6 Best Laptops for Teachers in 2021 For In Class and Home Schooling
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Laptops are now indispensable for every teacher and educator, whether it is to improve the dynamics of classroom teaching or to facilitate online courses.
A good laptop not only allows for easy and effective communication with students, parents and other teachers, but also changes the way teachers can communicate with their students. Moreover, using a laptop computer makes other learning tasks easy and convenient. That includes things like:
- give presentations
- Preparation of training material
- Printing of the written exam papers
- Manage online exams
- Conducting online courses
- Delivery of online tasks
- monitoring progress
- Task monitoring and planning
- Project-based learning
- Scientific work
You see, laptops help teachers to adapt easily in this complex and ever-changing technological world and, more importantly, laptops help teachers to help their students better. So, if you are looking for the best laptop for teachers, read on!
Requirements for notebooks
You may think it’s easy to buy a laptop for studying – after all, you don’t need fancy graphics cards and 4K screens, do you? While this is true, there are still some requirements to make a laptop suitable for all tasks and activities related to education.
| Minimum requirements | Recommended requirements | |
| Processor | Intel Core i5 of the 8. Revival | Intel Core i7 out of 10. Revival |
| Graphics card | Integrated Intel HD 615 | Integrated Intel UHD 620 |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16GB |
| Storage | 256 GB SOLID STATE DRIVE | 512 GB SSD |
| show | 13.3 Full HD | 15.6 Full HD IPS |
| Battery life | ~5 hours. | ~ 8 hours ~ |
| WiFi card | AC Wi-Fi | WiFi AX |
| Keyboard | Lighting | Backlit, with numeric keypad |
In addition to these elements, it is also very useful for a learning laptop to have low travel keys, full HD resolution webcams and, nowadays, aluminum housings that are much easier to clean and disinfect.
Our favourite laptops for teachers
Now that you know what to look for in teacher laptops, let’s take a look at our best picks for 2021:
Acer Aspire 5 Slim Notebook
If you’re looking for the best laptop for teachers in 2021, check out the Acer Aspire 5 Slim laptop. It’s a good choice for many reasons: First, it is easy to transport while being powerful, and second, it is economical, making it affordable for teachers with lower salaries.
One of the many things we like about this laptop is that it is equipped with a dual-core AMD Ryzen Series 3 processor that can handle the most demanding tasks. It also has all the important features of a notebook, such as a dedicated graphics card, an ultra-fast SSD drive and decent battery life.
The Aspire 5 also features a 15-inch Full HD display with slim frames. This means you can see more, do more and enjoy sharp images while you work (or play). Overall, Acer does very well with this model and gives us one of the best laptops currently available for on-the-go performance.
- 15.6 Full HD IPS Display
- AMD Ryzen 3 3000 CPU
- AMD Radeon Vega 3 mobile graphics processor
- 4GB DDR4 FRAME, 126GB SSD
- 7.5 hours battery life
2020 Asus Vivo Book 17.3
One of the few notebooks on the market that promises the best of both worlds when it comes to work and leisure is the Asus Vivobook 17.3 2020. It really is an amazing option, as it manages to be compact enough for its 17-inch profile. This is probably due to the thin bezel, which not only looks great, but also allows for a certain distance between them.
The Vivobook also comes with many other great features, such as a quad-core processor, RX Vega 10 graphics card, and dual memory that will help you do just about anything without too much effort.
We could keep talking about the pretty impressive hardware configurations of this laptop, but what really impresses us is the way it can provide you with the most comfortable and productive experience. This is all thanks to the immersive screen, which still offers an HD camera despite its slim bezel, and the ErgoLift hinge, which makes it more comfortable to type on.
- 15 to 17 Full HD LED screen
- AMD Quad Core Ryzen 7 3700U CPU
- AMD Radeon RX Vega 10 GPU
- 12GB DDR4 FRAME, 512GB SSD
- 9 hours battery life
Apple MacBook Air
And for MacOS users, the best Apple laptop for e-learning is the Apple MacBook Air. It’s also a popular choice, for many obvious reasons. For starters, it’s the most portable laptop on this list, thanks to its 13.3-inch size, making it ideal for working on the go without sacrificing comfort or viewing experience.
If you’re not impressed with the True Tone Retina Display in Full HD with LED backlighting, we don’t know what will be. With the Triple T alone, you can comfortably look at your laptop screen even if you do it all day, because the screen’s white balance automatically adjusts to the ambient light.
