4 Surprising School Supplies Online Students Might Need
It was my first day of online classes. I sat at the computer eager to learn new things. The syllabus called for the usual items: computer, monitor and so forth. I didn't know, however, that I would need some standard school supplies as well. Deep into the second week of classes, I found myself heading to the office supply store.
I learned online students should consider buying the following for their classes.
1. Pens: You might buy just a couple of packs of pens at first, but online learning, surprising enough, might require hundreds of them. In a traditional classroom, you might take a few notes during a lecture or a presentation. With online learning, it's different. You often have to learn the material on your own and in your own way, so it may require heavy note-taking from the supplied class material.
Since it's cheaper to rent textbooks in a digital format, taking extensive notes on the text in a notebook might also cut the costs of buying a physical one and making notes in the margins. Whatever your learning style, online education will likely still require a lot of pens for getting the most out of the class, just like in a brick-and-mortar school.
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2. Paper: For the same reasons as above, online learning also requires a lot of paper. Math classes, especially for those who aren't gifted in mathematics, take plenty of writing and scratch paper. I learned, at the beginning of every class to dedicate a notebook to each for the purpose of taking notes. Whenever I took a quiz or a test (if they were open-note or non-proctored), I had a readily-accessible supply of notes that I had taken myself. I found it's quicker than using "Ctrl-F" on the lesson material. Flashcards also came in handy for memorization and quick referral.
I took a math class and filled a good several notebooks with scribbled equations, radicals, fractions and inequalities. Don't be surprised if you end up with those as well.
3. Folders, files, keepers or binders: Another misconception about online education is that you can organize everything on your computer. This is a mistake. A computer is great for organizing files and written assignments done electronically, but in some cases and under certain circumstances it takes a physical system to keep notes, important documents and assignments completed by hand organized for quick accessibility. Sometimes, a scanner might take care of this, but it's always good to have your notes readily available for tests.
There were times when I had lost an important set of notes around the house, or had misplaced flashcards prior to a test. That's when I adjusted my organizational skills and started including hanging files or binders to keep everything in one place.
4. A good chair: Online education requires a lot of sitting. Unlike traditional schools, where you change classrooms for every subject, the online classroom incorporates all your subjects into one place so you need to make sure you're comfortable for an extended period of time.
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You can either switch your physical setting every once in a while -- for example, taking your computer to a coffee shop or finding a library on a nearby university campus -- or you can invest in a high-quality office chair to prevent any aches and pains from prolonged sitting. It will save you time, since you'll be more focused on the schoolwork and not as focused on your body's reaction to long, sedentary periods of time.
The Takeaway: You might think online education exists solely on the computer, but it doesn't. Just like any other education program, online learning involves the same amount of note-taking and physical presence for learning, and therefore requires several of the same tools.
