3 Top Advantages of Having a Digital Curriculum

In our digital society, everyone communicates, learns, and explores across countless technological platforms.

The 21st century student now has access to several online tools including digital textbooks as well as ways to map out their digital curriculum effectively, in order to suit their learning needs. Here are some of the advantages of this progressing technology:

 

eBook Initiatives Bring Higher Attendance Rates

Lugging around heavy textbooks can be a great workout, but it doesn’t exactly provide the mental and physical motivation needed to make it to class on time, if at all.

Studies show that learning with laptops and the option to utilize eBooks has several positive educational outcomes. An evaluation of the North Carolina 1:1 Learning Technology Initiative has revealed greater attendance, graduation, and teacher retention rates, as well as improved testing and writing scores for students with access to more educational technology.

 

eBooks Save Money For Students

Not only are many textbooks cumbersome to pack and carry throughout the day, but they are often expensive, or even out of stock at certain stores.

Replacing textbooks with digital content is extremely beneficial for both schools as well as students and their families, helping them save as much as 60% on textbook costs.

 

eBooks Are Up-To-Date

Pluto isn’t technically a planet anymore – it’s a dwarf planet. If you didn’t already know that, then your textbooks may be a bit outdated.

That may seem exaggerated, but it can actually take traditional textbooks up to two years to print, so some of the content may have changed or re-classified once the actual textbook is published.

Digital content is easier to update as more information is discovered, and provides students and teachers a cost-effective way to quickly download new versions of eBook to ensure that they have the most up-to-date information available.

 

iPhone

Getting the new iPhone? Here’s What to Do With your Old iPhone

Recently, Apple released a much anticipated new iPhone – the iPhone 6. Die hard iPhone fans scooped up the new device with over 10 million orders in the days following its release. So, what can you do with your old iPhone short of selling it? Here are some suggestions to keep your old iPhone usable.

Use your old iPhone for Fitness

One primary feature of the iPhone is that it also doubles as an iPod. This is not lost once the old iPhone loses cell phone service. Your old iPhone can still connect to Bluetooth and be used in the car or at home to play music. This can be seen as especially useful for workouts and bringing your old iPhone places that you might not want to bring your old iPhone. By using your old iPhone as an iPod you won’t be obligated to fill your new iPhone up with songs. That space can be used by other applications.

If you do choose to bring your old iPhone to the gym there are a wide variety of apps that allow you to track work outs. Various apps even provide you daily works outs. You are able to plans meals and track your daily nutritional intake. By using the plethora of apps gears toward health and physical fitness you will be able to meet your goals. In addition, there are apps that can be useful for other hobbies such as hiking or mapping your progress as you run.

iPhone Apps are Useful Educational Tools

Phones are expensive, and parents do not typically allow their children to play with their phones. Downloading educational apps on your old iPhone can teach your children responsibility while they learn! This also ensures that there are no accidental purchases or phone calls made, which can be problematic when parents share their phone with their children. Often times apps can be used that pair with what your child is learning in school.

Another unconventional way to use your old iPhone is to turn it in to a way to manage finances and spending. In addition to apps that let you log your everyday spending, there are also apps that allow you to manage grocery bills, stock up on coupons and compare product prices at your local stores. Some stores have their own apps, while other apps give you a comparison of many store prices, coupons, sales and deals.

Your old iPhone can prove to be extremely useful. Don’t miss out by trading it in or using it as an alarm clock!

tablets

The 5 Best Tablets Available Today

The tablet war is in full swing and with no end in sight. Technology is getting better, functionality is improving, and deals are being made. Consumers have the most to gain from the tablet wars, but which tablet is the best for you and your needs? Let us take a look at what could very well be the five best tablets on the market today. We will look at reviews, prices, and functionality to help you decide which tablet is right for you:

 

  1. Amazon Kindle Fire HDX

You can choose a Kindle Fire HDX that fits your needs and size preference. The Kindle Fire HDX 8.9-inch is easy to use; it is priced at $349 and supported by on-demand Kindle support. The slightly more compact 7-inch Fire HDX is priced at $229; it offers a crisp screen, live tech support and fast processing. The Kindle Fire HDX collection is ideal for frequent Amazon users.