Anyway, this laptop has a lot to offer with its hardware features. But what this pie really needs are smart features like a T2 chip that guarantees full disk encryption and secure boot up, as well as a Hey Siri feature that lets you perform your tasks and more via voice commands.
- 13.3 Full HD Retina Display
- 1.6 GHz Intel Core i5 processor
- Intel UHD 617 GPU
- DRUM 8GB, 128GB SSD
- 12 hours battery life
Apple MacBook Pro
Even more powerful than MacBook Air, Apple’s MacBook Pro is the brand’s most powerful notebook. It is equipped with an ultra-fast Intel Core i9 processor that features an advanced thermal design and provides enough processing power to boost performance. Equally impressive are the new generation graphics, which offer superior graphic performance.
But as a teacher, that may not be what you focus on, so let’s talk about the other features of this laptop. For example, the keyboard. It’s comfortable, responsive, quiet and packed with features that make your workflow smoother and more efficient.
There’s also a studio-quality microphone and six-speaker sound system that makes classroom presentations and online courses even more realistic, True Tone Retina Display technology that makes working on your computer more enjoyable, an impressive ultra-fast memory capacity and a T2 chip that protects your data, and much more.
- 13 to 16 illuminated LEDs for the retina.
- Intel Core i9 CPU
- AMD Radeon Pro 5000M Graphics Processor
- 16GB RAM, 512GB to 1TB SSD.
- 11 hours battery life
Lenovo IdeaPad 3
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is also hailed by many as the best laptop for online education. It’s an entry-level lightweight laptop that may not be the most powerful device on the market, but it’s certainly handy, works well, and is very functional when it comes to performing a variety of daily tasks, such as B. document insertion, online search, video chats, etc.
It promises long-lasting performance with a decent Ryzen Series 5 processor and 7 hours of battery life. In fact, thanks to the processor’s multi-core computing power, you can accomplish so much in a short period of time. There’s even a Q-Control that lets you easily switch from battery-saving mode to maximum mode when you need it.
We also love the immersion of this laptop’s screen, which is a great advantage for any online work. You get a slim, framed 14-inch screen in Full HD resolution that offers excellent image clarity.
- 14-inch Full HD display
- Processor AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
- AMD Radeon Vega 8 GPU
- 8GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD
- 7 hours battery life
Asus VivoBook 15
Finally, there’s the Asus VivoBook 15, a smaller version of the VivoBook 17.3 we already tested. This can be a great advantage because you get a more portable laptop that you can more easily take anywhere, for example. B. if you skip classes or take work home after school.
Like the larger VivoBook, this model also features a frameless NanoEdge display and an HD camera. It also features a convenient ErgoLift hinge that increases viewing and writing positions, an ergonomic backlit keyboard, and numerous connectivity options that are a must for teachers and students alike.
The 15-inch VivoBook has a smaller feature set than the larger version, but the hardware is still powerful enough to handle most everyday tasks. So there’s nothing to worry about, especially considering that this model costs almost half the price of the 17-inch VivoBook. It also has a fingerprint reader for one-touch connectivity.
- 15 Full HD Touch Screen
- Intel Core i3-1005G1 CPU
- Intel UHD GPU
- 8GB DDR4 RAM, 128GB SSD
- 7 hours battery life
What to look for in a textbook
In this day and age, especially now that everyone seems to be using the online classroom, teachers need to be able to adapt and stay up-to-date, which in most cases means having constant access to appropriate devices such as laptops and tablets.
But even for teachers who do not teach specialized courses, such as computer science, there are certain requirements and specifications that teachers should look for when choosing the right laptop.
To find the best computer for teachers, these factors must be taken into account:
Type of training
First, what kind of training do you usually do? This is an important point because it touches on some of the necessary specifications and system requirements for your laptop.
Establishment class
For example, if you study mostly in class and stay in the same class all day, you don’t have to worry about laptop weight and battery life because you don’t have your laptop with you and you always have an outlet behind you.
It is best to use a large laptop so that students can easily see what is on the screen without using a projector. By the way, you’ll also need lots of different ports for projectors, TV screens, speakers, and anything else you want to connect to your laptop during class.
