SinclairOnline Technology Information

Please note Accessibility and Privacy Policies are included in the Product Specific Section of this page. Both policy types are important for learners to understand the accessibility of different products in addition to how users and others are tracked. 

UPDATED: May 8, 2023

Technology Support

General technical support is available to all SinclairOnline students (and all Sinclair students) with general hardware and software, device support, My. Sinclair portal login, eLearn access, and other system-related questions. Please contact your instructor directly for class-specific academic support (course content, assessments, etc). 

Sinclair Helpdesk

The Helpdesk is a centralized support system for all Sinclair students, faculty, and staff. When contacting the Helpdesk, be prepared to share your name, Tartan ID, and the course name and section number such as ENG 1101 203, and a complete description of the issue. You may also want to know which browser you're experiencing the issue with and the instructor's name. 

The Helpdesk is open daily from 6:00 am until midnight (EST). 

Phone: 937-512-4357 or toll-free at 866-781-4357
E-mail: helpdesk@sinclair.edu
Access Links: Helpdesk Website | Online Helpdesk Ticket 

PC Repair Lab

Free Services are available to all current students, faculty, and staff. For additional information stop by, Building 8, Room 8036.

Services Provided:

• Virus Removal 
• Hard Drive Backups 
• New PC Set-ups
• Some Hardware Repairs 

Phone: 937-512-4218
E-mail: SinclairPCRepairLab@gmail.com

Have Financial Aid Dollars? 

In many cases, federal financial aid can help pay for certain technology including hardware and software. For more information, check out this helpful infromation from Sinclair Student Affairs. 

Skills and Success

For success in eLearning courses - whether online, blended, FlexPace, or online with scheduled meeting times, you need to have mastery of certain skills. 

General Success Skills

eLearning courses have a lot to offer for any student. Generally, the success of students in these courses is more likely if you as a student are: 

• Comfortable using computers, including the Internet and word processing
• Enjoy independent learning, and are good at managing your time
• Able to dedicate time to your eLearning courses

Computer skills and digital literacy:

In addition to general success skills, there are certain expectations for computer skills and digital literacy in eLearning courses. The list provided covers the more common skills which make eLearning students successful. Make sure to ask your instructor(s) if additional skills may be necessary for a particular course. 

• Performing basic device operations including turning hardware on and off properly, connecting to a wireless or wired internet network, and manipulating user controls such as volume, inputs and outputs, and others. 
• Interacting with technology in a safe, responsible manner within the parameters of safety, security, and acceptable use policies. 
• Utilizing a learning management system, email with attachments, and common word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation/graphics programs to create, modify, and submit files. 
• Downloading, installing, and using apps and software onto digital devices for general or course-specific needs.
• Searching online libraries, databases, websites, and other tools to obtain credible, appropriately current, and unbiased information for a course. 
• Storing, locating, and accessing files, data, or other items on computer networks, cloud storage systems, or removable devices. 
• Preparing a presentation of research findings and citing sources of information appropriately. 
• Accessing and using web conferencing tools and software to interact with classmates, course material, or an instructor. 

General Technical Requirements

For students taking any course using eLearn, certain resources and technology are needed to ensure a proper student experience. Disclaimer: the information in this section is general; not all courses may require each aspect so you should check with your instructor or department if you are unsure. 

eLearn Core Requirements 

Baseline requirements for using eLearn, Sinclair's learning management system, for eLearning courses include: 

• Computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone (not recommended due to screen size) 
• Broadband or Strong Wi-Fi Internet Connection (at least 3 Mbps upload and download) 
• Compatible Current Browser - Google Chrome, macOS Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge 
• Microsoft Office 365 Apps - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, etc (access provided by Sinclair for all users). 
• Verify your system is compatible by running the D2L Brightspace System Check. 

Hardware Requirements

The computer or other device you have for eLearning courses may also need to meet certain hardware requirements. These include at the basic level: 

• Operating Systems - Windows 7 or higher (10 for virtual technology), MacOS most recent version
• Processor - 2 GHz and higher 
• Memory - 4 GB RAM (or what operating system recommends) 
• Hard Disk Space - 120 GB Minimum 
• Browser Configuration - pop-up blocking disabled, JavaScript enabled
• Java Runtime Environment - 1.6 or higher 
• Personal Storage - flash drive (USB), cloud drive (provided by Sinclair via Office 365), or other

Virtual Technology Requirements 

You will need additional tools for courses that use Microsoft Teams, Virtual Classroom, or Zoom.  You may even need to use these tools for meeting virtually with your faculty member during office hours or with other students as part of a group assignment. These include the following regardless of the operating system: 

• Webcam - no minimum definition requirement (HD or SD) but most included on devices and USB webcams will be sufficient. 
• Microphone - no minimum requirement as most included on devices and USB microphones will be sufficient. Current students recommend using a headset or earpad/microphone device for best results. 
• Telephone (secondary option - the ability to dial in and connect to a strong cellular or landline network; Wi-Fi connection recommended)

Virtual Lab Requirements 

Some courses use virtual labs to complete assignments. Your instructor is the best resource for this information, however at the basic level you will need in addition to the core requirements: 

• Processor: 64-bit intel or AMD multi-core processor with SSE4.2 instruction set equivalent to Intel i5-3xxx processor. 
• RAM: 8 GB (16 GB or more recommended) 
• Graphics card: Similar to the Intel HD Graphics 4400 (integrated) 
• Graphics Display Resolution: At least 1330 x 725 
• Mouse: Three button mouse left, middle, right) 

Taking a CIS Course?

CIS Course Requirements 

Use the information below if you are taking a course in the CIS Department. These courses and programs often require more advanced technology. In addition to the above core requirements, you will need:  

• Operating System: 64 -bit Windows operating system
• Processor: Dual Core or higher processor: Intel i5, AMD Athlon 64 5000+ or equivalent
• RAM: 8 GB minimum. 

VMWare

VMWare is a fairly intensive software application and will not run on all home systems. Please be sure that your home computer has the hardware requirements mentioned above. Also, remember that these specs can vary by the system; a laptop computer with these specifications can be much slower than a desktop with the same hardware rating. Intel Celeron and AMD Sempron systems will not run VMWare well. Slower systems may work, but will be difficult to use and could experience lag, crashes, or extremely slow performance.

If you have questions about computer requirements for your CIS course, check with your instructor.

Accessibility and Privacy Policies

SINCLAIR VALUES ACCESSIBILITY AND PRIVACY

Resources in courses consist of many items provided by both Sinclair and third-party vendors. For reference, Privacy and Accessibility policies have been placed in the accordion below. If additional information is needed on a product, please check the homepage of the website. Consult your course for specific links or consult the homepages of websites and products used in the course.