PLANNING AND LEADERSHIP FOR A BETTER WORLD
PLANNING AND LEADERSHIP FOR A BETTER WORLD
OK, summer's almost over and now Junior and his sister are headed off to college. They want you to spend about $1,500 for a mega notebook, $60 a month for an iPhone and a grand or two for assorted electronics, printers, always-on Internet access and such. But what do they really need? Here's my top 10.
1. A phone number, not a phone. Before your kids head off to college equipped like a mobile news van, they need to talk to some students. Not just random students at Starbucks, but students who attend the same college they'll be attending and preferably are in the same intended area of study. One of the things they'd be told is to get a decent lock for that mega laptop (Kensington has some good ones). No lock could mean a tearful call to Mom and Pop recounting their first rip-off. Same for iPhones, iPods and BlackBerrys (not a cool college device anymore). And do they really need a super laptop, or is most of their work going to be done in word processing and spreadsheet applications?
Forcing your kids to find some people to call might not sound like a technology achievement, but asking the right people the right questions is a good way to introduce them to college success.
2. The laptop. OK, they will find out they need a laptop. But remember, Mom and Dad, you will become their first call for IT crisis management. Whether you select one of the new netbooks (light, cheap, fairly robust—Dell has a good selection for around $400, but so do the other laptop vendors), a traditional laptop or the Apple alternative, you need to work with the laptop for at least a couple weeks before they head off to college. The last thing you want is to have them calling you telling you they need to go buy Microsoft Office because it didn't come with the system. I'd vote for lighter and robust over super high end. And don't forget a padded case as an alternative to having it rattling around a backpack.
3. The phone. I'd stay cheap and limited, but you are going to get roped into buying an iPhone. Your kids should be willing to pick up part of the tab—that's part of a college education also.
4. Backup. A lost computer is a pain. A lost computer with a full semester of work is a tragic. While you could back up everything you need on a cheap, high-capacity USB drive (I like SanDisk), the problem with USB drives is you have to use them. At least once a week (and more if you are working on final papers, etc.) you have to back up the data. Most people don't think about backup until a crisis hits. I'd suggest an online backup provider (I favor Mozy), which allows you to set and forget. Again, get this set up before you load up the station wagon.
5. A backup laptop. This is probably controversial, but what do you do when Junior calls and says his nifty new laptop is lost or stolen or sitting in the rain or was drowned while serving as a beer coaster? Get an aging laptop and install Ubuntu or one of the other free Linux programs, but be sure to take a little time to get used to OpenOffice and the (fairly minor) quirks of Linux. OpenOffice does fine with Microsoft Office these days. You may never need to ship the laptop to Junior, but it will save them getting ripped off as they panic and buy the first laptop they see.
6. Online checking. Do the kids know how to check their balance online? Do you know how to transfer money to their account? You may laugh now, but these may be the two most important technology skills you need to get your kid through college.
7. Skype and a Webcam. How do you know your clean-shaven, conservatively dressed son is now sporting a Dayglo Mohawk and really interesting tattoos? Once a week you want to talk to your kids via Skype or one of the many competing video IP systems. The investment in Skype and a Webcam (I like Logitech) is worth the money to really see how they are doing away from the nest.
8. Distance learning and distance tutoring. I could make a decent argument that online college makes the most sense for students who want a quality education without the brutal costs. I think the college with the best distance learning program is the University of Massachusetts. If your kids are convinced they cannot get the full experience of college happy hours without being there, there are still some great distance tutoring services around. Have your kids get out of the dorm and walk around asking questions about the tutoring aid available.
9. Search is more than Google. And writing a paper takes more than cut and paste. You need to have a talk with Junior and sis about plagiarism and real original research. In addition to finding the student union cafeteria, they need to find the library. There are search engines tuned to specific disciplines. On the other hand, professors are well-versed in spotting and checking for plagiarism. There aren't too many things that will get you tossed out on your ear without any hope of tuition reimbursement, but handing in a downloaded, stolen paper is one of them. Don't equate stealing music (which you shouldn't do either) with stealing research or papers.
10. The best technology may be no technology. Living in the tech cocoon of e-mail, Facebook, iTunes and Twitter may seem like real life to an entering college student, but it isn't. The best part about college should be getting out and encountering new ideas, challenging subjects and students from round the world. Tell your kids to leave the tech aside once in awhile and go for a walk around. Learning by walking around has worked for everyone from some of the greatest thinkers through some of the greatest businessmen. Try it.
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