A student does not have it easy these days. The standard of education is actually increasing and an individual is expected to have even more equipment as his or her disposal than ever before. This applies to online education students just as much as campus students, if not more so. There is an entire list of equipment that individuals will need to ensure that they actually get through their course and perform all of the tasks and functions that they are supposed to do before set deadlines. Many individuals do not believe that the initial set up is important financially because they concentrate on the fees and other similar costs. However, this is not the case and the sooner an individual student realises it, the sooner they can begin to budget for the tools that they will need to purchase.
Unfortunately, all of the tools listed below are important and non-negotiable. They can also be extremely important in ensuring your success!
Internet – An online education student will always need the Internet, this goes largely without saying. However, it does matter what type of Internet connection that the individual user has. Dial up is often unreliable and extremely slow, which will probably not be of use if you are uploading big files when it comes to submitting work. However, it can also work out to be extremely expensive, which is important when it comes to actually spending time on the Internet to research material needed to complete assignments, papers and tests. It is an important method of communication and may be the only way that you can actually access all of the information needed to complete your course, so make sure that you have a LAN connection or similar!
Computer – This goes without saying really. You cannot connect to the Internet without a computer; neither can you do your work without one. A laptop is often far more apt for an individual looking to complete their studies online because you can take it almost anywhere. If you cannot get any work done at home then you will be able to take it to a coffee shop or a library and complete your work there just as well, if not better, than you could at home. There is no data transfer required. You just have to pick it up and go!
Course texts and other materials – You must have the required texts and information to be able to complete all of the assignments given to you, but it may actually take far more of your money than you believe. Books are extremely expensive, even the downloadable versions. You would also need to pay for access to other resources online that may prove to be of value to you. However, Leaving it until the last minute to get hold of any material risks not getting it at all. It is therefore important that you purchase it before you start. This may affect your initial outlay but it will ensure that you everything you need at your fingertips.
The materials costs also includes purchasing access to online libraries and similar places that can provide you with old texts and documents that you may not be able to find in your local library. If your local library were far from comprehensive then you would be well advised to actually purchase an online book-lending package. Some universities and colleges will ship books to you under rental terms. Again, this will cost you but it will give you every chance you need to complete your degree to the highest standard possible.
Of course, there are many more expenses than those listed on here. You would have to investigate every single avenue open to you to ensure that you have taken all possible costs into account. They will soon mount up and will often leave you feeling depressed, but there is absolutely no way that you can afford to neglect any of them if you do want to obtain your degree through fair means and hard work!