DSPS High Tech Center (HTC)

The DSPS High Tech Center (also known as the HTC) provides students with technology support, training, assistive technology workshops and registration assistance. Please see below for a list of the assistive technology training provided. Students do not need to register in DSPS-304 to use the High Tech Center services.

Contact Information

• Email: DSPS High Tech Center (dspshtc@collegeofthedesert.edu), Bonnie Russell, Serah Tucker

• Phone: 760-776-7397

• Location: Cravens Student Services Center (CSSC), Room 118

• Online: High Tech Center Online Lab, DSPS Instagram

High Tech Center Hours

The DSPS High Tech Center offers in-person and live, virtual assistance Monday through Thursday (please check the open lab hours below).

The lab is available for DSPS students to use during open lab hours with or without assistance.

Fall 2023 Hours (effective through December 15, 2023)

• Monday through Thursday - 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

• Friday - Closed

Notice of Closures (subject to change)

• The High Tech Center and Online Lab will be closed on the following dates:

  • Closing early on December 6, 2023 at 3:30 pm

  • Closing early on December 14, 2023 at 3:00 pm

  • Closed December 18, 2023 - January 2, 2024 for Winter Break

Live Online Lab Hours

Need Help? You can now receive live, virtual assistance in the High Tech Center Online Lab through Canvas!

• No appointment is needed - just drop-in during the High Tech Center open lab hours.

• Online lab is open Monday through Thursday, and closed on Fridays.

View a video on how to access the High Tech Center online lab (also available in Spanish and American Sign Language)

Visit the High Tech Center Online Lab

Student Training and Resources

• Learn about Kurzweil 3000; or Login to Kurzweil 3000. Note that all COD students have free access by signing in with their COD Microsoft account email.

• Tutoring and Academic Skills Center (TASC)

• Virtual Library and Student Resource Guide

• Free and Low Cost Internet and WiFi (click on Connectivity Resources)

• College of the Desert Community Resources

Free Microsoft Office 365 Software

Free software is available for all current and new COD students from our partnership with Microsoft to support your success.

You are now eligible to install Microsoft’s Office 365 on up to 5 devices, including PCs, Macs, smartphones and tablets (Surface and iPad) free of charge. Using the 1 TB of storage space in OneDrive and the dynamic note-taking software OneNote you will be able to collaborate with ease with your peers. In addition, by installing Microsoft Office 365 you will have access to Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint. All students will have access once they log into their mycod.us email account.

Watch this video for instructions on How to Install Office Apps from Office 365 for Students

High Tech Center Support and Training

The High Tech Center provides technology support, training and workshops for certain assistive technology. Training and workshops are by appointment. Technology support is available during open lab hours either in-person or via zoom accessed through your Canvas page. Please inquire with the HTC for details.

Training: If you need training on Kurzweil or Otter.ai, please schedule your appointment by calling Bonnie or Serah at 760-776-7397 or emailing Bonnie Russell.

Assistive Technology Training

Training is provided for the following assistive technology. Certain assistive technology requires counselor approval as an accommodation.

• JAWS - Computer screen reader software for the blind

• Kurzweil 3000 - Text-to-speech software which allows textbook scanning and reading, as well as other features

• Recording Apps - Applications which provide audio recording and notetaking assistance

• ZoomText Fusion - Magnification and screen reading software for the visually impaired