Technology in today's classrooms

Question: What is the most useful piece of technology that a Montreal student can take to school this fall? Answer: A memory stick, a.k.a. a USB key, Flash drive, or "thumb drive."

We're talking here about a piece of technology, the size of a package of stick chewing gum, that plugs into a computer's USB port and allows students to save their school work for accessing later on, at home.

"The memory stick is useful for students in both elementary and secondary school," said Maureen Baron, pedagogical consultant with the English Montreal School Board (EMSB).

"Younger students can get by with smaller memory sticks that only hold 1-2GB (one or two gigabytes) of data.

"But students in the upper years can use up to 8GBs worth, because they are often saving PowerPoint projects that include multimedia components such as video and/or audio clips."

Memory sticks are extremely affordable. For instance, a 4GB memory stick encased in environmentally-friendly bamboo costs $21.90 at Staples (Bureau en Gros, in Montreal). An 8GB version costs $38.90.

The second most useful purchase is a low-cost audio headset with boom microphone (a. k.a. gaming headsets). These are used by students who listen to instructional programs, to produce at-school music projects without disturbing other classmates, and to talk over the Internet using Skype or other voice-over-IP telephone programs.

"It makes good sense for kids to have their own headsets for health reasons," Baron explained.

"Head lice can be transmitted when students share headsets.

Certain digital tools can benefit students and are, therefore, accepted for school use. You might want to consider, during your back-to-school shopping trip, acquiring a memory stick such as the one above, from Staples, encased in environmentally-friendly bamboo, or a small recorder like the Olympus VN-7000 digital voice recorder (at right), or a laptop like the new Lenovo IdeaPad Y560d (far right).

When they have their own -which they don't share -this risk is substantially reduced."

For the budget-minded: the Rocketfish Gaming Headset -which comes with a plug-in cable, one earphone and a microphone -sells for $17.99 at Best Buy and for $19.99 at Future Shop.

So where do other items such as desktop/laptop computers, Internet access, smart phones, iPhones/iPads, digital cameras and camcorders, and other pieces of technology fit in? Although Baron admits many of them have their place in Montreal classrooms, "the cost of such devices for students restrain the EMSB from requiring them as part of the students' purchased school supplies."

This said, she does recommend that students have access to the Internet and a computer, even if it is an older used desktop model.

"For those who have budgetary issues, Internet-connected computers can be accessed through public libraries and during non-class hours at most schools." Meanwhile, iPods and other musical players may be allowed in class, based on teacher discretion, but cellphones and texting devices are not welcome during classes.

For parents who are able to provide their children with digital technology extras, a sturdy laptop can be a wise purchase.

This is a good time to shop for them, as manufacturers and vendors alike cut prices to drive sales.

A case in point: the entry-level Toshiba Satellite C650 laptop -which comes with an Intel Pentium processor T4500 (2.3GHz, 1MB L2 Cache), Windows 7 Home Edition, a 15.6-inch screen, 4GB memory, 320GB hard disk drive, a multi-format DVD player and Wi-Fi -is list-priced at $629, "but with the back-to-school price wars, you should start seeing its price hitting $499," said Toshiba product manager Mini Saluja.

For those needing more features, the new Lenovo IdeaPad Y560d comes with powerful Intel Core i3/i5 processors and even the ability to play 3-D movies (3-D glasses included).

Note: Before you buy a laptop, shop around for price and capability. Smaller netbooks are cheaper, but do not offer the same degree of capability and "room for growth" that a laptop does.

Many older students record their classes, for the sake of better note-taking and review. A small digital audio recorder, like the Olympus VN-7000 digital voice recorder, can capture more than 1,200 hours of audio for just $49.99 or less.

"About the size of a pocket comb, these devices can be connected to a computer so the audio files can easily be attached to an email or used in other applications," said Sally Clemens Smith, Olympus product specialist.

Many entry-level printers cost slightly more than the cost of buying their replacement ink/laser cartridges. Parents on a budget (and who isn't?) should compare models based on how many pages each printer will produce before replacement cartridges are needed, and how much the cartridges cost.

Some models can have their cartridges refilled at a lower cost than buying a new one.

Cellphones are fast becoming a must-have for students -at least as far as the kids are concerned. (Schools don't necessarily share this sentiment.)

When buying cellphones, it is important to determine how much they will cost to operate each month. Flat-rate or prepaid plans are a good way to keep text-crazy kids from running up huge bills. Consider the price before letting your child be dazzled by features!

MP3 players such as iPods are also big with students -and prone to being lost or stolen. When in doubt, you might want to buy a low-cost brand-name MP3 player first, just to ensure that investment in a top-of-the-line iPod isn't wasted within a week.

The rule of thumb for surviving the back-to-school technology buying frenzy?

"When in doubt, wait until you can talk to your children's teachers about what is and what is not allowed at school," Baron said.