  1. Samsung Galaxy Tab S

There are a couple different Galaxy Tab S sizes you can choose from: 10.5-inch and 8.4-inch. The Galaxy Tab S 8.4 starts at $399; it features a slim design, high-definition display, the latest version of Android KitKat, and blazing speed. The larger 10.5-inch cohort is priced at $499; it is slim, lightweight, and offers 16GB storage.

  1. Google Nexus

The Google Nexus 7 is a leader in the small-screen tablet market. The $229 price is just as impressive as its functionality and battery life. The tablet features quad-core performance, a 1920 x 1200p, 7-inch display that is crisp and clear with 323 PPI. The tablet weighs only 10.2 ounces, and it is designed with cameras in both the front and back of the device.

  1. Microsoft Surface Pro 3

We like the Microsoft Surface Pro because it combines the best features of both worlds: laptop functionality and tablet portability. The only downside is the $779-$799 price tag. The productivity machine has a 12-inch display with a 2160 x 1140p screen. Microsoft equipped the 2-in-1 tablet with a kickstand and digital pen. The Surface Pro 3 is thinner and lighter than the previous two models.

  1. Apple iPad Air 2

It is no surprise that Apple is the number one tablet in the market today. The price for the Apple iPad Air 2 is between $489 and $499. The tablet is the CNET Editors’ Choice for Oct ’14, with an overall 9 out of 10 rating. The iPad is ideal for individual and professional use. Apple designed the tablet with the amazing new Retina Display screen with anti-reflection technology. The new A8X chip delivers astounding speed, and the 8-MP iSight camera offers superior photographing and video resolution. The Apple iPad Air 2 may be 18% thinner than its predecessor, but it has an amazing 675,000-app capacity.

the internet

How The Internet Has Changed The Way We Live

As I sit down to write this, I realize that I am using my internet connection to write this post, stream my music, check my Facebook updates, pay bills online, and wait for a video call from a coworker. In my office chair, I am surrounded by everything that I need to function on a daily basis, and that’s thanks to the internet.

The internet celebrated its 25th birthday this year, and it has accomplished a lot by the middle of its twenties. According to Socialnomics, an estimated 2.4 billion people go online each day; 600 million websites are online; and 500 million Tweets are sent every day. The internet has completely transformed the way people live their lives, so what are the billions of people doing each day?

 

Building relationships

The internet allows us to “talk,” without ever having to get on the phone. It seems as if our phones are simply around so we can avoid the people we don’t want to talk to, while texting and tweeting the ones we do. Old flames are connecting; families are communicating more; friends never have to go without seeing each other; and professional connections can flourish. There has also been a spike in online dating; no more awkward pickup lines at the bar and strange blind dates set up by your friends, who are certain they found someone who is “perfect for you.”

Shopping online

When was the last time you bought something online? If you are like many of us, it was probably in the last week or even the last hour. We can read reviews, research ratings, find the best price, and pay for an item without having to put on shoes.

Communicating face-to-face

Video calling has been taken out of boardroom and put in the palm of our hands and on our home computers. We can connect with friends, family and coworkers in nearly every corner of the world. Face-to-face communication has also made it possible to connect with members of the military when they are away from home.

Multi-tasking

We can work while drinking coffee or going to the bathroom. The internet allows us to do more at once and from different devices. You can work in one screen, follow a recipe in another, and update social media.

Diagnosing illnesses

Come on, we have all done it. Sometimes sites like WebMD reassure us that yes, in fact, we are as sick as we think we are. According to the Washington Post, 72% of users go online to self-diagnose, and 50% of doctors do as well. Let that sit with you for a moment.

Keeping up-to-date on everyone and everything

The internet has taken away the wonderment that is a personal life. We know everything about everyone, and at any given moment of the day. We know what our friends and our favorite celebrities had for breakfast.

Streaming

We don’t have to stroll through the endless lines of movie rentals and CD cases. Thanks to the net, we can watch television and movies whenever we want, and we can listen to an endless supply of music. Not to mention, we don’t have to buy an entire CD just to listen to the only one good song.

Avoiding bank lines

Another favorite feature is online banking. With a click of a button, we can pay a good majority of our bills online, send people money, and request money from others. We don’t have to stand in long lines or wait a week for a check to clear. Apple Pay and Google Wallet have also made it easier to pay for goods and services without shuffling for the credit card.