The return to schools forces to renew notebooks, pencils and bevels, but not exclusively. And it is that technology has become another essential part of school life, both inside and outside the classroom. These are some of the essential gadgets for every self-respecting student.
Computer or tablet?
The jewel in our children’s crown is the computer, essential for documenting, writing projects or working remotely with their classmates. However, many parents wonder about the best option between a classic desktop computer, a laptop or versatile electronic tablets.
Laptops seem ideal for those who don’t have much space at home and need more power than most tablets can offer. They have a keyboard, trackpad and built-in webcam, as well as numerous ports to connect USB flash drives and external displays among other devices.
If the child is going to limit himself to browsing the Internet and writing texts, it is best to get a mid-range tablet. Many are compatible with external keyboards and mice, which can be put in the backpack (or not) as appropriate.
The third possibility is to acquire a desktop computer as such, where we find the traditional monitor and tower; the nicknamed ‘all in one’ and the compact type. The latter lack a screen, being able to connect to any monitor or television that we have at home (which represents an interesting saving). For their part, the ‘all-in-one’ integrate monitor and processor under the same casing, often including a handle to move them from room to room comfortably.
The best dedicated devices
The weight of the backpacks, full of books, worries more than one parent as September arrives. One way to lighten them is to opt for an electronic book reader or ‘eReader’: they allow you to download thousands of digital books in the space occupied by a compact notebook, so they are ideal for consulting all the readings recommended by teachers. Some centers are also using them as an alternative to traditional textbooks. To do this, it is better to opt for a model with a backlit screen, which can be used even in low light conditions.
Art students will find another indispensable companion in graphic tablets equipped with a stylus. Digital drawing experts recommend that they offer a large work area, customizable buttons, and the ability to connect to the computer via WiFi.
It is also not a bad idea to give our children a monitoring bracelet or a smart watch. This way we can make sure that the child does not leave class after hours (using geolocation) or help him combat a sedentary lifestyle. And it is that for many students it is common to spend hours sitting down, either in class, or on the sofa once they get home. These smartwatches pose challenges of movement and physical improvement; they warn of heart problems and even measure the quality of sleep time for better school performance.
Allies in study time
The time to ‘dig in’ can be made much more bearable thanks to technology. Starting with noise-canceling headphones, so fashionable for some time now. In principle they are designed to listen to music isolating ourselves from the ambient sound (for which they neutralize the waves captured by the integrated microphones), but they can also be used without melodies involved. Just put them on and activate the active noise cancellation mode to study in complete silence, almost as if we were in a library and regardless of whether the little ones at home have the TV on or someone is vacuuming.
Smart speakers are also useful while doing homework. Who has not had to surf the Internet for more minutes than necessary to solve a last-minute question? Alexa, Siri and company simplify the process by providing an answer in a few seconds: from the result of a mathematical operation to the date of an important discovery. Likewise, these speakers can help with reminders for students to take a break every few hours or about the due date that they must turn in an assignment.
Lastly, although most files are already stored in the ‘cloud’, it never hurts to get a portable hard drive to back up all your data. Especially when the teenager goes to a classmate’s house to share notes. Currently solid state drives or ‘SSD’ are recommended, much more resistant and faster.
Other essential accessories
We close our list of recommendations with three basic ones: an external webcam, a portable battery, and a geolocation keychain. The first is useful when the integrated of our computer does not reach the necessary quality; In this case, we must opt for a model that has a minimum resolution of 1080p (‘Full HD’) and has a microphone.
The external batteries guarantee the autonomy of most of the devices described throughout the day and the key rings (such as Apple’s ‘Airtags’) prevent the child from losing his backpack on the bus back home: the beacon is stored in a pocket interior, so that we can check where it is at all times (on a map, through the corresponding app).
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