Technology is a central aspect of student life, from social media to online courses, to research and essay writing. Chances are you are already familiar with some of the programs listed below, but if not, we've provided some tips and links to help you succeed.
Set up notifications for your email and MyClass to stay up to date on course info. You can connect your school email to all your devices and turn on alerts. Download the MyClass App to receive notifications on your phone. Email and MyClass are primary modes of communication between instructors and students (and you never know, you might get a notification that there's no class that day).
Adding due dates to your phone's calendar is highly recommended so that you aren't surprised when due dates roll up. Forgetting a due date or not knowing a due date (because you didn't read the syllabus or pay attention to MyClass) will not excuse a late assignment.
Some other useful NWP apps are the Northwestern Polytechnic app, the NWP Safety app, and Honk Mobile app (for parking). These are available to download for all personal devices.
Did you know that as an NWP student, you have FREE access to Office 365? For download instructions, you can go to Tech Support on the NWP website, then go to Software Access and Install Office 365. If you are brand new to the Microsoft Office suite and want some pointers for using Word, PowerPoint, or Excel, explore our Navigating Technology guide for videos to guide you through the basics.
At some point in your academic journey, you will be required to write essays. Microsoft Word and Google Docs are common word processing tools students that use to write papers. For tips on setting up papers, such as inserting page numbers or checking the margins, watch our videos on formatting essays in Word or Google Docs (time stamps are available in the descriptions).
When communicating with your instructors via email it is important to be professional, which includes:
It is also a good idea to read the syllabus BEFORE ASKING a question. It reflects poorly on you when you ask a question that can easily be found in the course syllabus.
Watch the video below (Durham College, 2019) for a fun overview of best practices when emailing instructors.
You can also use the template below as a starting point for an email. Make sure you adapt it to suit your needs!
From: StudentEmail@NWPolytech.ca
Subject: PH 1000: Question about Ethics vs. Morals
Hi Ms. AllKnowing,
In Tuesday's we discussed the difference between ethics and morals, and I am having a hard time understanding the difference between the two. I am unable to make it to your office hours as mentioned in the syllabus as I have a class at that time, and I am wondering if there is another time that we could meet to go over these concepts in more detail?
Thank you,
Struggling Student
In our increasingly digitized world, technical skills and digital citizenship are crucial components of everyday life. Explore our Digital Skills and Digital Citizenship guides for tips on everything tech-related from fake news to online security to navigating technology and creating videos.
Technology is great, but it doesn't always cooperate with us. If you have questions or if issues arise (e.g., you forgot your login or are unable to login), explore TECH SUPPORT for potential solutions.
NWP Learning Commons
