Selected Enabling Technologies:

• Acrobat PDF files
• Blogs
• Colonial Cast – classroom lecture capture published for review
• iTunes U podcasts
• Learning Management Systems—Blackboard, Embanet
• Multimedia Internet Telephony – eLumminate Live or other online conferencing/lecture technologies
• Narrated PowerPoint lectures
• Podcasts for fully online courses
• Second Life (virtual world) classroom experience
• Skype/Voice-over-Internet Protocol (not supported by GW but used with some courses)
• Streaming Video
• Wikis

For all of the George Washington University’s online courses, you will need access to a computer with the following minimum specifications:
(Note: a few courses with graphic-intensive content or using virtual 3-D environments may require more advanced hardware.)

PC

• Pentium II 266 MHz CPU; 1 GB RAM
• Broadband Internet connection—cable or DSL—is ideal (dial-up connections may impair your ability to access files or participate in class)
• Sound card and speakers
• SVGA Monitor w/4+ megabytes of video RAM
• 50 megabyte hard drive
• Microsoft Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows NT or Windows XP (Windows 2000 and above provide the best support)
• Microsoft Office Suite (or Open Office)
• Flash player (with regular updates)
• Adobe Acrobat Reader or other PDF reader
• Java plug-in for chat
• Internet Explorer
• Printer (needed for some courses)
• GW email account (ending in @gwmail.gwu.edu)
• GW net ID to access Blackboard
• Additional software or other supplies required as noted in courses link

Mac

• PowerPC® G4 or G5 or multicore Intel processor; 1 GB of RAM
• Mac OS X v.10.4
• 1024 x 768 monitor resolution with 16-bit video
• Broadband Internet connection—cable or DSL—is ideal (dial-up connections may impair your ability to access files or participate in class)
• Speakers
• 80 megabyte hard drive
• Microsoft Office Suite (or Neo Office)
• Flash player (with regular updates)
• Adobe Acrobat Reader or other PDF reader
• Safari and/or Firefox (must use Firefox to have full use of text editor in Blackboard)
• Printer (may be needed for some courses)
• GW email account (ending in @gwmail.gwu.edu)
• GW net ID to access Blackboard
• Additional software or other supplies required as noted in courses link