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By Leigh Marcos
A recent national survey of college students found that an amazing 90% of students want to be able to use their phones in class. A lot of parents struggle with this, especially because of the generational and technological gap that exists. With the world becoming geared toward embracing tech for its processes, it is critical that teens preparing for college are well-equipped. So what sort of technology do they need to succeed in college anyway?
Reliable Smartphones
With a world hurtling toward fast-paced connectivity and streamlined processes, is it any wonder that pretty much everyone owns a smartphone? As early as 2013, an education based publication reported that 83% of undergraduates owned a smartphone. Not only do they use it to keep in touch with friends and loved ones but it helps them:
- Keep track of class schedules
- Do quick searches for class-related items
- Access the university’s e-mail system
- Use the camera to take photos of class notes
The first step is to find a smartphone that your teen can trust. You should try scoping out brands like Samsung, LG, and Apple with your teen to get their input. There are a lot of affordable options that come with connectivity plans.
Heavy-Duty Laptops
74% of educational institutions do not provide their students with computers for use, as found by a Teaching with Technology Survey. This is surprising, given the mounting expense of college tuition. College students need laptops not just for personal use, but for completing assignments, term papers, projects, studying, and many other academic purposes. They are also quite handy when taking notes for different classes.
If you’re going to be looking for a laptop for your teen, you’ll need to make sure that it can handle heavy-duty usage. The memory capacity of their laptops must be sufficient to hold everything they need. You can look up established laptop brands like Asus, HP, Lenovo, and Apple for options.
High Capacity Power Banks
One of the hallmarks of college life is shuttling around different buildings for classes with barely any time to stop in between. This means that college students do not have a lot of opportunities to recharge their devices, and that’s where power banks come into play. College students need high capacity power banks to make sure that even on the go, their devices always have juice. The best types of power banks are compact and have USB charging capabilities, such as Mophie, Jackery, and Anker power banks. These particular brands usually have different models and price ranges, so you and your teen will have a lot to choose from.
Equipping your teen with the right gadgets is just the sort of help that they need to get started. If you find yourself at a loss at the many different brands and devices, you can always ask your teen for their recommendations. Not only will it be a good bonding experience for you both, but it’s a step in the right direction for succeeding in college.