Your Back-To-School Shopping List for Online Studies

Ready to go back to school? Good. You can do it from the comfort of home, or from just about anywhere if you’re studying online. Let’s take a closer look at some essential school supplies for going back to school—online.

1. A proper work environment

While you can’t buy this one outright, it makes sense to find a quiet work space that you enjoy. One idea? A home base—maybe it’s a table in your dining room or a certain section of the couch, or maybe even your favorite spot at a local coffee shop. Make one place your “it” place for study, and make it yours. While that’s harder to do in public spaces, deciding where your computer will go when you’re using it—and when you’re not using it—will help you focus when you need to most. Remember: you want a place that’s comfortable, free from distractions, and will allow you to focus. Don`t know where to start? We`ve created a guide on how to set up a study space to maximize productivity.

2. Study Apps & Technology

- Scheduling

You’re an online student—and online students need to know how to budget their time. What better way than a scheduling app? Ideally, you want your scheduling app to interface well with your online calendar, like Google, Outlook, or iCal.

Search carefully. Some scheduling apps align with your calendar, but not with others. Make sure you can invite others to events and meetings—and that they can invite you, too. Want a to-do list with your scheduler? They’re out there—again do your homework and take a look at different options. Don’t forget to check the cost. Some might be free downloads, but charge a subscription.

Our advice? Simpler is better. Schedule away.

- Storage

You’ll be doing a lot of work and need a place to back it up. What better than a storage app? Dropbox and Google Drive are among the most popular, and your school might have some suggestions. If your online school uses Blackboard, consider using Blackboard Mobile for storing your data.

Some schools also use Microsoft Office 365—consider using the OneDrive app, if it syncs with all of your other systems. It’s even available for Mac users now! Evernote offers another possibility, by allowing you to keep all of your work organized in a way that makes sense to you.

- Connection

Make sure you have a proper internet connection and the right hardware. What does this mean? Buy a laptop that you’ll enjoy using and that has enough memory—without breaking the bank. It also means buying a backup drive—and it means making sure that your modem and router are up to snuff and can handle your level of bandwidth usage.

Questions on this stuff? Ask your school’s guidance or tech department for recommendations. Chances are pretty high that you can get a student discount on most of these products, too.

- Printer

It sounds counter-intuitive for an online program. There are times when you need to print out your work though—especially when you have a big assignment. Plan on printing major assignments before turning them in—store them in a binder and hang onto them until you finish your program. Why? Hard copies are the best back-up, and they encourage you to be organized.

3. Pen & Paper

Old fashioned? Maybe. But they work. All the time. Turns out, you’ll use them quite a bit too.

In a traditional setting, you might take notes on your tablet or laptop. But in an online setting, you’ll probably be sitting there with a notebook and a pen, taking notes. Why? You need to process your learning in your own way. Chances are high that sitting in front of a screen will not allow you to absorb everything you need to learn.

Arm yourself for some heavy note-taking—buy some paper, too. Taking an online math class? Plan on having scrap paper around for examples. Find a notebook that you like and go for it—buy a few of them, and a couple of boxes of your favorite pens.

Ready to go back to school online? We hope so. Online learning has its rewards, and with the right combination of supplies, you’ll set yourself up for success.