School of Education Hardware and Software Standards
Hardware Requirements
| Standard | Required minimum for new computers | Notes for existing computers |
|---|---|---|
| CPU (Processor) | G4, 1.2GHz (Mac) | Pentium 4, 1.6GHz or functional equivalent (Windows) | Computers that you already own with slower G4, Pentium, or Celeron processors are acceptable |
| RAM (system memory) | 512MB (1GB is recommended) | 512MB |
| Hard Disk Capacity | 30GB | 20GB or greater preferred |
| Optical (CD/DVD) Drive | CD Read/Write/DVD Read ("combo" drive) | You MUST be able to write to CDs; it is highly recommended that you be able to view material on DVD |
| Screen Resolution | 1024 x 768 or greater | 1024 x 768 |
| USB ports | 2.0 (USB 2) | USB 1.1 acceptable |
| FireWire ports | One 400MHz port | Firewire ports are required; these may be added via the PC slot if your computer has one |
| Wireless Networking | 802.11g (Airport Extreme) | As of fall semester 2006, all wireless network cards must meet the 802.11g standard |
| Ethernet Networking | 100Mbps | 10Mbps; 100Mbps preferred |
| Video Output | VGA; able to be mirrored to a second display for presentations | VGA |
| Sound Input | Built-in microphone or External USB microphone (recommended; not a strict requirement) |
|
| Sound Output | Stereo sound out | Stereo sound out |
Software Standards
| Standard | Required | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Word Processing | Microsoft Word 2004 (Mac; Office 2004) (This software is included with the recommended bundles available through the custom store) |
You will be required to write papers, create posters and forms, manipulate graphics, etc. Your papers may be submitted and evaluated electronically using Word's markup language, so compatibility is critical. IMPORTANT: UAF does not currently support Office 2007 for Windows. If you choose Office 2007, you will be required to save your documents in Office 2003 format. |
| Spreadsheet | Microsoft Excel 2004 (Mac; Office 2004) (This software is included with the recommended bundles available through the custom store) |
You may be required to use a spreadsheet program for charting, data collection/manipulation or other projects. IMPORTANT: UAF does not currently support Office 2007 for Windows. If you choose Office 2007, you will be required to save your documents in Office 2003 format. |
| Database | Microsoft Excel 2004 (Mac; Office 2004) (This software is included with the recommended bundles available through the custom store) |
You may be required to use a database program for charting, data collection/manipulation or other projects. IMPORTANT: UAF does not currently support Office 2007 for Windows. If you choose Office 2007, you will be required to save your documents in Office 2003 format. |
| Presentation | Microsoft PowerPoint 2004 (Mac; Office 2004) (This software is included with the recommended bundles available through the custom store) |
You will be required to create and deliver presentations in a classroom setting. IMPORTANT: UAF does not currently support Office 2007 for Windows. If you choose Office 2007, you will be required to save your documents in Office 2003 format. |
| Graphical Organizer | Inspiration 8.0 (This software is included with the recommended bundles available through the custom store) |
Inspiration will be used for outlining, brainstorming, presentations and creating instructional materials, and is an excellent classroom tool for your internship. |
| Digital Video | Mac: iMovie (included with Mac OS X) Windows: Adobe Premiere Elements ($79, UAF Tech Center). Note: Windows Movie Maker (incuded with Windows XP) is NOT acceptable for SOE projects. |
You will be required to create and edit movies for class projects and portfolios. You must be able to output these movies to QuickTime. |
| Operating System (Mac) | 10.4 (Tiger) or current OS | Current OS |
| Operating System (Windows) | Windows XP Professional Edition | Other versions of XP are acceptable |
What About Windows Vista?
New Windows computers purchased after January 2007 will probably come preinstalled with Windows Vista. UAF does not officially support Vista at this point, so you will not be able to expect support from the Help Desk for Vista until the university decides to support the system. The School of Education will be able to help you configure your Vista computer to work with UAF's wireless network.
