If you are attending one of our of Fire Tech’s Online Courses, please follow this documentation for a guide on what to expect, as well as the recommended system requirements to help set up your virtual classroom using your own device.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Before you book one of our classes, we need you to check and test the following
INTERNET SPEEDS
If you don’t know how to check your internet speeds, please visit Speedtest.net and click ‘Go‘.
Once it has finished, it should provide you with your Download and Upload speeds.
15mbps connection or better is recommended.
If your Download speed is less than 15mbps, please contact us via email, with the subject heading ‘Internet Speeds‘.
COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS
For most classes a basic laptop from the last 5 years will be sufficient. You will need to have your own device in order to connect to our online learning platform. We recommend the following devices are suitable.
- MacOS
- MacOs 10.12 or later
- All intel based Macbooks and iMacs since 2015
- 8GB RAM
- min 1GB available storage
- Windows Device
- Windows 7 or later
- Using Intels i3 (i5 recommended) since 2013
- 8GB RAM
- Min 1gb storage space available
TABLETS/SMART PHONES REQUIREMENTS
You can also access the session via a tablet or a smart phone.
This may be more useful for students wishing to interact on one device as well as carry out work on a computer at the same time.
Our online classroom environment is suitable for both Mac (iPhone/iPads) and Android Devices. Most devices manufactured in the last 5 years should be sufficient.
A link to the app relevant to your operating system will be provided in the student account creation email.
Please note: Some features may not be available depending on the device you are connecting with (such as screen sharing).
GOOD TO GO
Now that you’ve checked your internet connection and device are in working order, you can proceed to book your Online Course
NEXT STEPS
Having booked, it’s time to set your device up for the Online Classroom Environment.
ACCESS THE ONLINE COURSES
In order to join Fire Tech’s online learning community, you will need to connect to our Online Classroom Environment. You will have received an email containing your child’s username and password details, and a link to the Online Classroom Environment.
Alternatively, please check the ‘My account’ area and access the link there.
The steps below are also included in that email:
Windows/MAC Devices
- Download and install the “Microsoft Teams” App
- If you can’t install the app to your device, open a Google Chrome browser and visit this link
- When prompted, enter the username we provided to you in the email
- Press “Next”
- You will see the screen change to red and the firetech logo appear
- When prompted, enter your password we provided to you in the email
- Press “Sign In”
- You will be prompted to keep Signed In Press “Yes”
- You may receive a number of prompts, requesting permission to use your microphone and/or video camera: Press “Allow” on all of them
- Press the Classroom Icon to join the class
Apple/iPad Devices
- Visit the Apple Store and download and Install the “Microsoft Teams” App
- Launch the “Microsoft Teams” App
- When prompted, enter the username we provided to you in the email
- Press “Next”
- You will see the screen change to red and the firetech logo appear
- When prompted, enter your password we provided to you in the email
- Press “Sign In”
- You will be prompted to keep Signed In Press “Yes”
- You may receive a number of prompts, requesting permission to use your microphone and/or video camera: Press “Allow” on all of them
- Press the Classroom Icon to join the class
Google/Android Devices
- Visit the Google Play Store and download and Install “Microsoft Teams”
- Launch the “Microsoft Teams” App
- When prompted, enter the username we provided to you in the email
- Press “Next”
- You will see the screen change to red and the firetech logo appear
- When prompted, enter your password we provided to you in the email
- Press “Sign In”
- You will be prompted to keep Signed In Press “Yes”
- You may receive a number of prompts, requesting permission to use your microphone and/or video camera: Press “Allow” on all of them
- Press the Classroom Icon to join the class
FAQ
This is all really technical – is there someone I can call to guide me through the process?
Absolutely! our team will be more than happy to talk you to the process and get you up and running in no time!
Why do I have to test my internet speed? What’s with these technical requirements? Why do I need to do this first?
For the online classroom to work reliably – for your child to be able to hear and see our tutor, and respond to them – there are certain minimum standards that the device, and the network the device is connected to, must fulfil.
If those minimum standards are met or exceeded, we know that under normal operating conditions the online classroom will work reliably for your child.
That’s why we ask that parents do these tests before making a booking.
Why must I download the Teams app? Why not use the browser version?
We use the Microsoft Teams app to run our Online Classrooms, as it is reliable and relatively easy to use for our tutors and students alike.
The most reliable version of Teams is the application version. Where possible we recommend downloading and installing it to your device.
While the web browser alternative is also available, it introduces further variables to the process, the User Interface differs depending on the browser you use, and we can’t always guarantee the quality of the online classroom.
If you have no alternative but to use the browser version, that’s understandable, and we’ll endeavour to troubleshoot any issues if they arise.
Why do you recommend Chrome?
We recommend using Google Chrome as your web browser because in our experience it’s the most stable browser version of Teams.
Something has gone wrong
Contact us at any stage if you’re having issues.
