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It's the end of summer. Soon 100+ degree days, extreme discomfort, and staying in-doors to avoid the heat will be a distant memory as we usher in fall. With fall just around the corner, so is the beginning of another school year. Soon bikinis and beaches will be replaced with books and pencils and the time for fun will be over. Of course, it doesn't have to be that way. We'll take a look at some of the cool gadgets and gizmos that you can make use of to make those school days seem a little less tedious and a little more fun and interactive.
Technology is a big part of a student's life, so it was inevitable that schools would begin to embrace technology and let it in the classroom. This is very good news for the tech savvy as it not only gives you an advantage, it can also make the learning process a lot more fun.
Logitech io Digital Pen
Perhaps one of the coolest gadgets designed to help students is the Logitic Digital io pen. Say goodbye to your number two pencils and leaky ink pens and hello to digital note taking! The Logitech io Pen digitally captures everything you write or draw including notes, drawings, sketches, and even your doodles. Imagine, no more flipping through dozens of notebooks and endless pages trying to find your notes you entered two weeks ago during science class. With devices such as the io Digital pen, your notes are downloaded directly to your pc via USB interface in the same format that you entered them. You can organize your notes into folders and structure them for fast retrieval with full search capabilities. The next time you need to look up notes from a class, hop over to your computer and find the information you need within seconds! It’s truly an outstanding technology that won’t break the bank.
Samsung Q1 Ultra Mobile PC
For those with a larger budget and a craving for the latest and coolest in PCs on the go, I'd like to introduce the Samsung Q1 Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC). Weighing in at a paltry 1.7lbs and dimensions of 9.0 inches wide, 5.5 inches tall, and 1.0 inches thick, the Samsung Q1 offers the freedom and flexibility to go anywhere and do everything. Reminiscent of a portable video game system, the Q1 packs 512mb of memory, 40 gigs of portable memory, and a 7 inch high resolution screen into one very sleek package. At 1.7lbs the Q1 is about 5lbs lighter than the average notebook pc and 1/5th the size, making it very appealing to college students who already carry excessive weight from their school books. One drawback to the tiny size is the lack of an included keyboard (although a keyboard option is available via USB or Bluetooth). Data entry and application interaction takes place through use of a stylus pen and a sophisticated on-screen "virtual" keyboard. The Samsung Q1 can make the life of a student easier and more fun. You can enter notes directly into your PC, listen to MP3's and watch high resolution videos (in between classes, of course), and access calculators, dictionaries, and online applications.
USB pocket drives
Most high schools and colleges these days have on-campus computer rooms where students can research information and access the internet. A big problem facing students that lack a notebook pc or UMPC is the ability to "save" information that they've looked up and notated (perhaps into MS Word or Excel). Relying on email to send files from a school PC isn't always practical as there can be occasional outages from the email servers or the schools may apply restrictions on emailing files. To combat these hassles, it's suggested students pick up a pocket USB drive. These little devices act as ultra portable hard drives. Usually no larger than a pack of chewing gum, USB pocket drives are designed to transfer small files from PC to PC by simply plugging them into an open USB port. Once connected to the pc they can be accessed like a standard hard drive. These devices are especially handy for students who've been working on papers or programs on their home pc and need to finish them on the school pc. USB pocket drives are just one more technology designed to make a student's life easier!
Text Messaging (the new way to pass notes)
Although most of us outgrow passing notes by the time we get to high school, there is still the occasional moment where we have to share something with a friend and the moment can't wait. Although not a new technology, text messaging devices make a fine substitute to quietly passing notes. For those unfamiliar with Text Messaging, it's a term usually applied to messaging that takes place between two or more mobile devices (such as a cell phone, blackberry, or PDA). Messages are typically short and contain various messaging lingo (digital slang). For a listing of text messaging lingo that can help you translate your buddy's message, head over to http://www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/textmessageabbreviations.asp and check out their comprehensive listing of text message abbreviations! A must for any text messengers!
Technology and cheating
Unfortunately, there is a dark side to the use of all this new technology in the classroom and more and more schools are beginning to catch on. As technology in the classrooms evolves, so does the ability for students to cheat. Gone are the days where students would write notes on their forearms or a leaflet of paper to gain an unfair advantage during tests. These days cheating has become much more sophisticated as students use text messaging devices, camera phones, UMPCs, and even MP3 players to help them pass exams. Recently more than 20 students in Vietnam paid over $3000 to carry out an elaborate cheating operation. They donned wired wigs and shirts and used mobile devices and ear phones to cheat on college entrance exams.
Students also have many options available to them outside the classroom when it comes to cheating, thanks to the internet. Websites such as Masterpapers.com employs teams of educated individuals who will write thesis papers and even doctoral dissertations for the right price. Additionally, students can access ebook versions of Cliff notes, use the pc to solve mathematical equations, and even commit outright plagiarism from online material.
Technology keeps advancing at a rapid pace and will enhance the life of all students who are willing to embrace it. As long as students use the technology responsibly, it will remain a big part of the classroom. If students abuse the privileges allowed by the school systems in regards to technologies, then there is a good possibility those privileges will be revoked. In the end, by cheating the school system students are really cheating themselves and possibly denying future students the use of advanced technologies in their classrooms. Looking into the future may be the same as looking into the past if schools remove the use of technology and go back to the old “pen and paper only” allowed in the classroom.
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