It’s time for our students to prepare themselves for the upcoming year. They’re sure to be hoping they haven’t read the calendar correctly and that there are still months of vacation.
The world has changed dramatically since I was in school. The world is much more dangerous, with greater and more frightening risks from substance abuse. (Fentanyl wasn’t a thing in my school days) and there are many potential bad choices that I have never had to face.
When I was growing up, using calculators for math was considered cheating. Today, ChatGPT, a generative AI program, is considered cheating. It has replaced services that sold papers that you could copy as the preferred way to avoid schoolwork.
The challenges facing today’s students are not limited to academic integrity. Children are growing up today in an increasingly complex world, with pressures that extend beyond the classroom. Mental health has become an important issue.
It’s important to remember that your child needs someone they can trust to speak to about any issues that are troubling them. The suicide rate is rising, and so are violent acts that seem to be linked to poor mental health. Healthy Children offers a list of twelve ways parents can help prevent suicide. It’s well worth reading. As a child, I was depressed. Exercise was my answer. Exercise saved my life because it gave me focus and accomplishment early on.
In addition to addressing these challenges, we must also equip our children with the modern tools they need for success. We’ll look at some strategies and products to help our children navigate the technological landscape of today as they head back to school.
ChatGPT
When young people enter the workforce, they will need to be able to use generative AI, just like I did with my old calculator. Without adult supervision, children could still use this tool in the wrong way.
While still making them do the work, you can teach them how to get the most out of the tool. It is important to learn how to reduce the amount of time needed for research. However, letting the software do the entire job will stop them from learning. If you pay for an application, you can monitor its use. You will have no control if they use the tool behind your back.
It is important to recognize when the generative AI has made a mistake. It wouldn’t harm to learn how to use the tool yourself as a parent. This will help you better train your child and reap the productivity benefits that this tool offers. According to current estimates, productivity gains can range from 30% up to 80%, depending on the task and level of competence.
Computer
It would be best if you started by talking to the school about what PC you would like for your child. Some schools will provide the PC for your child. If they don’t, what is the most common PC in the school? You can ask about the manufacturer and operating system (Windows, ChromeOS, or macOS).
If your school is primarily using Dell computers, you can be sure that a Dell PC will give your child the most comfort and provide the best support if there are any problems. The school staff should be familiar with Dell computers and have access to a support number tied to the contract they signed with the company.
The majority of students will be interested in laptops. It is best to use a basic clamshell laptop with a minimum 14″ screen and at least six hours of battery life, as electrical outlets are not as common in classrooms.
As of this writing, the Lenovo LOQ 16.” laptop is one of the best deals available. It has AMD Ryzen processors with Nvidia RTX graphic cards (in case the user wants to play a video game). The price tag for the laptop as of now is $835.99. This is a great laptop at a reasonable price.
It may be cheaper to buy the equipment that your school provides rather than buying your own.
If the child is studying remotely, consider a desktop or all-in-one desktop PC as an alternative. These are easier to transport in and out of dormitories and offer better performance at the same price.
Trackers
You don’t want your child to lose anything valuable, like a smartphone, laptop, tablet, or other electronic device. The Pebblebee is the best tracker I have found. It’s the best tracker because it’s rechargeable, lasts for 12 months, and works with Android natively.
Attach a tracker on an expensive item you give your child so that it can be found if it’s lost or stolen.
If your child gets lost or something bad happens, you can better locate them if they have a tracker. You may not need it, but knowing that you can find your child if they go missing could give you peace of mind at any time.
Atomic Defense Bulletproof Backpack
Many ballistic backpacks are available on the market. Many of them look like militaristic gear and might be too much for your children. With school shootings on an upward trend, your child must have a backpack that will stop a gunshot and will be used by them.
JanSport offers the Atomic Defense Bulletproof Backpack. It looks like any other high-quality, regular backpack. It’s not cheap, at $300 to $350, but it is worth it for the peace of mind it gives you.
If you want to keep your child safe, make sure they know how to use their backpack.
You might want to show your kids some of the FBI Videos that explain what to do if there is a mass shooting. This will teach your child what to do and how to help others reach safety.
Headset
Your child is likely to learn remotely or by observing content online at least part of the time.
A laptop speaker can be annoying for everyone in the room. Therefore, a quality headset is essential to ensure a productive online experience.
I would recommend wired headphones over wireless ones because they are less expensive and easier to maintain.
Bluetooth requires pairing, and since it’s not tethered, it’s more likely to be left behind by accident.
Earbuds can be a bad investment unless you plan to buy in bulk. They are always lost.
The Blackwire 8225 headset is USB-A/USB-C tethered and costs between $150 and $180. It is not designed for gaming and, therefore, is less likely to be stolen.
