How to Be a
Good Online Learner

7. How do I download the plug-ins I need?

Some sites on the Internet require that you have additional programs installed on your computer in order to be able to view all of the content on their website.  These are called plug-ins.  There are some plug-ins that are used quite a bit and it would be helpful if you already have them loaded onto your computer.

These programs are all provided at no cost by very reputable businesses and are very safe to download.

If you are not using your own computer for online learning, you will need to get permission from the computer's owner before downloading anything.

Browsers

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
  • www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ downloads/ default.mspx
    
    
• Netscape 4.77 or Netscape 6.2
  • http://browser.netscape.com/
    
    
• Mozilla Firefox
  • www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/

 

Text Readers

• Adobe Reader
  • www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

 

Movie/Music Players

• Apple Quicktime
  • www.apple.com/quicktime/download/win.html
  
  
  
• Real Player
  • www.real.com/realplayer.html
  • select the free download on the right
    
    
• Windows Media Player
  • www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/
    default.aspx

 

Interactive Multimedia

• Adobe Flash Player
  • www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/
    
    
• Adobe Shockwave Player
  • www.adobe.com/products/shockwaveplayer/
    
    
• Sun Microsystem's Java
  • www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
    
    
• Macromedia Authorware Viewer
  • www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/
    download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=AWPfull&P2_Platform=
    Win32&P3_Browser_Version=MSIE&P5_Language=English
    

 

Adware Detection and Removal

• Lavasoft's Ad-Aware SE Personal
  • www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php

 

PowerPoint

• Microsoft's PowerPoint Viewer
  • http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?
    FamilyID=048dc840-14e1-467d-8dca-19d2a8fd7485&
    DisplayLang=en
  • Used to view PowerPoint presentations even if you don't have PowerPoint.

If you have any difficulty downloading any of the above plug-ins, please contact the Online Enrollment Specialist, Richard Sebastian, at rasebastian@vcu.edu or 1-877-376-9433.