Categories: Blog

Tech I Can’t Live Without: The Essential Tools for Teaching and Learning on the Go

As someone who has spent years working in both education and technology, having the right tools has become essential to how I teach, learn, and work. Whether I’m in a classroom, teaching remotely, or traveling, the right tech setup allows me to stay productive and organized. From powerful laptops to reliable cloud storage, here’s the must-have technology that helps me keep everything running smoothly—wherever I go.


1. My Laptop: The Heart of Everything

At the center of my entire workflow is my laptop. Whether I’m developing course content, working on my website, or collaborating with students, my laptop does it all. After testing various models, I’ve found that Dell is the best fit for my needs, especially when juggling multiple tasks and traveling often.

  • Why Dell?
    • Durability: The Dell XPS and Latitude models are built to handle heavy workloads and constant travel.
    • Performance: With powerful processors like the Intel Core i7, long battery life, and sharp displays, Dell laptops make multitasking between projects, course development, and online teaching seamless.
    • Portability: Lightweight and compact, the Dell XPS is easy to carry around without sacrificing performance.

While HP Spectre x360 offers excellent design and flexibility, I’ve consistently found Dell to be the better choice for serious performance, especially when working with larger projects and travel.


2. A Good Backpack: The Perfect Travel Companion

All this great tech isn’t going anywhere without a solid backpack to keep everything secure and organized. Over the years, I’ve relied on SwissGear backpacks for their durability, comfort, and organization.

  • Why SwissGear?
    • Durability: SwissGear backpacks are designed to endure the wear and tear of travel. From international flights to everyday use, they hold up incredibly well.
    • Organization: With plenty of pockets and compartments, these backpacks make it easy to store everything from my laptop and flash drives to notebooks and chargers.
    • Comfort: The ergonomic design helps distribute weight evenly, making it comfortable to carry my tech gear, even when the bag is fully loaded.

The SwissGear Laptop Backpack is my go-to, offering ample space and padded compartments to keep my devices secure. For anyone constantly on the move, investing in a durable, well-organized backpack makes all the difference.


3. Google Workspace: Collaborate and Create with Ease

Google Workspace for Education is an essential tool in my teaching toolkit, offering seamless collaboration and content creation options. Whether I’m creating documents, managing assignments, or sharing resources with students, Google Workspace keeps everything in one place and accessible from anywhere.

  • Google Docs: Create lesson plans, study guides, and handouts that can be shared and edited in real-time.
  • Google Slides: Design interactive presentations for lectures or workshops, with easy sharing options.
  • Google Drive: A cloud storage solution where all files are stored securely, accessible across devices.

Google Classroom is especially useful for managing courses, distributing assignments, and keeping students engaged whether in-person or remote.


4. Cloud Storage: Access Anywhere, Anytime

While my laptop is essential, cloud storage ensures that I can access my work from any device, no matter where I am. During my time developing project-based learning content for Sichuan International Studies University, all progress and study guides were placed on eWanderer (in its early form) for easy access by students. This flexibility allowed me to collaborate and share resources efficiently.

  • Recommended Service: Google Drive is my top choice for cloud storage. It’s reliable, integrates seamlessly with other tools I use, and offers enough space to store and share documents, presentations, and course materials with ease.

Cloud storage is also crucial for backup and peace of mind. With everything stored in the cloud, I never worry about losing important files, even if something happens to my laptop.


5. Quizlet: Making Learning Fun for Young Students

Quizlet is a fantastic tool, especially when working with younger students. It allows me to create interactive study aids like flashcards and quizzes, helping students engage with the material in a fun, easy-to-understand way.

  • Why Quizlet?
    • Interactive Learning: Flashcards, games, and quizzes make studying engaging for students of all ages.
    • Customizable: I can create my own study sets tailored to the lesson content or use the vast library of pre-made study sets.
    • Shareable: Students can access the study sets via a link or by embedding them into a website, making it easy to integrate with eWanderer.

6. My Website: A Central Hub for Learning and Content Sharing

Years ago, when I was developing content at Sichuan International Studies University, my website—eWanderer—became the central hub for all materials related to my project-based learning curriculum. Today, my website serves as both a teaching resource and a professional portfolio, allowing me to share knowledge and materials with a broader audience.

  • Why a Website?
    • Content Distribution: Hosting study guides, progress updates, and educational materials on my website ensures that students and collaborators can access what they need, anytime.
    • Professional Presence: Beyond being a learning platform, eWanderer allows me to maintain a professional online presence where I can share blog posts, projects, and insights with a global audience.

For educators and professionals alike, having a dedicated website is a game-changer. It enables students to engage with your content outside of class, offers a platform for collaboration, and serves as a repository for all your resources.


7. Canva: The Adult Learner’s Design Tool

For older students or creating professional-quality visuals, Canva has become my go-to design tool. Whether I’m creating lesson aids, infographics, or social media posts for my website, Canva offers intuitive design options without needing advanced graphic design skills.

  • Why Canva?
    • Customizable Templates: Canva offers thousands of templates that make creating worksheets, presentations, or social media graphics a breeze.
    • Ease of Use: No design experience needed; Canva’s drag-and-drop editor is simple and effective.
    • Collaboration: I can easily share my designs with colleagues or students and even allow them to make edits.

Canva’s free version is robust, but its Pro version offers additional tools and design elements for those looking to take their creations to the next level.


8. Multi-Port Adapter: Connecting Everything

In a world where laptops are getting slimmer and lighter, multi-port adapters are essential for connecting all your devices. Whether I’m linking my laptop to a projector, an external hard drive, or other peripherals, having a reliable adapter makes the process seamless.

  • Recommended Adapter: The Anker USB-C Hub is my go-to. With multiple USB ports, HDMI, and SD card readers, it covers every connection I need, allowing me to be fully equipped in any classroom or remote setting.

9. Projector: For Presentations and Classroom Engagement

When delivering lectures or hosting meetings, a portable projector is invaluable. While working at Sichuan International Studies University, I often used a projector to make my lessons more interactive, whether in large classrooms or smaller group settings.

  • Why I Use It: A projector allows me to present detailed content, videos, or real-time demonstrations, engaging students in ways that traditional teaching methods sometimes can’t. It also serves as a great tool for online or hybrid teaching.

10. Flash Drives: Quick Data Transfer and Backup

Even with cloud storage, flash drives remain one of the most practical tools for quick file transfers and backups. When I need to share large presentations, documents, or even course materials, flash drives provide a simple, reliable solution.

  • Why They’re Essential: Flash drives allow for immediate data transfers when Wi-Fi is unavailable or cloud access is limited. I also use them to back up important materials and store website content that I may need to update while traveling.

Conclusion: The Tech That Powers My Teaching and Learning

Whether I’m in a classroom, working remotely, or traveling, the technology I use enables me to stay organized, productive, and engaged with my students and collaborators. From my Dell laptop to a good backpack, cloud storage, and my personal website, each tool plays a critical role in making sure I’m always ready for whatever comes next.

If you’re an educator or a professional who’s often on the go, these tools will help you stay connected, organized, and prepared—no matter where you are. With the right setup, you can create a mobile classroom or workspace that lets you work efficiently, engage with others, and maintain your peace of mind.

The eWanderer

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