FAQs for Students

Frequently Asked Questions for Students

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If you are an online student, please click the button below for FAQ - Online. 

 For Online Students 

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Find answers to frequently asked questions about:

• Testing
• Note taking
• Tutoring

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Testing

• Do I still get accommodations for quizzes and exams since everything is online?

  Yes, once you have met with your DSS counselor or LD Specialist and accommodations have been approved, your instructor will be notified by email. Please also follow up with your instructors to discuss time adjustments shortly after meeting with your DSS counselor/ LD Specialist.

• My teacher has not changed my time online, what should I do?

  If you have already meet with your DSS Counselor/ LD Specialist and been approved for accommodations, attempt to reach out to your instructor to request the time adjustment. If there are any concerns after reaching out to your instructor, email dsstestproctor@fhda.edu with information pertaining to your class and will work to resolve the issue.

• I use a screen Reader, will taking classes through Canvas work for me?

  Yes, please review the supported Screen Readers and Browsers below and email us if you have any questions dsstestproctor@fhda.edu. Canvas officially supports the following screen reader and browser combinations:

  • Macintosh: VoiceOver(latest version for Safari)
  • PC:JAWS(latest version for Firefox)
  • PC:NVDA (latest version for Firefox)
  • There is no screen reader support for Canvas in Chrome

  *Download Jaws, ZoomText and Fusion Free until June 30th, 2020: https://portal.freedomscientific.com/SponsoredSoftware

• Am I still allowed breaks while testing online?

  "Breaks” is an accommodation that may have online, timed implications. If you have breaks during exams, and the exam cannot be paused, your instructor will add in your total break time to the exam. 

• How do I reduce distractions while testing at home?

  The following are suggestions to help reduce distractions, students should prepare their space before starting an exam online. 

  • Set up your space before taking your exam to minimize distractions. Make the environment feel like a testing environment (for example, don't   have your television on in the background). 
  • It may help to turn off phones. If you have a landline, set the ringer to silent or low. 
  • Place a “do not disturb” or “testing in progress” sign on your door. 
  • Inform family members (who might also be home) that you will be taking an exam for a specific span of time to minimize interruptions. 
  • You might want to use a lock down browser if you're prone to surfing the internet. 
  • Have all allowed materials available and organized before starting the exam. 
  • At least 15 minutes before the exam, set up your environment to make sure you do not have any computer or internet access issues. 
  • If fidgets or music/sound help you, make sure you have these items available. 

• After I am approved for accommodations, what should I do before my first test?

  In General, know the rules and expectations of taking the exam online 

  • Is it open book/ notes? Are you being proctored remotely by your professor or a computer program? 
  • Can you start the exam at any time or is the exam only available during a certain time frame? 
  • If your accommodations allow for breaks during exam, is there a way to pause the exam or has the time been added in? 
  • Before starting the exam, make sure you know how much time you have so you can plan accordingly. Since we won’t be there to give a warning, you might want to set a timer to go off 10 minutes before your time is up.
  • Have a clock or timer nearby so you can track how much time you have if it is not given. 
  • Questions may be presented one at a time and it may be more difficult to navigate an exam and go back to review questions. Jot down question numbers and note any questions you may have. 
  • If you have clarification questions for your professor, will you be able to reach the professor? How will you do this? 
  • Find out before you take your exam
  • You may have finally gotten used to the format of your teacher’s in-class exams and suddenly that format might be different as it shifts to an online platform. 
  • Reach out to your teachers and ask if the exams will be different. The more prepared you are with what to expect, the better
  • If you are suddenly allowed to use notes or access your books during an exam, be careful not to use up all of your time and rely too heavily on these materials. It is better to put an answer down that you think is correct and then return to that question later if you have time at the end to double check than to spend time searching for each of the answers if the test is timed.

• What Accommodations are available?

  Although test accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis, frequently used accommodations include:

  • Extended time - Time and a half or double the in-class duration

  • Reduced distraction environments

  • Testing in alternative media

  • Access to assistive technology

  • Breaks

  • Math Accommodations - Calculators, Formulas, Multiplication Tables

  • Notes *Notes must be approved by instrutor prior to your testing appointment.

  • Scantron Scribe Services

• Do I need to set up my Testing Accommodations every Quarter?  

   Yes, you must meet with your DSS Counselor or LD Specialist every quarter to discuss course specific accommodations.

• How are my accommodations determined?

   Accommodations are authorized based on the student's disability-related educational limitation(s) and the evaluative activities in the course. For this reason, students should always bring the course syllabus or outline whenever they meet with their DSS Counselor or LD Specialist

•   I was approved for Accommodations in High School, are they the same at De Anza?

  Not necessarily, please make an appointment with our DSS counselors for further clarification. See also question 7.

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Note Taking

A quick note about Note Taking-for most teaching styles-PowerPoint, Word docs, Canvas discussion boards, those with a written record—note taking might not be necessary.  For those courses that simulate a classroom, such as videos or zoom meetings, a transcript or recording will be necessary.  Instructors may also post their own lecture notes, if they prefer.  If you are not sure what would be best for you please reach out to your DSS Counselor or LD specialist, so you can have a further discussion about this and develop something that would work best for you depending on your needs.

