To participate in Aspire's workshops and tutorials, you need a computer that has either PowerPoint 2003 or PowerPoint 2007 installed, depending upon which track you pursue. Video workshop sessions and live training events are available for both versions of PowerPoint. Tutorial sessions are available for PowerPoint 2007 only.

We strongly recommend using a PC rather than a Mac, so that your PowerPoint interface looks the same as that shown by the instructor during training. If you will be using a laptop during sessions, it is essential to also have an external mouse. Do not use the laptop's finger track or other built-in mouse controls. An external mouse allows much faster completion of session exercises.

For Web-based sessions, you are better off having high-speed Internet (DSL speed or higher). Dial-up connections work reasonably well for the video sessions but are not fast enough to adequately support the screen sharing requirements of live broadcasts.

Sessions can be completed with or without the Relational Presentation textbooks. However most learners find the book to be an invaluable resource, both during and after training. In Level 3, you need basic materials for card sorting exercises, including a package or two of 3-by-5 index cards, markers, and tape. You also need access to a printer so that existing slide shows can be printed. We recommend gathering all existing shows and related materials together in one place, to be easily accessible.

Finally, be sure to download COURSE RESOURCES if completing the workshop sessions, and download individual resources, as directed, if completing the tutorials. The workshop resources include pictures, PowerPoint files, instructions, and other documents related to the hands-on components of the course. You can download these resources as either a standard zip file or a self-executing zip file.