This school year, parents, teachers, and students are likely dealing with remote, virtual, distance, or hybrid learning, rather than heading back to the classroom. With learning (and maybe working, too) taking place wherever there’s room in your home, a good computer can help with academic success in a remote environment. Here are some tips to get set up and ready to go.
1. Customize the PC settings
Everyone learns things and does tasks differently—and Windows 10 PCs are designed to adapt.
You can also set parental controls in Family Options. This is to help ensure younger kids stay safe as they explore the Internet. Set screen limits for games and apps to build healthy habits on the PC.
Whenever you want to make changes, just start with the Settings panel. There’s a search bar built in, so you can instantly find the options you’re looking for.
2. Set up a note-taking system
OneNote makes it easy to take, keep, and organize notes from classes, study sessions, and test preparation. For example, you can start by organizing and labeling sections by the classes on schedules and the materials you’ll get for them, like readings, class recordings, and practice tests. That way, they’re ready to receive documents from the teacher and will have everything organized and in one place when it’s time for exams.
You’ll be grateful to have a digital notebook when you need to find specific facts like the information the teacher said would “definitely be on the test.” Rather than flipping through your notebook page after page, just search in OneNote.
By adjusting these settings before you start the school year, you’re preparing for academic success. You increase productivity by organizing everything in one place where it can be referenced anytime and on any device.
3. Get Microsoft Office for free
Got an email address ending in .edu? Then you’re in luck. For eligible students and educators, Office 365 Education version is free!
Make remote learning easier with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Microsoft Teams, and more.
Why you should download it right now:
- Work together with real-time coauthoring, autosaving, and easy sharing in your favorite web apps: Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
- Stay on top of your email with Outlook for the web and a 50 GB mailbox.1
- Enjoy a digital hub that integrates the conversations, calls, content, and apps your school needs to be more collaborative and engaged with Microsoft Teams.
- Use built-in accessibility features and Learning Tools that support reading, writing, math, and communication.
- Never run out of space with unlimited personal OneDrive cloud storage.2
4. Never lose your work
Teachers understand that technology is imperfect. But with cloud storage becoming the norm, it’s assumed that work can and will be recoverable if the PC falls off a bed, was accidentally was left on top of the microwave, or gets swallowed by your roommate’s golden retriever.
When you enable backup and restore files and folders with OneDrive, you can safeguard term papers, school projects, and even class notes. But it’s not set to back up by default—you have to tell it which folders you want saved! You can then access them on any device or retrieve them wherever you or the student in your life finds themselves studying. You can even password-protect folders containing your most sensitive files.
If you don’t already have a great computer for your student, check out our tips on what to look for in a new computer. If you already have a computer, the setup tips outlined here will help you increase productivity, keep organized, and protect work to help increase your academic success during remote learning.