical Delivery Team.

Online education provision is naturally only successful when there is a sufficient and stable internet connection on each child’s device.