As the new semester rolls into DeKalb, some students will take the time and get organized for their classes. Others, however, will joyfully stroll from party to party in oblivious harmony.

Regardless of what you may be doing before the semester begins, it’s important to take a closer look at technology, its learning benefits, and how to realize your learning potential. By using technology on campus, you will increase your odds of improving your grades.

Technology may not be able to give you those A’s in calculus, but it can help you in other ways. It provides you with an easy way to transfer thoughts. Whether you know it or not, NIU is doing its job to keep the Internet and other technology available to students. For example, the Blackboard online service allows professors to post course assignments and material online for students to access from any Internet connection. This is preferable to normal classroom procedure because of its convenience. For example, with Blackboard’s help, we can access notes from the privacy of our own home instead of having to go through the hassle of borrowing them from someone in our class.

More than 1,250 courses are being provided via the Internet according to the Web site www.its.niu.edu. In addition, NIU’s Information Technology Services maintains computer labs that are available all across campus and are free of charge for NIU students. Special tools are available for students with disabilities as well, such as those for the visually impaired.

This may sound like common sense, but I’ve noticed in my past classes that people would tend to stroll right by conveniently located computer labs only to turn in papers that they knew included errors.

Take the time to familiarize yourself with campus technology centers and computer labs. If you figure out the location of the closest computer lab for each of your classes, you just might save yourself from disaster. For example, say you were on your way to class and were reading through your final copy of a research paper. As you read it, you discover an embarrassing typo. What would you do?

The answer is simple. Right before class, go to the nearest computer lab to make necessary changes and a reprint. Taking five minutes to download your paper from your e-mail backup beats running back to your residence hall or hoping your professor will take it late.

Speaking of that e-mail backup, you did make one, right? You should always e-mail yourself a copy of your work. This serves two purposes. First, no matter what happens to your personal computer, there will almost always be a backup of your work. Secondly, it will make your work accessible from any computer connected to the Internet. With the technology available throughout campus, no one should neglect this opportunity.

Be smart about what NIU has to offer. It simply comes down to personal responsibility and perseverance. Get on the right track and end up with better academic results.