• Will I still be able to get Note Taking Services if my classes are online?

  Yes, if you still find that a peer note taker will be best, please make this request with your DSS counselor or LD specialist. They will go over this with you and if it is deemed appropriate, a request for note taking will be made and services will be initiated. You can also check in with your instructor as well, they may already be providing you with all the necessary information and note taking services might not be needed. 

• How will I receive notes if I am approved for note taking services?

  If you  are approved for note taking services, we will work with your instructor to locate a peer note taker for your class.   You will be receiving notes within 24-36 hours after a lecture has been made available online.   Please make sure you provide DSS Instructional Associate staff with the most up to date email you wish to use to receive notes.   

• What do I do if I am not getting my notes or if they are not satisfactory?

  If you are note receiving your notes or you are finding that your  notes are not satisfactory, please send us an email immediately to dssstestproctor@fhda.edu, so that we can follow up and resolve this promptly.

• Who do I contact to receive note taking services?

  If you are interested in receiving note taking services, you must be an enrolled De Anza student and be registered with our DSS program.  If you are registered with DSS, please contact your DSS counselor or LD specialist to initiate services.   

• What alternatives are there to note taking services?

  Other alternatives to note taking are: 

  • Recording lectures (Please request this from your counselor, you will need to sign an agreement)
  • Assistive Technology like:
    • Sonocent Audio Notetaker:Capture, annotate, and review customize able note-taking options
    • Livescribe Smartpens: Capture and replay searchable notes, pair with android or iOS app
    • Notability:Combine handwriting, photos and typing in a single note. Use a wide range of note-taking and sketching tools to capture every detail. Add and annotate PDFs in Notability.
    • OneNote:Type, write or draw with the free form feel of pen to paper. Search and clip from the web to picture ideas. Access your notes anywhere, on any device or platform.

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Tutoring

• How can I receive tutoring as an accommodation if I am a student with a disability?

  If you are interested in receiving tutoring as an accommodation, you must be enrolled as a De Anza student and register with our Disability Support Service (DSS) program. If you are registered with DSS, please contact your DSS counselor or LD specialist to initiate tutoring services as an accommodation.

• Can I get tutoring if I am a De Anza student with a disability but not registered with Disability Support Services (DSS)?

  No, however general tutoring services are available to all students through the Student Success Center.

  The Disabled Support Program & Services (DSPS) provides support services and instructional programs for students with disabilities who are attending De Anza College and registered with DSS. Along with tutoring, a variety of services are available including academic and vocational counseling, interpreting or captioning services (for students with hearing impairments), mobility assistance, provision of print materials in alternate formats (for students with visual impairments or learning disabilities), testing assistance, and individual adaptive physical education assistance.

• After I meet with my DSS Counselor or LD Specialist, how do I get tutoring services?

  After you have met with your DSS counselor or LD specialist for the current quarter, you may email the tutoring center and request tutoring at dsstutoring@fhda.edu. Please include your CWID# and what subject you would like tutoring. Tracy will verify your eligibility and return your reply with the information you need to receive tutoring services.

• How does it work if I’m hearing impaired and need an interpreter for my tutoring session?

  If you are receiving services from DHHS and need tutoring assistance, please email Stacy Chapman, DHHS Supervisor at chapmanstacy@deanza.edu and she will let you know when there are interpreters available. Stacy will work with tutoring services to set up appointments accordingly.

• How will I get tutoring services if there is no face to face tutoring?

  DSPS is here to help you get tutoring services by offering online Zoom and other possible remote ways to help. Email the tutoring center and include your CWID# with your inquiries at dsstutoring@fhda.edu.

• What days and hours is the DSPS open for tutoring?

  The tutoring center is open Monday through Friday. Tutoring hours can be found above.

• What subjects do you offer tutoring in?

  We offer tutoring in many subject areas as well as helping students with learning and problem-solving strategies, study and reading skills, and learning concepts and comprehension. Please inquire with Tracy at dsstutoring@fhda.edu to see if we can help you in your subject area.

• What is the difference from DSPS tutoring services versus other tutoring services provided on campus?

  The Disabled Support Program & Services (DSPS) promotes understanding and acceptance of individuals with disabilities. We are committed to excellence and accessibility for all DSS students by providing an even learning platform for students with disabilities including, but not limited to, speech/language and hearing impairments; visual and mobility limitations; mental or physical health issues; and cognitive disabilities including students with brain injuries.

• Am I limited to only DSPS tutoring?

  If you are currently enrolled in as a De Anza student, you may explore all tutoring options available to you by going onto the De Anza website and searching for the various tutoring centers offered to all De Anza students. In the search locator, type in the word “tutoring” and it will pull up the tutoring centers being offered such as the MPS tutoring program, Student Success Center, Math, Science & Technology Resource Center (MSTRC), Online Tutoring with Smarthinking and Mobil Tutoring in the Library.