Hey, #PashFam! Back to school shopping might look a little different this year, so Passion Planner wants you to be fully ready for your distance learning experience. 

Distance learning is an education that is facilitated online, rather than a classroom. As the face of schooling is changing to a completely virtual experience, we are here to make sure you have everything you need to succeed.

Here’s a list of unique school supplies for online learning that college and high school students need for the upcoming school year. 

1. LAPTOP TRAY - $34

A laptop tray is a staple for distance learning, especially if you are doing work on your bed, couch, or floor. These trays are portable, so they can be used wherever you go. It has a mini drawer to place your pens, notepads, stickers, or any other fun school supplies. It’s adjustable to lay flat or angle toward you, and even includes holes to prevent your laptop from overheating.

2. BLUE LIGHT BLOCKING GLASSES - $20

Distance learning can require you to be on your computer, tablet, or phone for a long period of time. Digital screens have a harmful blue light that can cause headaches and eye strain. These blue light blocking glasses have protective layers on the lenses to block harmful blue light from your screens. One thing we love about them is that they come in a two-pack, which provides a spare for your backpack. There are a variety of pairs to choose from that match your style. These glasses are non-prescription, so if you already wear glasses, consider investing in blue light blocking lenses in your prescription. 

3. PASSION HIGHLIGHTERS (12-pack) - $19.99

Passion Highlighters offer both a chisel tip and a fineliner tip that are water-based and bleed-resistant. The double-sided feature is convenient for school because you can underline with the fine tip and highlight important sections with the chisel tip. The Passion Highlighters come in Essential and Vintage colors so you can choose which aesthetic fits your note-taking needs!

Check out our tips on how to color code with your Passion Highlighters to organize your tasks or classes. 

4. EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE - $50

Learning from home can add more files and programs to your computer that may take up a lot of storage. Another item to add to your list of school supplies for college is an external hard drive. Having an external hard drive is great because it will allow you to have more space on your computer for all of your papers, programs, or other digital resources you need. By storing files that could be slowing down your computer, an external hard drive can also prevent it from stalling or freezing, especially during an important Zoom lecture.

5. NO TOUCH DOOR OPENER TOOL - $16

Keep yourself and others healthy while socially distancing at school. This no-touch door opener is perfect for opening any door without worry! The best part is that you can attach the tool to your car keys, keychain, or lanyard for easy use. Plus, it comes in a pack of five! 

6. ACADEMIC PASSION PLANNER - $35

A good weekly planner is essential to foster a successful school year. The Academic Passion Planner keeps your class schedule and homework assignments organized, while providing space for you to work towards your personal life goals. The Passion Roadmap helps you pursue your dreams by breaking down your long and short-term goals to add to your weekly schedule. The Academic Passion Planner is available in various colors and sizes, so you’ll be able to pick a planner that fits your unique style and needs.

Use a free downloadable PDF of the Academic Passion Planner to take it for a test drive or check out our tips to achieve academic success with your planner. 

7. SNACK BOX SUBSCRIPTION - $22-24/Month

A snack box subscription is a convenient and healthy way to get your snack fix. Snack Sack offers three snack boxes to choose from—Classic, Vegan, or Gluten-free. Each box comes with 11 to 15 different snacks based on the SnackSack of your choice. You can also pick between a 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month subscription. Snack Sack makes it easy to eat healthy, satisfying snacks that will save you time and money on grocery shopping.

8. HD WEBCAM - $35

A reliable webcam is necessary for important meetings, classes, or remote interviews. This webcam films in HD 1080p and comes with a microphone for smooth and clear video experience. The adjustable clip allows you to place the webcam on the top of your computer or any eye-level surface. The best part is its easy installation—you just plug in the USB to your computer, and it connects right away!

9. STAYFOCUSD CHROME EXTENSION - $0

Staying focused can be a challenge for attending school online. It’s easy to spend hours on Netflix, browsing through Facebook and Twitter, and read articles about your zodiac sign. The Chrome extension StayFocused increases your productivity by limiting the amount of time you spend on distracting websites. To optimize your productivity, choose specific websites to block and customize the amount of time you are blocked from visiting it. 

10. GRAMMARLY CHROME EXTENSION - $0-30/Month

Grammarly is a free Chrome extension that eliminates writing mistakes and fixes grammatical errors in real-time. You’ll receive grammar, spelling, and conciseness suggestions as you write your research paper or homework assignment! Grammarly offers a monthly, quarterly, or annual subscription that gives you access to premium features such as tone detection, vocabulary suggestions, plagiarism detection, writing-style checks, and more. From emails to lab reports, Grammarly will allow you to feel at peace as you write for school this year. 

11. IPAD AIR - $479

For a limited time, college students can buy the iPad Air for a discounted price along with free Airpods with their purchase! An iPad Air is a great device for students who prefer taking notes digitally or need a cheaper alternative to a laptop. Digital notes are convenient because they allow you to delete, edit, or stylize your notes whenever you like. It also reduces paper and plastic waste from potentially unfinished notebooks. 

We hope you have a great distance education this year, #PashFam! Need more support for your school year? Visit our list of remote learning resources for students and lifelong learners. 

Share some of your favorite distance learning school supplies for this upcoming school year in the comments!

Author Bio

Joni Cobarrubias is a Social Media Intern at Passion Planner with a love for all things digital. Outside of Passion Planner, she’s a photographer, Etsy shop owner, and advocate for multicultural communities.