Fieldwork
Of course, if you’re teaching in a classroom but moving from one class to another, you need to strike a good balance between screen size and portability. Or, if the nature of your class doesn’t require many laptops (such as hands-on work, internships, etc.), you may not even need a laptop and can get by with a cheaper, more portable tablet.
Then the Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 9.7-inch, 32GB tablet is perfect for you.
Online Classes
However, when it comes to a laptop for online education, the bigger the better, and weight and battery life are not a priority. The most important thing is to have an HD webcam and a high quality microphone to be able to do the scale courses correctly.
Note that many recent models have abandoned cameras in favor of larger screens and thinner frames, so you may need to purchase a separate webcam. In this case, a webcam with a full HD 1080P streaming camera would be a good option.
Display
One of the first things you need to address is the display. It’s not just about the size of the screen, but also other factors like resolution and brightness. If you are more interested in the technical and visual fields, we are talking about pixels, frame rate, etc.
Let’s talk about the size of the screen. Let’s look at the resolution and brightness first.
In terms of resolution, the higher it is, the better it is up to a point, which means you shouldn’t settle for anything less than full HD unless you want your eyes to bleed after looking at the screen for an hour, but also don’t waste time with a 4K screen if you’re really going to use it.
Brightness is especially important if you use your devices a lot outdoors, as your screen will have to compete with sunlight, not to mention harsh shadows and reflections. In this scenario, a glossy, sharp, matte anti-reflective display is best.
Screen size
As for the size of the screen, here’s what you need to consider:
The 13-inch screens are small and compact, which is ideal for those who are always on the go, as the notebook doesn’t weigh too much and can be easily stored in a backpack. They can also be suitable for e-learning if you’re not too concerned with displays, or if you’re not doing hardware tasks because you can’t fit everything into a small laptop.
15-inch screens are best suited for all applications. They’re big enough not to tire your eyes out after hours of working at the computer, and small enough that you can take them anywhere. 15-inch laptops also have better hardware than their smaller counterparts, making them better suited for things like video editing, programming, and MMORPG gaming.
17 screens are big, bulky and heavy, but you have such a large workspace that it’s fine if you’re always giving presentations in front of an audience and don’t want to use/have access to a projector, or if you have a dedicated workspace at home and don’t go anywhere with your laptop.
Touch screen: Yes or no?
If you don’t mind, you should use the touch screen. This is incredibly useful for many classroom activities and especially for online learning. Thanks to the touch screen function, online and face-to-face courses can be made much more interesting, engaging and interactive.
You are not limited to the mouse pad for demonstrations and exercises: You can point your hand at things on the screen, zoom in and move things around like Iron Man with JARVIS, write words, draw circles and simply have more control and flexibility.
In fact, some learning platforms like VIPKID offer interactive classrooms where touch screens can be very useful.
Battery life
Laptop battery life may or may not be an important factor depending on the environment in which you use the computer. As we mentioned earlier, if you primarily teach private lessons or online courses in the comfort of your own home, you can just keep your laptop plugged in all day.
Although, of course, this can damage your battery over time. Also, a decent battery life is never a bad thing, especially if you use programs that consume a lot of power or if you spend hours bending over your computer, or if you use your z laptop. For example, for nursing school, where you are always on the go.
Communication
No matter what kind of education you do or what kind of class you have, it’s always good to have a laptop that has multiple ports so you don’t have problems connecting things like projectors and external screens.
Yet most of the best laptops in 2021, or virtually all modern thin and light laptops, suffer from a collective lack of connectivity. This means that you will probably have to buy adapters. They are not practical to transport, but the advantage is that they are quite cheap and easy to replace.
Weight
We have said several times that weight is not that important if the laptop is used mostly stationary. We don’t think you need to sit back and find the lightest laptop – even 1 or 2 pounds will do.
Besides, who needs a heavy laptop? Of course, if you’re looking for the best laptops for web design or a similar field, you may not have a choice because all these high-end configurations add a lot of weight to a laptop, but at the end of the day, a laptop is made to be mobile so it should be light enough.
Processor and RAM
In terms of hardware, the processor and memory are the most important parts of laptops for teachers as they ensure flawless and error-free operation. With the right processor and RAM, you’ll get fast, responsive operation that makes working effortless and lag-free.
In this case, the best computer for online courses is one with an average processor and at least 8 to 16 GB of memory, so that you always have enough power and memory to run different applications, often simultaneously.
