Devices and Technology

Back to Learning at Calbright

As an online college, technology powers everything we do at Calbright. The best technology for your education is simple, available, and easy to use.

Our technology is provided for free. You won’t have to pay for any course materials or access to tech. Often we use publicly available platforms that you may already be familiar with.

Hardware

You’ll need a computer and reliable internet to take online classes.

If you don’t have a laptop or a reliable internet connection, Calbright has a lending library offering both Chromebooks and wifi hotspots to enrolled students who need them. 

If you do have a computer and internet access, you can take a computer readiness test and test your internet speed to see if your equipment will work for online classes.

Platforms

If you can use the Chrome internet browser, Google docs, Google sheets, and Zoom, you’re already familiar with 80% of the programs you’ll ever use at Calbright.

For most of your communication and work with Calbright, you’ll be using the free Google productivity suite: Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides.

Because many of us already have Google accounts, we’ll teach you how to use Google profiles to distinguish between your personal and school accounts. Once you’re logged in, you’ll have access to all of the Google apps as a Calbright College student.

We recommend using Google’s Chrome browser and setting up a profile in Chrome that has your Calbright College account linked to it, to help you stay organized and to avoid confusion with your personal account bookmarks and passwords. If you need a walkthrough on how to set up your Google Chrome profile for school: here’s a video explaining how in more detail.

Slack is a messaging program designed specifically for the workplace, and at Calbright you’ll use this tool to build community with your fellow students, interact with instructors and support specialists, and get connected with resources that will benefit your coursework and future career goals.

The video conferencing tool we use is Zoom. Zoom offers free downloads for your computer and mobile device.

Once enrolled, anytime you receive an invite to join a meeting with your professor or counselor, you’ll click a link and directly enter a video call. You’ll have the option to turn your video on or off, as well as join by phone if necessary. You’re also welcome to join as a guest, so creating a Zoom account is not required to join our meetings. If you need a walkthrough on how to use Zoom: here’s a video explaining how in more detail.

Calbright also uses additional platforms for our online programs including Strut Learning Management System, LinkedIn Learning, and NetTutor. As an enrolled student, you’ll have access to these for free, and you’ll have wraparound support available to walk you through these systems and answer any questions.