Understanding Facebook: Uncovering Its Beginnings, Popularity Reasons, and Main Attributes
Top Trending Devices & Reading Materials: Laptops, Phones, & Literary Treasures
In This Article
- Must-Haves: Computers and Laptops
- Connections: Phones and Smartwatches
- Apps to Support Studying
- Frequently Asked Questions
Heading back to school each year involves more than grabbing a backpack and pencils, whether you’re studying online, in a building, or via homeschooling. My kids are in middle and high school, with a college student in the mix as well. Our family has found different tech tools helpful at various points in their educational journeys.
Must-Haves: Computers, Laptops and Peripherals
Does your child need a laptop or a desktop computer? It could be that they need both, plus accessories (known as peripherals) like mice, webcams, and headphones.
Laptops are great for letting kids work when they’re on a school bus, waiting for a ride, or hanging out anywhere there is a Wi-Fi connection. They don’t always have the same power and capabilities, however, that a desktop PC might. But for completing most middle- and high-school assignments, they should work just fine.
Some schools or districts provide students with Chromebooks free of charge; others don’t. On the other hand, college students are almost always expected to provide their own devices (like laptops or computers).
Depending on your child’s situation, you might need to budget this year for a new laptop or desktop computer, or you might be able to get away with adding just a few peripherals like a new mouse, webcam, or speakers.
Beware of school policies around Chromebook lending. In most cases, parents must sign releases indicating they will be responsible for anything that might happen to the device. That can put you on the hook for a spendy replacement or repair you might not be ready for. Schools do have other options they can give you, including requiring the student to keep the Chromebook at school or providing them with paper assignments instead.
The real trick is deciding what you need to buy. While it’s tempting to purchase the cheapest items, that can backfire because “inexpensive” sometimes translates into cheap materials that can’t withstand your child’s activities or the occasional tossed backpack. Less expensive devices may also lack the speed or power to do everything your student needs them to.
Editor’s Choice: The Best Tech Gifts for Back To School
Skynesher/Getty
For example, if your child is a STEM kid or a graphic artist, more power and storage are necessary overall. On the other hand, kids who just need to manage basic projects and complete homework on time will probably do fine with a standard Chromebook.
As you make your purchases, consider how long the item will last with your child. Some kids are rough on technology, while others are more thoughtful and responsible; age often dictates how nice I’m willing to purchase for a specific child.
Look for Student Discounts
Check for discounts before you buy! Several major tech manufacturers offer student discounts, including HP andDell . Some retailers, likeBest Buy , offer back-to-school deals as well.
College students typically require more rigorous systems that offer increased power and storage capacity to manage their projects and needs; middle and high schoolers can often get by with less robust systems.
Here’s a list of themust-have tech items every student needs ; your specific situation could also mean you need something extra.
The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Computer for School
8 Things to Consider Before Buying a Desktop PC
Computer & Laptop Reviews & Top Picks
![](https://www.lifewire.com/data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg width=%275751%27 height=%272313%27 xmlns=%27http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%27%3E%3Cg%3E%3C/g%3E%3C/svg%3E )
Connections: The Power of Phones and Smartwatches
Phones can be a bone of contention for parents and kids everywhere, but the simple fact of the matter is they are fast becoming a staple for students from middle school and up.
They can use the built-in calculator, access school assignments, connect with teachers, and do even more from a phone these days. They can also set appointments and reminders, for example, and create to-do lists to help them stay organized.
While parental controls and rules should always apply, I’ve found there are a variety of mobile apps that have been useful for helping my kids get and stay organized. These apps are frequently available for both phones and smartwatches; we’ve got a listthat are also completely free to download and use .
Beyond the organization perks, phones are, in many ways, lifelines to peers. While that can be a bit tough for parents to manage, it is an important aspect of teenage life these days.
How to Set up an iPhone or iPod Touch for Kids
One of my teenagers also uses a smartwatch; these can be a great, portable way to help a busy child stay in touch and keep track of appointments while limiting their need to stare at a screen.
What’s been extremely useful in our household is that a smartwatch can also take and make phone calls or text messages (additional carrier fees likely apply); when a phone is in a backpack (or lost), I can still reach my child, and they can reach me.
Childproof Your Android: How to Make It Kid-Friendly But Safe
Our 8 Favorite Parental Control Apps and Services of 2024
How to Check Screen Time on Android
![](https://www.lifewire.com/data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg width=%275483%27 height=%272329%27 xmlns=%27http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%27%3E%3Cg%3E%3C/g%3E%3C/svg%3E )
Using Apps and Sites Can Support Good Study Habits
Be careful and thoughtful if you’re considering using ChatGPT for your child. It can certainly be helpful in some ways (think: helping to spark ideas for a snappy essay title), but AI tools like this essentially scrub the internet for information, which isn’t always accurate and can frequently be considered plagiarism if used verbatim. Encourage your child to do their internet research instead.
Back to school means more than finding the right books this year. While those are crucial (and often spendy), a frequently overlooked aspect of getting back into the school groove involves finding and using the right apps to support learning, enhance productivity, and improve organization tactics.
If your child loves using their smartphone, give them something parent-approved to use!
Photomath, Yousician, and similar types of apps are fun for kids of all ages, and they might not even realize they are learning while using them.
You don’t need to always download an app, by the way.
Many websites offer all kinds of study support: Kidztype.com , for instance, can help teens ditch the thumb-typing approach and learn how to type quickly and consistently on a keyboard.
Apps and sites can provide fun ways to teach kids what they need to know.
