EQUIPMENT AND CONNECTION

Hardware Requirements

Minnesota Connections Academy families with students enrolled in grades K–5 are responsible for providing their own computer.

Please make sure to check our minimum system requirements below.

A limited number of laptops may be available for households with students enrolled in grades K–5 that request and are approved for a technology hardship exception. Any computer equipment supplied by the school is on loan during enrollment and must be returned upon withdrawal, graduation, or at the request of the school. Please refer to your school handbook for details. The handbook is available after the initial enrollment registration.

Minnesota Connections Academy families with students enrolled in grades 6–12 may request one computer per household.

Internet Service

Minnesota Connections Academy households with enrolled students in grades K–5 are responsible for providing their own Internet service.

A limited number of Internet service subsidies may be available for households with enrolled students in grades K–5 that request and are approved for a technology hardship exception. Please refer to the school handbook for the payment schedule details. The handbook is available after initial registration.

Minnesota Connections Academy households with students enrolled in grades 6–12 may request a subsidy towards the cost of your household Internet service. Please refer to your school handbook for the payment schedule details. The handbook is available to families after the initial enrollment registration.

Households are responsible for obtaining an Internet service provider.

Printer

Minnesota Connections Academy households are responsible for providing their own printer.

Support

We offer comprehensive technical support and usage information for the systems we provide.

PREPARING YOUR DEVICE

Connectivity Requirements

Students/Learning Coaches can log into Pearson Online Classroom  from various devices, such as a mobile phone, tablet, or desktop computer. We regularly test a wide range of devices to ensure the accessibility and functionality of the education management system.

Hardware and Software

We recommend that students/Learning Coaches update software and Internet browsers regularly on each device. For the best experience, try the following connectivity recommendations for accessing Pearson Online Classroom:

  • Desktop and Laptop Computers—for the most user-friendly experience
  • Operating System
    • Windows 8.1 or later
    • macOS 10.13 or later
  • Browsers—the latest versions of the following:
    • Google Chrome
    • Mozilla Firefox
    • Microsoft Edge (Windows 10 only)
    • Safari (Mac only)
  • Plugins—the latest versions of the following:
  • Software
    • Microsoft Office 2007 or newer
    • Alternative: LibreOffice—a free productivity suite compatible with Microsoft Office file formats

 

Mobile Devices and Third-Party Curriculum

Although we regularly test our education management system, many mobile devices may not be fully compatible with third-party curriculum platforms that are accessed through Pearson Online Classroom. These include: Chromebook, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Kindle, and Android phones & tablets.

Connectivity

  • Broadband connection is required.
  • Use the chart on the FCC Household Broadband Guide to assist in selecting the appropriate speed
    • For one student, a minimum download speed of 8Mbps should be requested from your ISP.
    • For two or more students, a minimum download speed of 25Mbps should be requested from your ISP.
  • NOTE: As you add more users/devices (e.g., computers, gaming consoles, streaming devices, etc.) the need for bandwidth increases. Therefore, if you use multiple devices, you should request a minimum download speed of 25Mbps.
  • NOTE: If you have a satellite connection, you may experience performance issues depending on outside weather conditions and latency.
  • You can test your current Internet speeds at http://www.speedtest.net
  • Speeds less than those noted above may result in a less than optimum user experience
  • For LiveLesson sessions and other Pearson Online Classroom content, the following ports need to be open:
  • Data usage
    • The amount of data transferred over your Internet connection each month depends on what your student’s courses and online activities are each day. We are not able to provide this information because each session in Pearson Online Classroom is unique and varied. Please contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to discuss the best option for your needs.

Contact Support

We provide extensive technical support for students and parents via toll-free phone service and email. Our hours of operation are Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET.

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