As winter break draws to a close and the students in your home prepare for another school semester, it’s time to get them restocked on necessary supplies. As technology is constantly improving, it’s also time to consider new devices and tech to make this a productive and engaging semester.
With the high-speed fiber internet of Kosciusko Connect, your child can utilize this new tech at home, giving them a head start on learning and helping them explore their world.
Listed below are some of the best devices your student can use to get the most out of the 2023 school year. The grade level groupings compare the tech based on durability, versatility, educational needs, uses, power, speed, and other factors. Each grade level has unique technology needs, so the devices needed change as your child progresses.
Some of these devices could be used at any grade level, depending on the maturity and responsibility of the child. And in many ways, kids can use each device in tandem.
Elementary School—Time for a Tablet
We recommend more durable devices to protect against drops, bumps, and even the occasional toss for an elementary school student. Also, keep in mind that younger students may need devices that are easier to hold and handle in smaller hands.
Consider purchasing a solid, well-protected tablet like the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition to meet most elementary school children’s needs. This tablet, which comes with a built-in, rubberized protective case and an 8-inch display, is designed specifically for younger children.
Parents will also appreciate the monitoring and control features and Amazon’s two-year replacement policy. You may also consider the slightly larger Fire HD 10 Kids Edition, which features a 10-inch screen that some elementary school kids (and middle school students) can easily use.
Middle School—E-readers Stimulate a Lifelong Love of Reading
As reading requirements intensify in middle school, including longer novels and literature, parents should consider a dedicated e-reader for their children.
E-readers include features created specifically for reading books and other texts like articles without the distractions of multi-use tablets or smartphones.
Most e-readers feature pleasing background lighting, textured fonts, simple note-taking, and highlighting tools. The middle school years may just be the best time to introduce an e-reader to your child.
The Kobo Clara HD e-reader is an excellent choice for middle schoolers (and high school students, too). The Kobo Clara HD is compact enough to hold with one hand and carry through home, on and off the bus, and throughout school for the whole day.
It also features a 6-inch display screen with an impressive 300ppi (pixels per inch) and multiple lighting options to select throughout the day and night. In addition, the Kobo Clara HD enables students to open and view many different files and e-publications (far more than Amazon’s Kindle), and you can rent titles instead of purchasing them.
It also has outstanding battery life that can go weeks without recharge!
High School—Laptops for Multifunctionality and Power
When your student reaches high school, it may be time to bite the bullet and buy them a great laptop.
Tablets, such as the iPad or Amazon Fire, have improved in processing speed and various applications. But they are likely not robust or diverse enough for high school students.
We highly recommend Apple’s “entry-level” laptop, the MacBook Air M1.
Though it clocks in as Apple’s least expensive laptop, it’s also among Apple’s most innovative. For example, the Air M1 utilizes Apple’s new silicone chip technology specifically designed for use with macOS software.
And rather than using cooling fan technology (which weighs down laptops) to prevent overheating and accompanying system slowdowns, the Air M1 has an aluminum heat spreader to disperse heat more efficiently. Its battery life, lasting upwards of 18 hours, is outstanding for a laptop, letting your high schooler get through the school day and beyond on a single charge.
We have two final devices to consider for your students heading back into the classroom this January.
First, for high schools using Chromebook’s academic programs (like Google Classroom), the HP Chromebook x360 14c, with its 14-inch diagonal FHD touch display and Intel Core i3 processor, is a first-rate choice that will suit most high schoolers. It’s also a 2-in-1 device, meaning your child can use it as a tablet.
For fans of Windows-based machines, the Gateway GWTN141 is an excellent budget choice that might even suit middle schoolers. It’s packed with unique features, like its Intel Core i5 processor and 10 hours of battery life.
All the devices above can help give your child a boost in their education, no matter their grade level. And once these devices connect to Kosciusko Connect’s fiber network, their learning opportunities will never end!
Read more from our blog to learn about how technology can set you up for a successful 2023:
How the Internet Can Help You Keep Your New Year's Resolutions