Wilmette Institute

Required Skills and Equipment

All students must have a broadband Internet connection and a computer or laptop with up-to-date software. The Moodle course management platform works online and can be easily accessed on either a Windows PC or a Mac. Each student must have an email address to be assigned a Wilmette Institute email address (typically firstinitiallastname@wilmetteinstitute.org) for all correspondence related to WI courses. Basic computer and Internet browsing skills are required of all students. A webcam and microphone (or headset) for your computer is recommended.

Students should be able to:

send/receive email and send attachments via email
find resources through search engines
use a word processor
use a digital presentation tool
be self-directed in learning new technology skills, such as following a handout or a step-by-step video tutorial

Hardware Requirements:

PC or Mac with Fast Processor (laptops are fine, but Chromebooks may have issues connecting on Zoom)
Monitor, Speakers & Microphone (may be built-in for laptops)
Headset (useful if you have to study in a room with other people around you)
Webcam (required for video conferences over Zoom)

Software Requirements:

PC: Windows 8.1 or Above
Mac: OS 10.14 or Above
Browser: most recent release of Chrome or Firefox

Internet Connection Standards:

Test your Internet speed using speedtest.net. Recommended speeds:

Ping response–less than 100ms

Download speed–minimum 10Mbps

Upload speed–minimum 2Mbps

Additional Considerations:

Your Internet speed may vary throughout the day based on the usage of other customers registered with your Internet Service Provider.

Using a shared Internet connection (other household members using the Internet) will impact connectivity.

Wireless connections are less robust; wired connections are recommended unless Internet speed is well above the minimum required.

WI Community of Learning

The Wilmette Institute’s program is based on interactive teaching, learning, and communication. Learners, faculty, and staff are responsible for maintaining high standards of scholarship and collegiality. Faculty and learners actively contribute to one another’s learning through critical dialogue, integrative learning, and collaborative learning. As learners interact with faculty and other learners they can expect to be challenged and to feel a sense of accomplishment, to be treated with respect, and to become part of the Wilmette Institute community. Diversity—of thought, values, and opinion—is valued at the Wilmette Institute. All members of the Wilmette Institute community are expected to be respectful of diverse perspectives.