Remote Learning? Technology Can Make It Easier
Millions of Americans would’ve been planning on going back to college or school in the coming weeks and months, unfortunately, as with most things, the Coronavirus pandemic has made this an impossible situation. The expectations of dormitories and in-person lectures, libraries and lessons have all either been rendered impossible or altered greatly beyond what they have always been. However, this isn’t just affecting colleges and higher education facilities but also schools of all types across the country which has led to a new format of education that most will be experiencing for the very first time: Remote Learning.
Essentially, this means learning from home, primarily through online resources. The Coronavirus’ impact on education has led to many necessary changes in people’s everyday lives that can create many different problems. It’s easy to become frustrated with the increased number of distractions in the home or a slow Wi-Fi network, however there are many different ways that you can help make your remote learning experience easier.
Even if you don’t have loads of space to have a dedicated area for learning, you can still form a comfortable, productive setup. All you need is a table, chair, and a few key pieces of tech to reach peak productivity. With these gadgets, you’ll be able to feel much more comfortable learning from home, and potentially be able to get more out of it than you would do if you were sitting in a classroom or lecture hall. Here are some key pieces of technology that can help you stay focused, productive, and sane while working from home.
Wi-Fi Upgrade
One thing that is sure to affect your ability to get work done is a bad Wi-Fi connection. We’ve all been there, struggling with slow Internet speeds, long downloading periods, or Wi-Fi coverage that cuts in and out for seemingly no reason which makes completing any task much more difficult. If this is the case for you, it’s probably a good time to upgrade. It’s also likely that with more people learning remotely, as well as the increased amount of people already online anyway, a newer router will be able to effectively handle the increased demands that come with learning from home.
A hotspot or mesh router could also be a handy alternative to help you meet your deadlines. Basically, a mesh router uses a base station, one that plugs into the modem that connects your home to the internet, as well as additional satellite units that work together to spread Wi-Fi throughout every corner of your living space to eliminate any dead spots that may be present. This means you’ll be able to work from anywhere in your home without having to worry about the Wi-Fi dropping out at a crucial time. However, whether you go for an updated stand-alone router or a mesh system, modern routers can now be easily controlled and set up ensuring that your remote learning experience doesn’t become an offline one too.
Ergonomic Keyboard
It’s an often-overlooked aspect of your home setup, but an ergonomic keyboard is a gadget that should absolutely be a part of it. If you are doing a lot of typing, say for an essay or sending a lot of emails, a standard keyboard can quickly start to take a toll on your wrists. Think of it as you would an ergonomic chair, ensuring that your posture remains healthy with prolonged sitting, these keyboards do a similar thing for your wrists and fingers. When designed with ergonomics in mind, they place your wrists and hands in a healthier, more natural position when compared to conventional keyboards to help minimize discomfort and injuries such as tendonitis.
An ergonomic keyboard can potentially feel unnatural at first, especially models that split completely apart into left- and right-hand sections but you’ll quickly adjust with the added benefit or avoiding an injury that can prevent you from getting your work done.
Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones
Whether it’s to help concentrate on work and research, to better hear online lectures and videos or just to block out any undesirable sounds; wireless bluetooth noise cancelling headphones will help immensely. Any noise can break your concentration and take you out of the zone immediately, which is why getting the best wireless noise canceling headphones is directly linked to enhanced productivity.
The best pair at doing this over a prolonged period of time is the FLOW II from Cleer Audio. Featuring premium noise cancellation technology alongside exclusive patented 40mm Ironless Drivers™, the FLOW II drowns out all distractions creating the ideal bubble to learn in. With a rich, bold sound and minimal distortion they’re ready made for your deadline playlists, while the 20 hours of playback on a single charge means you’ll be able to keep working long after your fellow students have had to reach for the charging cables.
Final Thoughts
Being at home all day can be a frustrating experience for some, especially if you’ve been looking forward to experiencing everything college or education has to offer. But it doesn’t mean that it needs to be a negative one. The remote learning experience will take time for everyone to adjust to but with a good home set up, some helpful gadgets and the best wireless noise cancelling headphones you can get your hands on, it can quickly become one that will help set you up for the career you’ve always wanted.
