If you are having major difficulties with your own technology, for example in playing sounds or getting pages and screens to display as they do in class, clearing up those difficulties (or changing your study schedule to use PSU labs) is your responsibility. The software programming and the file creation conform to common standards, the software is checked when it is revised, and it runs properly on PSU computers and a wide range of student equipment. The requirement to use a media player or plug-in, in this case QuickTime, is a common practice in technology-enhanced teaching. Acquiring and installing such software is your responsibility, as is setting preferences. The difficulty here is no greater than people handle when they download and play music files or set up their instant-messaging.

Something we have noticed repeatedly, however, is that computer users (whether people in the course, or the people who do their technology for them) may alter their computer configurations, sometimes intentionally and sometimes not, in ways that cause problems with our materials.

Not everyone has or can afford the latest technology for personal use. Our materials, however, work fine on common computers and operating systems that are even several years out of date. In almost all cases, a mid-priced computer acquired within the past couple of years, set up straight out of the box and as the manual directs, works just fine.

Such resources are now regarded as were typewriters a generation ago: students are assumed to understand they need them and to furnish them themselves. A different problem is internet connection. Our classroom polling shows that over 75% of first-year German students have fast connections (cable, DSL) readily available, often in their homes. But some students live in unserved ares, and some can't afford better connections than just modems over phone lines. PSU labs are readily available to all students, and they should be adequate for studying for the course - if you can arrange your schedule for that, which again is beyond our control and resources. You may find it most convenient to use the resources in the Foreign Language Learning Lab (NH394-N) opposite the entrance to the Foreign Language Department main office).

If you are in some aid program, for example veterans' education benefits, which can help supply you with technology for your studies, we will provide you with support documentation to show what you need for the course.

Dr. Fischer has spent many years and considerable pizza money making the PSU tech staff happy, and they are nice people anyway. If you are having very specific tech problems, they may be able to help you. Go to SMC 18 (basement of Smith Center) and mention the course and Dr. Fischer's name. If you are using a laptop, bring it with you.