Published on January 10th, 2022 | by Sunit Nandi

Best Tech Tools To Enhance Online & Blended Learning

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly accelerated the uptake of both online and blended learning over the last number of months. As many businesses, schools and universities around the country were forced to close their doors temporarily, online and blended learning became the norm for students from all ages and in all disciplines of study.

In order to get the most out of your online or blended learning experience, it’s crucial that you have the right tools for the job. Studying in either of these ways will mean that you will be studying either entirely or partly online, so having the right tools and environment to engage in independent study on a regular basis is key.

Let’s take a closer look at just a few tools that you will need to succeed as an online or blended learning student.

Reliable Laptop

One piece of tech that you will need above all else is a reliable laptop. If you’ll be undertaking a course that involves blended learning, you may need to take some classes in person which will require you to have a laptop that is powerful, lightweight and has excellent battery life, such as the MacBook Air.

If your course is online only, you will naturally have more options with regards to your personal tech, and you may even be able to use a desktop computer for your studies. Whether you’re choosing a laptop or a desktop PC, however, you should be sure to find one that meets the specifications not just for your course, but also for your personal use in the future. Ask yourself what configuration is likely to be best suited for you and your professional needs once you graduate and find your first job.

The Right Software

There are countless different software packages out there that you can use to enhance your online or blended learning experience. Whether you want to track the time you are spending on different tasks, keep digital notes, create presentations or communicate with your teachers or fellow students, there are plenty of apps for you to choose from.

Many courses will have specific software that they use exclusively to connect with students such as Zoom or Skype, so be sure that you have downloaded and installed all of the required software before you start looking for supplementary tools to help you with your studies.

A Quality Headset

If you foresee that you’ll be spending a fair chunk of your week in and out of your ‘virtual classroom’, it’s essential to ensure that you’ll have the perfect environment for absorbing all your course materials. Of course, not all of us can have a decked out home office. When you’re studying online, you could really find yourself anywhere, such as in a local cafe, on a park bench, at your town library, or anywhere else that has a reliable internet connection.

While all of these are great places to study, they all have the potential to be noisy, busy and ultimately quite distracting. With a good set of noise-cancelling headphones, however, you can block out all of that external noise, allowing you to focus on your lesson or study materials with minimal fuss. Look for a headset with a built-in microphone so you can take part in discussions with your professors, teachers and other students in your class too.

Get the Most Out Of The Online Learning Experience

While there are certainly some potential challenges that you will face when learning online or in a blended manner, with the right tools at your disposal, you can ensure that you make the very most of your experience and gain as much knowledge and expertise in your chosen field as possible.

Following the tips outlined above, you can be sure that you will have all of the technology you need to succeed with your studies moving forward and maybe even graduate with top marks!

Tags: blended learning, enhance, online learning, tech tools

About the Author

Sunit Nandi I'm the leader of Techno FAQ. Also an engineering college student with immense interest in science and technology. Other interests include literature, coin collecting, gardening and photography. Always wish to live life like there's no tomorrow.