Orange County Public Schools: Career & Technical Education

Technical Recommendations

Having Class Can Be Technical.

Technical Recommendations
The following talking points and information will help students enrolled in Orange County Public Schools online courses ace their coursework, technically speaking.

Get your computer ready and optimized for the best course experience! AOL Users, please see the bottom section with critical information.

1. Check to be certain you are using the most recent version of Internet Explorer (IE).
2. Keep temp files to a minimum. Instructions:
   • Find Tools in the upper, horizontal menu;
   • Go to Internet Options;
   • Click the Advanced tab at the top of the window that pops up;
   • Scroll down until you see a yellow lock icon or the subheading "Security;" and check the "Empty Temporary Internet files when browser is closed" option;
   • Click apply, then OK.;
3. Clearing Cache:
   • At the top of your browser, click on Tools
   • Go to Internet Options;
   • Make sure you are in the General tab;
   • Click on Delete Files. A new window will open. Click in the box Delete All Offline Content and select OK, OR, (depending on your browser) when the little box comes up for you to click OK or Cancel, click the checkbox that says "Delete All Temporary Files” and then click OK. This may take a few minutes depending on how much hard drive space the cache is set to use on your computer.
   • Once that's finished clearing (your hourglass pointer will turn back into an arrow), click on Settings. Change the top portion (regarding checking the page) to read "Every Visit to the Page". If you wish, you can set your cache to use more or less of your hard drive in the bottom portion of the box. Your computer holds the amount of space being used for caching as long as your cache remains uncleared. Click OK.
   • Now, in the General Tab, Delete Cookies.
   • Click on OK in the main window and refresh your browser.
   • Clearing cache regularly verifies you will receive all updated content and functionality on any site.
4. Double-click the time in the lower right corner of your computer. Check to make sure a.m. and p.m. are correctly set, as well as the time. Check the date and make sure the day, date and year are correct. Check the time zone to verify it is the correct time zone for the state in which you reside. Click Apply and then OK after changing or verifying the information.
5. Disable any pop up stopper software or parental control filtering while working in the course. You are protected in our course shell. Be sure to reset it when you're done with each session.
6. If you do NOT have anti-virus software, or you have not been able to update it, please click here for a free Internet scan.
7. Get rid of spyware! Download, install and run the free version of Adaware. This program prevents popup ads in Explorer.
8. In your browser, log out of your course using the logout button every time you're ready to sign off.
9. Go into your browser and click Tools/Windows Updates and scan your machine (computer). Run all updates, the critical ones first. You may need to restart your machine several times (follow the prompts).
10. Go to Tools/Internet Options. Click the Privacy Tab. Change the setting to Low. Click the Advanced button on this page. Check Override Cookies for this zone. Click Accept on First Party Cookies. Click Prompt on Third Party Cookies. Click Always Allow Session Cookies. Click Ok.
11. Go to Tools/Internet Options. Click the Security Tab. On the Internet Globe, click Custom Level. Scroll down to Miscellaneous. Click Enable on User Data Persistence. Click OK.
12. Close the IE browser (File/Exit or Close). Again, restart your computer.