10 Essential Tech Tipsfor a Safer and Easier School Year

As I write this there is a student’s laptop sitting on my bench. When I powered it on, here is what I found all at once:

• a screen that had stopped showing a picture
• a charger that had quit so the battery was not charging
• a keyboard that had keys not responding
• and THEN no security software at all (not even the free protection Windows comes with)

One computer, four separate problems, days before a new school year.

None of it was on anyone’s radar until it all stopped working at the same time. That is almost always how it goes, and it is exactly what this checklist is here to prevent. You do not have to be a “tech person” to get ahead of it. Here is the plain-English list I would hand to any family before a new school year starts.

The back-to-school tech checklist

1. Put real security on every device

All devices are susceptible to malicious software (malware). Phones, tablets, and laptops can all get hit, not just Windows PCs. Make sure each one has real protection, not just the bare minimum. I recommend and configure Avast Premium Security. Here’s the great part for you. One license can cover an entire household, up to 10 devices for up to 3 years, so everyone stays protected together.

2. Lock every device

Make sure all of your student’s devices have the ability to lock with a passcode or pattern required to unlock them. This helps to prevent unwanted intrusion while at school and in public. Even the quickest trip to the restroom or vending machine can allow access to devices and sensitive data.

3. Charging Devices Should Be Part of the Bedtime Routine

It’s 7am, there’s school, then sports practice after, and your kiddo has to call you to let you know when practice will be over, but the phone didn’t get plugged in and now the battery is at a mere 15% and it’s not going to last through the day. Now there’s panic, frustration, and the day starts out miserable for everyone for lack of a power cord the night before. Pro Tip: It’s a good, healthy idea to charge devices far away from the bed and have a separate alarm clock to ensure better sleep quality. 5G exposure before bed can alter brain patterns, making it take even longer to get to sleep especially when paired with intense blue-light.

4. Set Up a Shared Family Calendar

So next week there’s a play on Tuesday, a concert on Friday, and a game on Saturday. Or was the game on Friday and the concert was on Tuesday?? A shared family calendar through a free service like Google allows a calendar to be set up, shared with everyone and even color-coded for each individual’s events. It can help keep the chaos of multiple schedules lined up for everyone to stay informed including reminders of upcoming events and even tests.

5. Procrastination sets everyone back

“I’ll get to that tomorrow.” We’ve all said it. The next day comes, but tomorrow never does. Now there’s a book report and an essay due in the morning and only enough paper and ink in the printer for one of them. How do you choose which gets printed and which doesn’t? Stocking up on some backup supplies is a great way to make the nights easier and the following mornings smoother. And when an issue arises with your tech, it’s best to get it taken care of right away. A little preventive maintenance now can alleviate days of frustration later. Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

6. Devices fail

Everything that works, works right up until it doesn’t. You should always have a current backup. When I was in school, it was a common joke, “My dog ate my homework.” Today it’s a very real thing to consider, “My computer ate my homework.” All of a sudden that 20-page report that’s due first thing in the morning disappears when the late night glass of water gets spilled on the laptop. It’s no longer just going to be a computer repair bill. The costs may include grades, self-confidence, or even graduation. It’s not worth risking no backup solution. And if you need a full-family backup solution, we’ve got you covered.

7. Blue Light, Red Light, No Light

From childhood, our brains learn “daytime light means we’re awake, and sunset light means it’s time to wind down.” For most of us, the screens from our devices emit a daytime level of high-intensity blue light that mimics daytime. This has a tendency to keep us awake and make us more restless at night when we’re staring at our screens late at night. Consider using an app like “f.lux” that schedules your screens to turn more red at night to help ease your eyes and minds into being able to sleep better. Also, at least an hour before bedtime, is the best time to turn the screens off entirely to let your brain wind down so you can get better quality sleep and wake up more rested.

8. Show and Tell at Home

This can be a fun one. If your child uses a device, app, or website that you don’t really understand, ask them to “teach you” or just show you how it works. Children absolutely LOVE to be the teacher to their parents. This kind of experience allows them also to work on their communication and leadership skills. Bonus: You don’t even have to become a master of the technology; just gain a better understanding of the tech options your child is actively using. Learning from them early can also encourage their willingness to continue to share other developments in their world, not just the tech.

9. Spend Time Away From Technology

A muscle that uses a brace too often, becomes dependent on that brace and stops building strength. Leading research shows that our brains can become dependent, and not work right without, our technology. Remember to spend time exercising yours and your child’s brains with “tech free time”. The most successful people in the world make time to unplug and read books. And thought-provoking, creative board games are a wonderful way to spend time together and exercise your brain at the same time.

10. Ask for Assistance

While preparing for another full school year may seem overwhelming, remember to use your resources. If you can’t find the answers, here at The Computer Solution, we’re more than happy to help you with the answers you need, or point you in the right direction to find them. All assessments come free of charge with honest, heart-felt answers to get you and your family on the right track again.

A word on cost, and the student discount

I will be straight with you: I charge premium rates, because I do not cut corners and I stand behind every repair and always provide a quality guarantee on all of my results. I also know a household with kids in school is working within a budget. So here is how I bridge that. I take 20% off all my services for students, and 20% off for military families. That discount is on the work itself; parts are separate. It means your student can get real, no-shortcuts help without paying a full-premium price for it.

Get ahead of the year (it costs nothing to start)

The best time to catch all of this is a few weeks before school starts, while there is still room to order a part or fix an issue without a deadline breathing down your neck. My diagnostics and assessments are always free, no cost and no obligation, and we can do it remotely or you can drop the machine off. When you are ready, check in your computer here, or if you would rather just talk it through first, reach out here. If security is the piece you are unsure about, here is why the free antivirus alone will not cover you.

Let’s make sure the only surprises this school year are the good kind.