Finals is always a stressful time for both professors and students alike. The last thing that anybody needs is having a piece of technology die on them in the middle of writing a paper. It's awful and traumatic and I have seen one too many times where someone has lost their twelve page final because of poor habits in regards to technology. Don't be that person! Follow these rules and you should be just fine to survive and conquer finals!
1. Backup your most valuable and needed papers.
Like now. Like I mean right now. Like I mean once you are done reading this fantastic, informative article, go get a USB drive and backup that term paper and anything that is connected to it. That, or invest in a Google account and backup your data on Google Drive. You will thankful for it if an emergency happens.
2. Manually save often.
Don't rely on auto-save to have your back. That's like relying on a very drunk friend to look out for you at the bar. If a computer crashes, it is possible to recover the data IF you have saved it.
3. Get your computer checked out if anything weird is happening before finals.
That weird sound your computer has been making for the past month? Have it checked out before it becomes an even bigger problem. That will save a lot of drama down the road when you do not have time, but you do have paper due the next day. There is the excuse that it is not convenient at the time, but some times definitely are more convenient than others.
4. Don't wait till the last second to print.
During finals week, the printers are continuously overwhelmed and over stressed. The printers always seem to fail right when you need them to work. Send your document twice to the printers, just in case the printer you release your print job from fails. That way you can still print from another printer and have time to spare.
5. Test your presentations in the classroom you will be presenting in.
It's always best to run a rough draft presentation in the classroom to get a sense of the space and to make any needed adjustments. See what the technology in the classroom is like and make sure your computer is compatible and that your presentation will display.
Finals are stressful enough without the worries over technology. Be sure to set yourself up for success with these tips and you should be fine.
