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Help & Technical Support

Self-Paced Resources

Program Support

For program support, please contact Self-paced by emailing us at DisLrn@seattlecolleges.edu. Program support includes:

  • Extension requests
  • Issues with self-paced registration
  • Courses not showing up in course list

Instructional Support

For instructional support, please contact your instructor directly. Instructional support includes:

  • Questions about grades
  • Broken content links
  • Where to find my feedback
  • Accessing publisher materials

Technical Support

For technical support, please contact the IT Helpdesk by emailing ITHelp@seattlecolleges.edu. Technical support includes:

  • Issues with logging in
  • Updating your profile
  • Password issues

The IT Helpdesk is also a place for students to get answers to technology questions relating to computer use needed for coursework and classes.  They have a number of online services to support you, from off or on-campus.

IT Help Desk: linked from the IT Services website under “Contact the Help Desk ”

Remote Access to Computer Labs https://itservices.seattlecolleges.edu/access-computer-labs-campus  Students can remotely log into computer labs from off-campus and use the software on these computers as if they were there in person. Available computer labs include specialty software computer labs and a subset of open lab/general use computers. 

Contact IT Help in any of these ways:

Learning Support & Tutoring

Tutoring in a broad range of topics is free to all Seattle Central students.  The Learning Support Network provides academic support in order to: improve comprehension, increase competence, instill confidence, and promote success. Visit The Learning Support Network website for more information on hours, locations, and services, including a 24-7 Online E-Tutoring option.

e-Tutoring

Online tutoring is available for your convenience at the e-Tutoring login page

Seattle Central College is no longer doing a general distribution of equipment. Use this form to request equipment replacement if you have checked out equipment and that equipment is no longer working.  

All requests are reviewed base upon several variables including inventory, access to location of physical equipment, and pick-up opportunities using social distancing protocols.

* Equipment supplies are very limited and access to the building even more limiting. *

Tech Tools and Resource Needs Assessment Form

Previously Recorded Sessions

eLearning conducted a few online training sessions for students on how to use Canvas and Zoom. We provided a 30-minute virtual tour of each application. The archived videos are below for you to review. 

The first 30 minutes focused on how to participate in Zoom sessions as a student. During this time, you will learn how to:

  • Display the Participant List
  • Chat
  • Engage using Voice and Non-Verbal Feedback

The second half of the session focuses on Canvas where you will learn how to:

  • Navigate within the Learning Management System (LMS), Canvas
  • Participate in discussions
  • Communicate with your instructor
  • Submit assignments

Online Self-Paced Training (Introduction to Canvas for Students)

This course is a resource to help you learn how to use Canvas to be successful in your courses here. Learning how to use Canvas to participate in your classes will be vital to your success at Seattle Central College. This course also provides information on other tools you might use in your class. We expect this course to take between 1-2 hours to fully complete. We recommend that you use the most up-to-date version of the Chrome, Firefox, or Safari web browsers, and that you complete this course from a desktop or laptop computer--much of the content will not work properly on phones or tablets, and students regularly experience problems with Internet Explorer or Edge. Students using a screenreader should use Mozilla Firefox and either JAWS or NVDA if PC, or VoiceOver and Safari for Mac users.

You can self-enroll by visiting the Introduction to Canvas for Students course and logging in using your Seattle Central Canvas login.

Operating Systems

  • Windows 7 and newer
  • Mac OSX 10.10 and newer
  • Linux – Chrome OS
  • Mobile devices not recommended for all student functions

Computer speed & processor

  • Use a computer 5 years old or newer
  • 1GB of RAM
  • 2GHz processor

Internet speed

  • Along with compatibility and Web standards, Canvas has been carefully crafted to accommodate low bandwidth environments.
  • Minimum of 512kbps

Screen Readers

  • Macintosh: VoiceOver
  • PC: JAWS in FireFox
  • PC: NVDA in Firefox
  • Note: there is no screen reader support for Canvas in Chrome

Browsers

  • Latest version of Chrome
  • Latest version of Firefox

Other Equipment

  • Speakers & microphone or headset with microphone
  • Webcam

Online students must be self-disciplined and be able to effectively balance work, school, family, and other obligations. Successful online students have found the following strategies to be helpful:

  • Login as soon as possible - if you can login before the quarter begins, do it.

  • Set an initial schedule for studying. 

  • Find a private, distraction-free space. Create a sign to put on your door or the back of your desk chair that indicates you are studying and unavailable.

  • Read and print (if desired) important documents such as the syllabus, instructor contact information, and calendar.

  • Login 3-5 times per week (daily if possible).

  • Read all assignment instructions very carefully - multiple times if needed.

  • Communicate: 

    • Use the Netiquette standards (See Next Section) to actively participate and interact with your instructor. 

    • Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you are struggling, contact your instructor or peers for help. The sooner the better.

    • Notify your instructor of any scheduling conflicts, etc. and ask if work can be completed - don't assume the instructor will allow this or accept late assignments.

    • Plan to be available for the entire class. For example, don't plan your vacation during the course unless you will have Internet access and able to keep up on all coursework.

Tips for Successful Online Learning

Here's a video that provides a few tips for online learners.

"Tips and strategies to becoming a successful online learner." Facultatem Centrum: YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQy40B4y-AE)

Netiquette

In any social interaction, certain rules of etiquette are expected and contribute to more enjoyable and productive communication. The following tips for interacting online in email and/or Discussion Board messages are adapted from guidelines originally compiled by Chuq Von Rospach and Gene Spafford.

  • Remember that the person receiving your message is someone like you, someone who deserves and appreciates courtesy and respect.

  • Be brief; succinct, thoughtful messages have the greatest impact.

  • Your messages reflect on YOU; take time to make sure that you are proud of their form and content.

  • Use descriptive subject headings in e-mail messages.

  • Think about your audience and the relevance of your messages.

  • Be careful with humor and sarcasm; without the voice inflections and body language of face-to-face communication, Internet messages can be easily misinterpreted.

  • When making follow-up comments, summarize the parts of the message to which you are responding.

  • Avoid repeating what has already been said; needless repetition is ineffective communication.

  • Cite appropriate references whenever using someone else’s ideas, thoughts, or words.

Office365

Every student at Seattle Central has a free Microsoft Office 365 account that comes with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) for personal devices. The details of how to access this account are on our website.

Google Apps Account

Every student at Seattle Central has a free Google Apps account. The details of how to access this account are on our website.

Zoom

Many instructors will be using Zoom for live web conferencing. Zoom is a synchronous tool that allows instructors to upload slide content and interact with students in real time. Zoom can be used directly from your browser, but we recommend downloading the Zoom Client for Meetings on your computer or the Zoom App on your phone.

Get to know Zoom

Both the Seattle Central and Seattle Public Library offer digital resources to students and residents. 

Seattle Central Library

Seattle Public Library