Students will require the following technology:

• Reliable, ideally high speed, internet
• Computer with Windows 10 (unless otherwise indicated by your program)
• Ear buds / headset

If you are in an area that does not have wired internet access or does not allow for reliable internet, there are a few other options.

1. Turbo Stick: If you have good cell phone reception this is a good option. The turbo stick acts like a phone’s WiFi hotspot and provides a stable, but slow connection for any device it is plugged into. They require a dedicated data plan similar to a cell phone and require an ongoing monthly cost after the initial purchase cost.
2. Turbo or Rocket Hub: Up to 15 users can connect to the Hub via Ethernet ports or WiFi, to access the Internet at fairly fast speeds. These devices require an ongoing monthly cost after the initial purchase cost.

Think about where you will do most of your course work. Will you be in a public space or a private space, on campus or off? Will you move often or will you have a dedicated desk? These suggestions are ordered in most important regardless of your space to nice-to-haves if you have a dedicated space.

• Mouse (Wired/wireless)
• Keyboard (Wired/wireless)
• USB Hub Port: If you require more ports than the available ones in your laptop/computer, then a USB Hub Port can useful.
• Ethernet cable: It is more secure, stable, and faster than WiFi.
• Ergonomic setup: If you are on the computer for extended period of time, an ergonomic setup can help prevent from back pain, neck pain, headaches, and common computer-related physical injuries.
• Second monitor/screen

This section will help you determine which computer you need to complete your studies.

Windows

Mohawk College has partnered up with Dell to provide students with good, better, best and premium laptops with premier discount. Please go to the link below to have a look at the list of available pre-configured laptops.

Mohawk College Purchase Program

Mac

If there are no specific requirements listed for a program and you have reached out to your program area, purchasing a Mac may be an option for you. Please note that Apple provides an educational price to students.

Some programs have specific or additional technology requirements such as an iPad, or additional software or hardware. Please go to the program webpage to search for your program, and you can find the requirements under Additional Information section from the navigation pane on the left side.

MohawkAPPS is an easy to use web-based tool which provides access to many of the software applications you need in college without the need to download them. MohawkAPPS with the help of Cloudpaging lets users access the service from their own computers or from campus computers.

Learn more about MohawkAPPS

OneDrive is Microsoft's storage service for hosting files in the "cloud." It is available for free to all Mohawk College students and provides 1TB of storage space. OneDrive offers students a simple way to store, sync and share various types of files, with other people and devices on the internet.

Learn more about OneDrive on Digital Skills Toolkit

Understanding how to work with files and folders is an important part of using your computer and keeping your schoolwork organized. Learn more about the basics of working with files, including how to open files, move your files into folders, and delete files.

• Learn essential information to help you master using the internet, including selecting and using web browsers.
• Learn some of the best strategies for searching the web, including powerful Google tips and tricks, and using Google Scholar for locating scholarly journal articles on the web, and in your library's databases.

Text-to-Speech are programs that read digital text out loud. It can be helpful for someone who struggles with reading, finds it challenging to focus or concentrate, or is learning English.

Some examples: Microsoft Immersive Reader in MyCanvas or in Office 365 Word and OneNote, Speak Screen/Speak Selection in iPad, Speechify (an app)

Word Prediction is when the computer offers a list of suggestions for the word a person is trying to spell.

Some examples: WordQ*, built-in to cell phones and iPad, alternate keyboard options, Word Completion (in Mac computers (F5))

*available in MohawkApps

Voice Recognition is a software that converts someone’s spoken words into text on the screen. This program is helpful for someone who has challenges with spelling, written expression, or has difficulty typing.

Some examples: Google Voice Typing, Dictation for Mac users, Dictate in Office 365, Dictation in iPads

Screen Readers are programs that allow individuals who are blind or with low vision to read text on a computer screen out loud or with a braille display. Learn more at the AFB: American Foundation for the Blind.

Some examples: Jaws*, ZoomText*, VoiceOver (for Mac users)

*available in MohawkApps

Our days are busy with school, work, family, exercise, and other activities. Some days we may wonder how we will do everything! There are many different apps and programs available for organization, time management, or creating lists for the day/week. Some programs include reminders, notifications, and colour coding.

Some examples: an agenda or whiteboard calendar, Google Calendar, Google Keep, Outlook Calendar, Calendar in MyCanvas, ToDoist, OneNote, Evernote, Remember the Milk

Note-taking involves listening, summarizing, and organization. Some note-taking programs allow an individual to write notes and audio record at the same time. Some are digital notebooks where a person can write and store their notes and other information in one place, while others offer annotation features.

Some examples: LiveScribe Pen, OneNote, Notability (an app), AudioNotes (an app), Evernote, Remarkable

** Rocketbook is a notebook made with reusable paper. After writing notes, use their app to take a picture, and send the notes to a virtual drive, minimizing the use of paper.

iPads offer a number of accessibility features, such as dictation, text-to-speech, screen reader, among others. These are some features a person can access on their iPad:

Word Prediction and Dictation: Settings --> General --> Keyboard --> Predictive (for Word Prediction) or Enable Dictation (voice recognition)

Text-to-Speech: Settings --> Accessibility --> Spoken Content --> Speak Selection or Speak Screen

• If you want the words highlighted as you read, turn on Highlight Content
• In Speaking Rate, move the circle between the turtle and rabbit icons to change the speech rate

Vision: Settings --> Accessibility --> Vision section: VoiceOver, Zoom, Magnifier, Display & Text Size (Bold Text and Larger Text)

Hearing: Settings --> Accessibility --> Hearing section: Hearing Devices, Audio & Visual, Subtitles & Captioning Physical or Motor: Settings --> Accessibility --> Physical and Motor section: Assistive Touch, Home button, external keyboards

Safari: Reader View – removes clutter from webpages

For more information on accessibility features in iPads, please visit: Apple Accessibility support

Mac Accessibility Features

OCR is a technology that allows a person to convert scanned documents or images with text into readable text.

Some examples: Microsoft Lens (an app), Adobe Scan (an app), Speechify (an app), VoiceDream Scanner (an app)