In a time when each passing day is met with newer, better technology, schools are incorporating new inventions and innovations into their curriculums. The technological fervor has spread to education; where a few notebooks and sundry pens and pencils might once have been sufficient as school supplies, a host of electronics and gadgets are nowadays not just useful but necessary for the modern student. Schools in the twenty-first century either provide or expect students to obtain certain digital school supplies.
By far, the most useful digital items are computers. The myriad of activities a student can perform on a computer are such that every student should have access to a computer at school, and preferably at home as well. Computers can be used to write and proofread documents, surf the internet, make presentations, research, e-mail teachers and peers, and many other educational applications. Students who were absent from school hardly miss a thing with computer access; teachers or other students can send the missing student class notes and homework assignments, and most courses have online textbooks and study materials for student use. Computers may be fairly expensive, but they have become less so in recent years, and most computers are also outfitted with supplies that students would otherwise have to buy individually, like calculators, dictionaries, and translators. Along with computers, students should also have a few CD's or USB storage devices to transport computer documents to and from school. Truly, computers are an indispensable tool in virtually every classroom.
Besides computers, there are several items which every student or classroom should have. Calculators are useful for all levels of math and can save time that would otherwise be spent on tedious, rudimentary equations. Electronic dictionaries and translators are also handy for language courses, condensing thousand-paged tomes into small, hand-held devices. Most reference books, in fact, have been translated into an electronic format, allowing for easy access and retrieval of information. In fact, a number of actual books have been transformed, and students can read them on computers or on special electronic devices.
One electronic device that no school should be without is an electronic cataloging system. In past days, students wishing to find a specific book had to use an arcane card catalogue. However, with modern technology, students can simply type in the title or author of a book into a search engine, and it can be easily located. Electronic catalogues also allow students to find all books on a certain topic quickly and easily. They are a staple for every school library.
There are various other digital supplies that are not necessary for school, but are always useful to have on hand. Cameras can be used to record special moments like field trips or class activities. Cell phones, while they may cause a distraction in class, can be used to call parents. Movies or audio books are fun for students and provide a break from the traditional book learning. All of these supplies are usually provided by the school or teacher and can enhance a student's learning experience.
Above are general digital supplies for any class. However, some classes require specific technology. For example, some science courses should be outfitted with microscopes. Higher-level math courses provide or require a graphing or otherwise advanced calculator. For foreign language courses, some sort of audio recording device is useful to test oral or listening comprehension. In addition, foreign or disabled students may require other implements, like translators or hearing aids. Each class or student may have specific mandatory digital devices.
All of these electronic devices are very useful for students in school, making education more efficient and fun. However, it is important to note that, while technology is certainly a supplement, it should not replace education. After all, why would students want to learn division when they could type any problem into a calculator? Why would they want to memorize vocabulary words when they could be entered into an electronic dictionary and defined instantaneously? Digital devices have their place in schools. They should facilitate learning, not discourage it.