Online Classes & Technology Assistance

North Seattle College winter quarter classes begin on Monday, January 4.  North Seattle College will continue to offer most classes online, including labs, most studio art classes, and physical education classes. A limited number of programs may have courses that meet in person, including Pharmacy Technician, Watch Technology, Emergency Medical Technician, Medical Assisting, Art (Ceramic & Jewelry), Electronics/Mechatronics, Ironworkers Apprenticeship, Parent Education, and Nursing. Students should check the course schedule to find out if their course is meeting on campus and contact the instructor if they have questions.
In order to be successful in taking classes, you will need: 

  • A computer, tablet, or mobile device with speakers and a microphone or a headset 
  • A built-in camera or camera that can be attached  
  • Internet access (Comcast is providing free internet access for 60 days to new Internet Essentials customers. Xfinity is offering free internet at hotspots). Additional hotspots can be found using the Washington State Drive-In WiFi Hotspots Location Finder

It's preferable, and in some cases necessary, to work on a desktop or laptop computer to complete some assignments and quizzes.  For example, it is recommended to use a desktop or laptop computer for: 

  • Graded discussion posts 
  • Graded writing assignments  
  • Graded quizzes
  • Specific course-related software, such as those used for virtual labs or other course materials (i.e. publisher-based online homework and activities)
  • Viewing PDFs and PPT slides in Canvas on some platforms. 

Interconnection, a local nonprofit, offers low-priced refurbished computers and low-cost internet.

It's possible to access Canvas from any browser on your Android/iOS device or use the Canvas App. However, mobile browsers are not always supported, and features may not function as expected compared to viewing Canvas in a fully supported desktop/laptop browser. In the Canvas Student App you can: 

  • View courses and grades 
  • Post messages to ungraded course discussions 
  • Take short ungraded quizzes 
  • Send and receive messages 
  • Watch videos and other content 
  • Communicate with your Instructors, and peers 
  • Review and update your course and personal calendars 

For more information about using your phone computer visit Student Guides for Mobile Devices 

Canvas guidelines: 

Resources: