Technology is here to make work easier and facilitate learning and socialization. However, while innovation comes with numerous benefits to you as a student, some risks and challenges have emerged. Students looking to benefit from the full potential of EdTech must understand how most of the tools work, and improve their skills. Here are a few tips and tricks for students using technology in the education setting.
Master the Keyboard
One of the most important skills you should learn if you want to benefit from the full potential of technology in academia is touch typing. Note that touch typing will improve the speed and accuracy with which you produce written content. This is because students who have mastered the keyboard are familiar with the location of all the letters and make fewer mistakes as they write documents. Even when mistakes are made, the student can easily detect the errors and make corrections.
Understand that, as a college student, you will be asked to work on multiple projects, sometimes simultaneously. Most of the tasks will be complex and demanding and you feel overwhelmed for a big fraction of your time on campus. touch typing improves your efficiency when working on tasks, and allows you to beat urgent deadlines. The faster you can type accurately, the more productive you will become.
Understand How Educational Software Works
To thrive in college, you will need to learn the educational software basics. Various tools exist that can make your work as a college student simpler and more manageable. From word processing tools to grammar editing and proofreading tools, there are numerous options for students to leverage. However, to truly benefit from educational tech, students need to understand the intricate elements of how the tools work. Of course, this does not mean becoming a tech guru overnight. You need, for instance, to know how Microsoft Office works and how you can use plugins and add-ons to improve your efficiency and productivity. If you understand the most important programs, you will be able to easily navigate the world of EdTech.
Understand How to Use Online Resources
There was once a time when students had to depend on teachers and textbooks for information and learning. Today, technology has made it possible for students to direct their learning, using online resources to access information, work on tasks, interact with peers, and collaborate on projects.
As a college student looking to benefit from the power of technology, you need to know the ideal websites to use when researching assignments. Where do you go when you want to review your paper and ensure your work isn’t plagiarized? You also need to familiarize yourself with the plagiarism detection and grammar editing tools available online. Where can you go if you have an urgent project and need immediate do my essay for me assistance?
Understand the Security Risks
While technology comes with numerous benefits for college students, there are also several risks involved that students need to be careful with. The risks vary, and include things like social engineering and pretexting, phishing, and malware. Phishing, for instance, happens when hackers use fraudulent emails and phone calls to gather sensitive information from unsuspecting individuals. These criminals can access your credit card information, account details, and passwords, placing you and your financial well-being at great risk. Online popups and ransomware have also become common over the past decade, making it crucial for college students to be careful when working online.
To benefit from technology, you need to understand the risks involved and become more preemptive. Know that your device being hacked places you at considerable risk and can result in a loss of your precious time and documents. Learn how to create and manage strong passwords, and think twice before sharing your personal information online. You also need to know reliable websites and research the signs of suspicious emails and links.
You also need to ensure that you connect wisely. While free WiFi is a great tool that can help with your research, understand that most public networks are unsafe. You can never tell who is connecting to the platforms or who may be able to access your data. If possible, only connect to networks you trust. Avoid making financial transactions on your computer when using public WiFi as these are the most common places people get hacked.
Always Back Up Your Data
Many students struggle with technology use because they don’t back up their data. While tech makes work easier, there is a real risk of losing everything you have spent time and money working on due to mechanical issues or malware. Imagine spending your days working on a 60-page dissertation, only for your file to go missing at the last minute because your computer crushed. Fortunately, most computer devices today come with automatic backup options you can set up to cover you in case you forget to save your work.
Remember, the purpose of backing up is to create a copy of your files or data that you can recover if the primary data fails. Primary data failure happens due to different reasons, including hardware or software failure. It could also be the outcome of data corruption or human even like malicious attacks. It could also be that you accidentally deleted the data. Whatever the event, having a backup minimizes the stress of losing your primary data and ensures that your life can continue with minimal disruption.
This article summarizes a few technology tips and tricks for college students. Students need to work on their keyboard skills and improve their understanding of basic computer software. To benefit from EdTech, you also need to know how to back up your data and protect yourself when working online. Privacy concerns and security risks are some of the most common challenges students face when using tech. Most importantly, understand the best online resources, including where you can find sources for your assignments and projects. When used properly, technology facilitates learning and collaboration in academia.