College kids might not appreciate games, but they certainly won’t mind the help that different sites and apps can provide, especially when it’s crunch time during mid-terms and finals.
Time-management apps, for instance, can help them organize and prioritize assignments so nothing gets missed at the last minute.
When selecting appropriate apps for your kids, consider the following:
- Reviews from other users, particularly about ease of use, pop-up ads, and costs
- Only use download sites you know are trustworthy, such asGoogle Play Store or the App Store
- Talk to other parents about the apps and sites their kids use; you can frequently get great suggestions that way
Kids, school, and technology are all here to stay; learning how to juggle all of it together can make life a lot easier for everyone.
Need books? You don’t necessarily need to spend cold, hard cash on them. There are actually more than a dozen ways toget books free of charge , including textbooks for all levels. It’s worth a try, especially when you have multiple kids, and that book bill is looming large.
iOS App Store vs. Google Play Store: Which Is Better for App Developers?
17 Great Sites to Download Free Books in 2024
6 of Our Favorite Homework Apps to Help Students (and Parents)
FAQ
- When was technology first used in schools?
According to Purdue University, the earliest tech used in schools was called the Magic Lantern in 1870. It was an early version of a slide projector that used printed images on glass and projected them onto walls or other screens. - What percentage of schools use technology?
About 45 percent of all schools have a computer for every student; another 37 percent provide computers for students in at least some grades or classrooms. More than 70 percent of schools say their teachers use technology for activities usually done in the classroom. Source: The Institute of Education Sciences.
Also read:
- [New] Crafting a Standout Identifier for Your TikTok Stream for 2024
- [New] Streamline Your Virtual Gatherings With This 10 Free Web Application List
- [Updated] Craft Comical Caricatures Using Giphy's Kit
- [Updated] Unparalleled Online Success Stories From YouTube
- 2024 Approved Android's Fastest Vid Tuning Tools Reviewed
- 2024'S Best Combined Cable Modems with Routers for Optimal Home Networking
- About Samsung Galaxy F15 5G FRP Bypass
- Blending Images Into a Masterpiece of Mosaics
- Boosting Gmail Safety: A Comprehensive Guide to Turn On Two-Factor Authentication
- Complete Solution for Fixing ‘Osetup.dll Not Found’ Issues
- Comprehensively Understanding Hugging Face
- Discover the Best iPhone GPS Applications: Our #1 Picks!
- Dive Into the World of Speed: 2024'S Top Free Car Racing Titles
- Dsound.dll Error Fixes: Effective Solutions for a Smooth Operating System
- Easy Guide: Capturing Your Screen on Windows or macOS
- Effortless Image Capturing on a Logitech Keyboard - How-To Guide
- Find the Best Sound: Key Considerations for Buying Quality Stereo Speakers
- Fixing the System Failure Error (0xC0000185): A Comprehensive Guide for Windows Users
- Frontier of Film Virtual Realities in Theaters
- How to Assess Quality: A Buyer's Guide to Secondhand Computers
- How to recover deleted photos from Honor Play 40C.
- How To Transfer WhatsApp From Apple iPhone 13 mini to other iPhone 13 devices? | Dr.fone
- How to Unlock Vivo Y100A Phone Password Without Factory Reset?
- In 2024, 5 Solutions For Nokia G22 Unlock Without Password
- In 2024, All You Need To Know About Mega Greninja For Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max | Dr.fone
- In 2024, Goofy Flick An Analysis of 'The Goofy Movie'
- In 2024, How Can We Bypass Motorola Moto G73 5G FRP?
- In 2024, How to Change Lock Screen Wallpaper on Poco M6 Pro 4G
- Investigating the Current Status of Roblox: Community-Wide Problem or Personal Glitches?
- Mastering the Setup: Binding Your PS4 Controller Successfully
- Mastering Website Downtime: How to Diagnose and Fix the 503 Service Unavailable Error
- Mastering Windows 11 Velocity: Techniques for Eliminating Sluggish Performance
- Overcoming Non-Displayed Thumbnails YouTube Shorts Guide
- Pixie-Dust Game Hours - Children's Choice Edition
- Portable Gameplay: Joy and Concerns
- Step-by-Step Guide: Booking Your Next Visit with the Apple Experts
- Step-by-Step Guide: Configuring Your Apple Watch for Gmail Access
- Step-by-Step Tutorial for Launching Command Prompt Across Various Windows Versions
- Tackling the Insecure Connection Alert on Your Browser – Quick Fixes
- The Premier Selection of VR Cycling Options for 2024
- Troubleshooting a Malfunctioning MacBook Pro Keyboard: Effective Solutions and Tips
- Troubleshooting Tips and Tricks for Setting Up Your PlayStation 4 Controller
- Ultimate Guide: Mastering the Art of Removing Images From Your Facebook Timeline
- Unlock the Potential of Your MacBook Air by Fixing Freezing Problems Easily!
- Updated Say Goodbye to Boring Videos Top Time-Lapse Apps for iPhone and Android Users
- Virtual Reality Meets Clear Sound: The Definitive Guide to Meta Quest Microphone Setup and Usage
- Title: Understanding Facebook: Uncovering Its Beginnings, Popularity Reasons, and Main Attributes
- Author: John
- Created at : 2024-08-12 02:05:05
- Updated at : 2024-08-13 02:05:05
- Link: https://techno-recovery.techidaily.com/understanding-facebook-uncovering-its-beginnings-popularity-reasons-and-main-attributes/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.