Many younger people consider the days of paper and pencil to be long gone. College students today arrive on campus with a backpack full of items to make learning and communication much more convenient and fun. For example, some colleges in Miami now allow students to use electronic materials, so gadgets that can handle electronic textbooks or help student’s research material for reports can truly enhance the college experience. Here are five essential gadgets that will make college a better experience for any student.
Smartphone
While a cell phone is essential, a smartphone makes life so much easier. The ability to surf the web, take pictures, send text messages and play music means this all-in-one gadget can provide hours of schoolwork or entertainment help – and it’s small enough to fit in your pocket, as well. Parents can even pre-program their own cell phone numbers into their child’s phone so that kids will, hopefully, call home on a regular basis.
Laptop, Netbook or Tablet Computer
While all colleges have computers available on campus, there are often waits or pre-scheduling involved which can make getting those term papers completed on time a bit difficult. Having some kind of computing device available can make a huge difference to students. Choosing one with a faster processor will help a student complete the allotted tasks in less time. Students should try a few models of each type of computer to determine which they prefer, as their choice will likely be with them for several years.
MP3 Player and Headphones
Besides playing music, MP3 players can often handle pictures, videos, and more. Podcasts are available for many classes, so for students at colleges in Miami or elsewhere, this offers an opportunity to experience a class that was missed or to gain additional information. Especially for subjects that a student may struggle with, the ability to view and listen to extra information can make the difference between understanding the material and feeling lost for several weeks.
Flash Drive or Portable Hard Drive
There is nothing worse than a computer failure the night before a 20-page final paper – with citations – is due for your biggest class. A flash drive (also called thumb drive) with an adequate amount of memory, or a portable hard drive that can back up everything on your computer (see above) is an absolute must. Of course, the one thing that will make this work is to establish a schedule for data backup. A good backup schedule that is adhered to, will lessen or eliminate the chance of a catastrophic data loss.
Camera
Sure, that smartphone takes photos, and it’s great for on-the-spot snapshots, but for good photos, the kind you’ll want to share with your grandchildren, a dedicated camera is a must. Luckily for parents and students alike, good digital cameras have become very affordable. The more megapixels in the camera, the better the resolution will be. And remember that there is a difference between digital zoom and optical zoom; a camera that has both will allow the greatest flexibility in taking distance photos.
If you think, there’s any other gadget, please comment below 
