With summer in full swing, classes in September might seem far away, but taking a little time to prepare is important. A good place to start is technology preparation. Here are a few tips to make sure your technology is up to speed.
Check printers to be sure they are working. Make sure to stock up on paper and back-up ink. (No one wants to have an assignment completed, only to hand it in late because of a printer glitch!)
Make sure you have room on a flash drive to save work or, better yet, have a flash drive designated for just schoolwork.
Open up a new email so you can send a copy of all documents to yourself. This will back up all drafts and assignments. Be diligent in saving all work, but especially long assignments. Update your work by saving after significant revisions. This is helpful if you are ever accused of plagiarizing. By showing your work with a series of revisions, you can help make your case for why the paper is yours. Make sure to write the date and a clear title in the subject area so you can find your document easily. This way, no matter what happens to your computer or your flash drive, you’ll be able to retrieve your work online from any location with internet access.
Make sure your college email accounts are working properly. Call tech support or the Help Desk before the semester starts if you see problems.
Check all passwords and access codes before you need them. This is especially important if you need to register or pay bills online.
If you can link your college email to your personal email, do this now. While it is a good idea to check your college email daily, sending copies of announcements to your personal email will keep you current if you forget.
If your course is online, a hybrid (a mix of online and in class) or has an online supplement, familiarize yourself with these tools as soon as possible. You don’t want to be learning to navigate your virtual learning tools when deadlines are close!
Technology can add to the stress of learning, but with proper preparation, you can master these tools and make them work for you.
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