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Nursing Student Technology Recommendations

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The Linfield School of Nursing (SON) relies on the use of computer technologies for student learning and testing. Students who do not have adequate technology resources may not be able to complete course expectations. Therefore, all students, in either face-to-face or online courses, are recommended to have or purchase a Mac or PC Laptop that meets the minimum specifications outlined below. For students enrolled in fully online courses (RN to BSN and MSN programs) a desktop computer with similar minimum specifications will meet the recommendation.

Hardware

It is recommended that students have a Mac or PC laptop as they start the program. This should be their primary device for online and in-person courses. If a student has general questions about the recommendation, please contact the School of Nursing at son@linfield.edu. If the student has specific questions about technology, please contact Information Technology Services (ITS) at pdxsupport@linfield.edu.

Note: Chromebooks, Kindles, Smartphones (e.g., iPhone), iPads (and other iOS Devices), Android tablets and eReaders do NOT meet the minimum recommendations for the programs. While these devices may provide adequate functionality for many course-related activities, they are not an acceptable alternative to the requisite computer.

Laptop recommendations

It is recommended that the laptop has the following minimum specifications:

  • Intel i5 processor
  • 8GB Memory
  • 802.11AC 5GHz wireless network card
  • 250GB SSD
  • Operating systems:
    • Windows 10
    • Mac OS Catalina (10.15)

Recommended accessories

  • Headset/headphones with microphone: Internal and external microphones will work for most video or audio conferencing. USB or Bluetooth headsets offer a better experience and help to reduce background noise.
  • Webcam: Students will need access to an internal or external webcam that is 720p or greater.

Internet service recommendation

Access to high-speed internet is recommended for a successful computing experience. You will always have access to high-speed internet via Wi-Fi anywhere on the Linfield campus. Dial-up and Mobile hot-spots provided by cellular providers are not recommended. For more information, see the FCC Household Broadband Guide.

Additional software

  • Microsoft Office: Many courses will require documents to be submitted using Microsoft Office file formats (docx, xlsx, pptx, pdf). Linfield provides students with access to Microsoft Office software including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, OneNote and Teams. Students can access the web versions of these tools, along with Blackboard, by visiting the My Apps Single Sign-On Portal. Students may install Microsoft Office products on up to five devices by visiting office.com and clicking on the Install Office link.
  • Internet security and antivirus software: With all the internet threats to personal computers, virus protection is a must. To protect your computer and academic work, it is critical for each student to have adequate security for their computer resources.
  • Web browser: Students should have the Google Chrome Browser installed on their device. Additionally, students could have additional browsers such as Edge or Firefox. Internet Explorer is no longer supported.

Email

Linfield University provides students with an institutional email account. This is the student’s official email address. All course work and communication must be through this account. Due to security and privacy concerns, Linfield recommends that students do not forward their Linfield emails to another email account.

Cloud storage

Students are strongly encouraged to use the Linfield-provided OneDrive cloud storage for course work and collaboration.

Testing software

The required laptop will be used for both proctored and unprotected tests. Students will be required to install and use approved third-party plugins and software per the test requirements.

Multifactor authentication

Linfield University continues to roll out multi-factor authentication. Students may be required to verify their identity using a dual authentication on a mobile device.