No matter what course you study, student life can be hectic. With so much coursework on your shoulders, textbooks to sift through, and essays to write, striking the right balance can be difficult. Anything that can make your academic life that little bit easier is surely worth looking into. With technology constantly evolving, there are lots of gadgets students can purchase which can help you study better. Unlike in the past where you only had a pen and paper to assist with your studies, many devices are must-haves in 2022. Here are just some gadgets that you can buy to help you pass your course with flying colors.
Laptop
If there is one gadget every Canadian student needs for their studies, it’s a laptop. Having a portable laptop enables you to write essays, conduct research, and access reading materials wherever you are. Your laptop will be used for all kinds of purposes. Whether it’s education-related, surfing social media, or watching videos on YouTube, you need to invest in one that allows you to do all three. Things to look out for in a laptop include the size, screen, keyboard quality, and storage space. There are additional gadgets you can buy for your laptop too, like an external mouse. A USB wireless mouse means you won’t have to worry about annoying cords getting in the way.
Smartphone
You’ll have a hard time finding a Canadian student who doesn’t have a smartphone. Whether you’re an Apple lover or Android user, your smartphone can be used for personal and professional purposes. For instance, smartphones enable you to get specific information about a module or coursework within seconds, rather than having to load up your laptop. Of course, you’ll use your smartphone for other purposes too, so it’s wise to invest in one that has all the features you need, such as good battery life. Understandably, smartphones come in all shapes, sizes, brands, and prices. You don’t have to buy the most expensive smartphone on the market, but if you’re after one with the latest features and tech, you may need to shell out more. As long as you can download apps and surf the internet, your smartphone can benefit you during your studies.
E-reader
Whether you’re studying an Aston University online MBA program, or you’re learning in person, the chances are you’ll need some textbooks to assist you with your studies. As you can imagine, the more reading materials you buy, the more luggage you’ll have to carry around. Textbooks aren’t the lightest of things to carry, and you don’t want to worry about back pain. Therefore, why not consider an e-reader? Devices like an Amazon Kindle can be taken wherever you go. The great thing about this device is that it can only be used for reading. This means you’re more likely to use it for educational purposes, rather than playing music and watching films. You can buy digital books too, as they’re normally cheaper and you may even be able to score free ones!
External Hard Drive
As a student, essays, deadlines, and exams are commonplace. When you have work that’s due to be handed in, the last thing you want is to lose it at the last second. An external hard drive lets you make copies of your essays which can be stored on a device that’s not your main computer. This means, should your laptop start playing up or even crash completely, you can still access every file you need without any hassle.
USB Stick
USB sticks are a smaller version of an external hard drive. They’re particularly useful for transferring a couple of files from one device to another. For example, if you have some notes on a different laptop that you want on your main one, you can do this with a USB stick in seconds. You can also put essays and coursework on a USB stick so you can be confident you’ll never lose them. USB sticks are cheap to buy too, so there are no excuses not to get one! To stop your USB stick from going missing, you can put it on a keyring.
Smartwatch
While we understand a smartwatch cannot take a smartphone or laptop’s place, it can interact with these and prove beneficial in your studies. Smartwatches are designed to monitor your activity, how much you sleep, and help you analyze the data. When you interpret the data, you can establish whether you need to rest more, be more active, or make lifestyle changes. Smartwatches can act as mini smartphones that can be used both at home and in the classroom.
Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Lots of students prefer to study in a coffee shop or classroom, but there are all kinds of distractions that can hinder your concentration levels. While you cannot stop people talking nearby, you can seek out devices that can block out background noise, like noise-cancelling headphones. This gadget will help you study better, and you won’t have to worry about any unwanted distractions. Even if you’re in the most crowded of rooms, the top-range noise-cancelling headphones can make you feel like you’re in your own room.
LED Desk Lamp
When you’re studying at home, the lighting in your room can have a huge influence on your focus and concentration. If you have a dedicated study space, why not consider purchasing a LED desk lamp? These gadgets can light up with various colors that can actually help you study. If you have a deadline coming up and need to stay up, LED desk lamps can give off very bright and clear light which can keep you going. What’s more, LED desk lamps can act as an alarm clock too by using lights to get you out of bed.
Starting any course can be a daunting affair. Without the right gadgets by your side, it can be tough getting through modules and coursework. To help you succeed, consider purchasing some of the gadgets above, which are favored by students all over Canada.
