It’s a familiar site as summer comes to an end: aisles full to overflowing with pencils, staplers, and erasers on sale in almost every store. Those attending an online school usually don’t take advantage of these discount school supplies, but that doesn’t meant there isn’t preparation and supplies the successful online student needs. What kinds of things can you put in an online backpack?

Paper

Every student, whether they are taking classes online or not, needs to take notes. Word processors are essential for writing papers and for taking notes. And, there’s no need to spend an arm and a leg on a processor; there are some available online for free! To making keeping track of and finding your notes easy, try naming documents ahead of time, one for each class session.

Planner

Calendar tools are very important for keeping track of your online assignments. Most computers come with a scheduling program of some kind, and there are dozens available to download for free. There are also lots of excellent online calendars that can even send email or text reminders. Many e-mail programs have calendar features that make it easy to keep track of reminders and new assignments.

Dictionary and Thesaurus

There lots of online dictionary programs and thesauruses to choose from. You can bookmark the links or add a shortcut to your desktop for quick and easy access while working on an assignments or paper.

Folders

Treat your computer folders like real folders, make one for each class and clearly label it. Putting shortcuts to these folders on the desktop will make it even easier to find what you are looking for. No more last-minute file searching!

Calculator

Ever need to determine what score you need on your next test, or double-check a fact? Most students do this regularly so having a calculator within arm’s reach can make life easier. Most computers come with a calculator program, and you can make a shortcut on the desktop so you can access it quickly.

Sticky Notes

There are always times when you need to jot down a quick note or write yourself a reminder. Sticky note programs vary, but most of them allow you to pick the color of the note and place them on your desktop, where you won’t miss it, just like in real life.

How you prepare for online school can help determine how successful you are in your program. Just remember, nearly anything you can use in a real classroom will likely have an online equivalent.