Meet the next generation of techy tools for today’s students

Thirty years ago, shopping for school supplies amounted to picking up paper, notebooks, writing utensils and, if you were lucky enough to find one in stock, a treasured Trapper Keeper. 

Oh, how times have changed. 

Move over notebooks, binders, pens and pads, and make way for laptops, smartpens, dot paper and iPads. As demand for the newest high-tech gadgets increases daily, companies are working around-the-clock to meet our cultural cravings. Gone are the days when students dozed off during filmstrips about the life span of butterflies and anatomy of a flower. Technology is giving new meaning to interactive, hands-on learning. 

1. Apple iPad ($499) / iPhone 4 ($199)*

Just 80 days after the iPad became available, Apple announced 3 million of the life-changing products had sold. With a crystal-clear Multi-Touch screen and access to thousands of applications, including most of the 200,000 for the iPhone 4, it truly brings the world to your fingertips.

With the iPad, students can take advantage of quick access to the Internet, browse websites from YouTube to The New York Times, take notes, and use the device’s calendar to keep track of assignment due dates and meetings. The iBooks application lets you browse tens of thousands of books in the iBookstore, some of which are free. Using iWork, students can also create documents, presentations and spreadsheets. 

The iPhone 4, the newest version of Apple’s popular smartphone, has a bottomless pit of apps and comes with a 5-megapixel camera and HD video record/edit capabilities. 

2. SMART Board 600i ($3,079) / SMART Slate ($349)

In June, SMART Technologies announced its fourth generation 600i series interactive whiteboard, which can support 3-D content thanks to the new SMART UF65 and widescreen SMART UF65w short-throw projectors. One of many systems available, this whiteboard allows teachers to present interactive lessons and give students a chance to participate by writing in digital ink with either their fingers or pens, made possible by the system’s Touch Recognition feature. 

Using the wireless SMART Slate, students can participate from across the room. Anything they write on the slate will show up not only on the slate and computer, but on the interactive whiteboard as well. 

3. REDCAT Media ($1,200)

For teachers who tire of straining their voices to compete with noisy classrooms, Lightspeed Technologies’ REDCAT Media may be the answer. With this wireless, no-installation system, teachers can easily be heard in the classroom and assured that students will hear the instructions for the day. REDCAT Media and its high-quality sound is also perfect for playing movies and music.

4. Toshiba libretto W100 ($1,100)

With its dual 7-inch, multitouch screens and Windows 7 Home Premium operating system, students will have no problem showing off Toshiba’s new libretto W100. The device features several virtual keyboard modes and applications such as Toshiba Bulletin Board, which makes it easy to keep up with daily assignments and activities. Weighing less than 2 pounds, the libretto W100 is small enough to fit into a backpack or purse, making it ideal for on-the-go computing. 

5. AVerVision 355AF ($800)

Years ago, teachers taught lessons with overhead projectors and transparency sheets. Today teachers can project clearer images with products from AVerMedia, such as the company’s AVerVision 355AF document camera, which has a 5-megapixel lens and up to 80x zoom, including its 5x optical zoom feature. The device is also able to record audio and video to USB flash drives and SD cards for reviewing later. 

6. Securexam Remote Proctor ($150)

As a student, should you be confined to taking exams in the classroom when you could take them anywhere, anytime? Software Secure doesn’t think so and created the Securexam Remote Proctor to allow students to take tests wherever they feel most comfortable—and to cut costs for proctored exams in the classroom. 

But don’t worry, teachers, Software Secure assures the Securexam Remote Proctor is “cheat-proof.” Educators are able to control the computer settings, verify student identity, and even watch and listen during the exam.

7. Livescribe Pulse ($130)

Taking notes has never been so easy. Livescribe’s Pulse Smartpen and infrared camera lets you capture on special dot paper everything you write. The built-in speaker allows for easy playback, and the USB connector can transfer notes directly to your computer. 

8. Voltaic Generator ($499)

If you get annoyed when your laptop and cell phone batteries die and there’s not a plug in sight, don’t worry—the Voltaic Systems Generator can provide the charging power you need anytime, anywhere. This solar-powered bag is powerful enough to charge a laptop and includes adapters for charging a variety of electronic devices, including cell phones. 

Made from recycled materials, the Generator, as well as Voltaic’s other products, come in orange, green, silver and other colors. 

9. Dell Studio 15 ($450)

Now featuring Intel Core i5 processors, Dell calls this laptop with its high-definition, 15.6-inch LED widescreen design “multimedia-rich.” Even so, what makes Studio 15 so appealing to students is that it can be personalized to meet a student’s individual style. The laptop is available in five colors and there’s a selection of more than 200 various designs available. 

With companies continuing to develop new products and improve existing ones, today’s students don’t have to worry about being bored in the classroom. Their main challenge now? To take advantage of the technology to enhance their learning experience and get to know the world around them. 

*Prices for all products are subject to change. Additional accessories and software may not be included.