Ergonomics strives to improve comfort and efficiency so finding some good ergonomic gadgets and supplies can help make everyday educational tasks a little easier. Here are the essential supplies that any student would benefit from.
Book Bag
The book bag, or backpack, is the quintessential scholastic item. You always need something to carry around your books, paper and supplies. Determining the best book bag can be a bit tricky. First you have to figure out what your actual needs are.Performing an "ergonomic task analysis" can help identify what you actually need the bag to do. Once you have found a bag that will do all you desire, it is important to get one that will not hurt you while doing it. Make sure the bag is the right size for you. Then learn how to properly pack it and not overload it -- otherwise you are in for a year of pain.
Ergonomic Book Bag/Backpack Resources
Paper
Students spend so much time staring at paper, yet you hardly think about its effect on eye strain. Eye strain stretches and frequent breaks help a lot, but so can your paper choice.When it comes to paper, it is all about contrast and brightness. The higher the contrast, the more strain on your eyes. There is no higher contrast than black on white. If the school allows it, use yellow (common on legal pads) or green (common on engineering pads) paper. These colors offer reduced contrast and brightness, easing the strain on the eyes.
Light blue paper also works. Avoid the pink paper since its brightness strains eyes almost as bad as white. If the school insists on white paper, then use colored paper for note taking and practice work.
Pencil/Pen
Chris Adams, Copyright 2006, Licensed to About.com
For older students who use ink pens, you can not beat the Penagain. The Penagain is a revolutionary "Y" shaped pen that virtually eliminates the chance of writer's cramp and is so comfortable and efficient that you'll be done with your writing in no time.
For younger students who use pencils, there is the Penagain Twist N Write pencil. This is a scaled down Penagain sized for smaller hands. It has a #2 lead for standardized testing and it is 2mm thick to prevent breakage. This pencil is quite a boon for those just learning to write.
Ergonomic Pens/Pencils
Erasers
You always need an eraser. No matter what you are doing you should have one handy. An ergonomic eraser is the one the removes the type of mark you have made from the medium you made it on with the control you need.One eraser might be best for general use while another is better for those high pressure, high speed tests. A different type for art class could prove useful. You might even find that one can serve as a stress reliever while you wring it mercilessly. The Great Ergonomic Eraser Roundup should help you narrow your eraser choice.
Ruler
School work often requires straight edges. Whether it is in geometry class, physics or home-ec a ruler is always a handy tool. The problem comes in keeping it flat and in one piece when it is sitting on the bottom of your ergonomic book bag.Enter the Westcott 12-inch Flexible Ribbed Ruler. You can roll this ruler into a ball and pile all of your textbooks on it for weeks and it will still spring back into position.
