Online Training Tutorials
Internet - Using Audio and Video for Your Online Class

One of the most important uses of technology that enables an Online Class is the implementation of streaming audio and video. Before the advent of streaming media, the delivery of audio and video through the Web was highly impractical. Today, because of streaming, learners can access very lengthy prerecorded audio and video clips to enhance and enrich their study of a topic, or even watch or listen to a live event remotely; in the case of distributed learning, streaming audio and video can even serve as the primary mode of content delivery.
 
It is important to know what kind of media your instructor is using, if any, and to get your computer ready to access that media. The most common uses of media by an instructor are video, audio, and flash animation. The following is a list of media formats that you may encounter on your online class:
  • RealNetworks' RealMedia format (.rm file extension)
  • Macromedia's Flash format (.swf file extension)
On addition, your browser (the program that you use to access the Internet e.g.. Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator) must be updated to the minimal requirements (we explain that later) and have Java enabled or turned on.
 
We have prepared this tutorial so you can check if your computer is ready to access the media that your instructor may be using. After you are done with this tutorial you will know if your computer meets the minimal requirements for viewing video and playing audio and animation.
 
First thing first. You need to make sure that Java is enable (or turned on) on your browser. To do this:
 
If you are using Internet Explorer:
  1. Go to the menu and click on 'Tools'
  2. From the drop down menu click on the 'Internet Options...' button.
  3. Click on the 'Advance" tab.
  4. Scroll down and make sure that the 'JIT compiler for virtual machine enable' box is checked.
  5. Click the 'Apply' button at the lower right corner and then click the 'OK' button and you are done.
If you are using Netscape Navigator:
  1. Go to the menu and click on 'Edit'
  2. From the drop down menu select the 'Preferences' button.
  3. From the 'Category' list select 'Advanced'
  4. Make sure that the 'Enable Java', and the 'Enable JavaScript' check boxes are checked.
  5. Click on the 'OK' button and you are done.
Finally, there are two browsers that are the most popular. Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer. We recommend that you use the latest version of Internet Explorer but if you choose to use Netscape, we recommend version 4.76.
 
To check if your browser has the plug-ins necessary to access RealAudio/Video and Flash, please use the links below:
 
Check the RealPlayer plug-in.
 
Check the Flash Player plug-in.