Tech Advice for Incoming Online MSW Students: What You’ll Need, What You Can Skip

by Matthea Marquart, MSSW, Stephen Cummings, MSW, ACSW, LISW, and Carly King, MSSW, LSW

     If you’re just starting your online MSW program, congratulations! As you start to plan where you’ll log into your classes and get your tech set up, we’d like to offer you some budget tips to save money and prioritize your spending. The three of us direct online Master’s in Social Work programs at different universities, and we hope this advice will be helpful for students from any institution.

What’s Worth Spending Money On and Ways To Save

     To have a smooth experience with your online degree, you will need a strong internet connection and a decent computer with an up-to-date operating system. Avoid logging into your classes from Chromebooks and other mobile devices, as they have limited functionality compared to desktop and laptop computers. Before purchasing a computer, check for student discounts. Some companies offer any student a discount with student ID or student email, and others have partnerships with specific schools. Big-name brands like Apple offer incentives to students to buy their products every summer/early fall. This includes small discounts to lure students to purchase more expensive hardware or software. Although tempting, consider whether these incentives are truly a value.

     As for which computer to buy, consider: Are you going to be more mobile? If not, a standard desktop computer typically has more power than an equivalent laptop. However, graduate students, particularly MSW students who are committed to work and family, may find a good laptop a more perfect fit. Regardless, while various models emphasize aesthetic qualities, consider prioritizing power and durability. “Power” includes random access memory (RAM), the amount of memory the hardware has access to at any given time. Eight gigabytes is the minimum for the “casual” computer user. Online coursework and study groups usually require video connectivity, so we recommend at least 16 gigabytes. Read-Only Memory (ROM) is the onboard storage memory. Before splurging on a massive amount of ROM, check with your school to see if they offer online drive space. If so, you’ll probably be well served by this and can store and share your documents and school projects there. “Durability” refers to how much wear and tear your hardware can tolerate. Think of your expected activities:. Will you be keeping your computer in a backpack? Student laptop backpacks can be purchased for less than $40 and make a good place to store your student gear.

     Many graduate students have household incomes that qualify them for discounted broadband service via the U.S.’s Affordable Connectivity Program. If you’re not eligible for discounted broadband, you will need to purchase a strong internet package. Note that some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) offer “fast lanes” of broadband for higher download/upload speeds. Rather than spend the extra money, you can ask the people sharing your network, such as roommates or family members, to avoid streaming or other heavy internet use when you need a strong connection, as this can free up bandwidth for your online courses.

     To improve your internet connection, make sure your router is not more than a few years old. Outdated routers can slow down your internet speed even if you purchased the most expensive package from your ISP. In addition, hard-wired connections are much more stable than Wi-Fi and offer a much smoother online learning experience. Wi-Fi connections can be disrupted by a variety of things that are out of your control, such as wind, rain, microwaves, or neighbors using their own separate Wi-Fi, as Wi-Fi connections share the same radio waves. Ethernet cables come in 25-foot, 50-foot, and even 100-foot lengths, and a 25-foot cable costs about $10. If your computer doesn’t have an Ethernet port, you will need an adapter, which costs between $10 and $30, depending on the type of adapter that matches your computer. Taking care of these logistics should greatly improve your online experience.

Some Tech May Not Be Worth the Money

     To have a smooth experience in your live synchronous classes and meetings, it’s helpful to have a plug-in headset with microphone. Wireless headsets that connect via Bluetooth can disconnect randomly and cause you stress during live synchronous classes, meetings, and/or events. A $25 headset should work reliably. There’s no need to purchase an expensive name brand headset, which can cost hundreds of dollars. Some expensive, name brand headphones are expensive simply because of their brand status.

     You will also need a webcam if your computer doesn’t have a built-in camera. Here again, a $25 webcam should work reliably. There’s no need to spend hundreds of dollars on the fanciest webcam with the most features.

     Many universities offer free or discounted software for students. Before paying full price for word processing and spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Office, check to see whether it’s already included for students at your university. At some institutions, you’re already paying for “technology fees” or some variation of the category as part of your tuition. Be sure to determine what that actually means at your school, and what you are getting for that fee. Don’t assume you’ve been fully informed on what you have access to. When in doubt, always ask your program’s coordinator. Remember, you have a right to access all the support your tuition covers!

     Graduate students may also find other applications, web browser extensions and plug-ins, or software useful for their journey as they think about research, presentations, and organization. Students should find out first what might be necessary for their online program, what might be helpful though not necessary, and what your institution provides access to through IT and library services. For example, Evernote, a note-taking application, offers a browser extension that allows students to download and store entire PDF documents. Web conferencing tools that may be used for live classes or meetings, such as Zoom, Teams, or Adobe Connect, may be provided to students, particularly if they are used for program requirements (classes and meetings with advisors, for example). Some students find value in utilizing reference, citation, and writing organization apps, such as Zotero or Grammarly; design tools and presentation creation apps such as Canva or Prezi; or other screen recording and video editing software and apps, such as Screenpal or Loom. These may not be provided by your institution but often have free membership or low-cost account options via their respective websites.

     Additionally, students who use assistive technology for online engagement should double-check with the disability services at their institution around what technology may be available and offered, or what a student might need to obtain independently. Your institution may have access or be able to guide students toward accessible and/or affordable screen readers, speech to text (STT) and text to speech (TTS) software, audiobooks or auditory format materials, note-taking apps, proofreading apps, digital study aids, or other technology. Your university disability office can work with you to facilitate available accommodations for captioning and transcripts for recorded materials; ASL interpretation and/or live captioning in synchronous online classes, events, or meetings; and other needs to maximize your success in online learning spaces.

Nice To Have But Not Essential

     If you have space where you’ll be logging into your classes, you may want to purchase a large second monitor. These are usually on sale during every major U.S. holiday. A large second monitor can help prevent eye strain and can be helpful when doing your online coursework. For example, you can have articles open on one screen to quickly refer to while writing a paper on another screen.

     Although these tips aren’t comprehensive, we hope they provide some clarity as you prepare for your new student role and your budget.

Matthea Marquart, MSSW, is a social worker, leader, educator, author, and expert in nonprofit management and online education. She is Assistant Dean of Online Education at Columbia University’s School of Social Work and co-editor of the book Designing Engaging and Interactive Synchronous Online Class Sessions. For more information, see: https://www.mattheamarquart.com/

Stephen Cummings, MSW, ACSW, LISW, is Distance Education Administrator at the University of Iowa School of Social Work.

Carly King, MSSW, LSW (she/her/hers), is a licensed social worker in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Temple University and a Master of Science in Social Work with a concentration in policy practice from Columbia University. She has worked for 15+ years in various child welfare and family/community services roles and is currently Director of the Online MSW Program at Widener University’s Center for Social Work Education.