Storage
It’s the storage that’s important, not the brain. The question is, how much RAM do you need, and is it available in your laptop?
External hard drives and cloud storage have become so common that many laptop users prefer them for many reasons, including B. to free up space on your laptop, B. to provide additional security for external backups, and C. to have your files available when you need them.
Of course, even with that you need a decent amount of memory in your laptop to store applications, multimedia files, games, etc. In terms of storage space, opt for a combination of SSD and hard drive (e.g. SSD 128 gb + 1 TB hard drive), or if you can afford it, opt for a high capacity SSD.
Operating system and software
As for the operating system, it really depends on which operating system you prefer, unless you need to use certain applications that only work on Windows or MacOS. Again: Make sure everything you need is compatible with the chosen operating system.
Still, you should avoid Chromebooks as much as possible, because you’ll likely need to use a handful of programs that aren’t in the Chrome app store, and you’ll have trouble installing and running them without a proper operating system.
Of course, there are exceptions, like B. OneNoteforTeachers.com is an excellent platform for planning and creating lessons, implementing curriculum, organizing your assignments and activities, and facilitating collaboration between students and other teachers. This software is available on all major operating systems, including ChromeOS.
A list of other popular programs for teachers can be found here or here.
Graphics card
In most cases, an entry-level integrated GPU is more than adequate for a teacher’s laptop. You’ll be able to do many things, including streaming videos and participating in virtual classes. Of course, it’s always important to consider the software and applications you use frequently (work-related or not), and see if these programs have any graphics requirements.
Wifi card
One extremely important thing for laptops in the Covid 19 pandemic is a reliable WiFi card that allows you to connect wirelessly to your internet router and, more importantly, maintain a stable connection even when the internet is saturated in or around your home (which is common for anyone working or studying at home).
Apparently all modern laptops are equipped with WiFi cards. So it’s more a matter of which WiFi card you have and whether it’s the most efficient and cost-effective option.
Control panel
You may not be an avid gamer or a crazy novelist, but even if your fingers aren’t flying around the keyboard like a professor, you still type a lot, with all the emails, reports, presentations, exams, and a host of other things.
Therefore, the best computer for a teacher is one with a good keyboard, which means it should be comfortable, responsive, ergonomic, have a good range of motion, and have good backlighting. You may not know it, but a good keyboard can make the difference between tight fingers and lightning fast typing.
Price
Of course, you also need to consider your budget. You don’t need high-end specs for the teacher’s notebook, which means you have to spend much less on a notebook than in other professions. The ideal price range is between $500 and $1,000 – in fact, the best notebook for teachers in 2021, the Acer Aspire 5, is even cheaper!
Service and warranty
Finally, review the service and warranty options for the laptop before clicking the checkout button. Adequate coverage and warranty terms are important not only to protect your investment, regardless of the price of your laptop, but also to quickly resolve any issues that may arise when using your laptop.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to do to use my laptop for e-learning?
The first and most important thing is to make sure it meets all the requirements we’ve already talked about, such as B. Display, battery life, connectivity, device specifications, etc. You should also test your webcam and microphone, or if you use external devices, make sure they are compatible with your laptop.
Once that happens, here’s what to do:
- Get a stable and reasonably fast internet connection.
- Download all necessary applications such as Zoom, OneNote, Skype, etc.
- Sign up for these programs, create your account and get to know how they work.
- When you’re ready, set up your schedule and prepare everything you need for your online courses.
- Send the link of the meeting to your students and seize the opportunity!
Are laptops better than desktops for learning?
It all depends on your personal preferences and how you want to use the computer. Ask yourself if you will only use the device in a fixed office or if you will need to use it on the go. Even if you just want to lie in bed or on the couch while you work, because you can’t do those things at your desk at work.
Ultimately, the best computer for teachers, whether it’s a desktop or laptop, is the one that best suits your needs.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the type of laptop that is best for you should depend on what you plan to do with it – the type of courses you teach, your field of study, the type of tasks you normally do on the computer, and whether you can do other activities, such as editing videos or playing games.
Still, we recommend the Acer Aspire 5 as the best laptop for teachers because it has a powerful hardware configuration that can handle just about anything, but is still light and compact, which doesn’t sacrifice portability or performance on the go.
How about you? Which is the best laptop for you?
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