According to an Ispos-Reid study, 72 per cent of Canadians now have high-speed Internet connections at home, providing that ever essential link to online resources for students.

Also, wireless Internet access is quickly becoming common for students, with 19 per cent of Canadians enjoying wireless connectivity. Upgrading to a wireless router and modem helps students of any age to access the Internet for information from anywhere in the home. And online portals, such as Sympatico.MSN.ca, provide free access to great tools such as MSN Encarta, a virtual reference library. These types of content rich resources are part of the reason for the Internet's popularity.

E-mail is another popular tech tool for students wanting to share research and communicate with their teachers and experts. Of course, one of the best ways to collaborate online is via instant messaging which offers video and audio connectivity that can be shared amongst two or more people. Now students in remote communities can connect with teachers regardless of location. They can send and receive documents and benefit from classrooms without boundaries.

Students are also not bound to their homes or dorms. Today's cell phones let students:

• View and send e-mail;

• Interact with instant messaging tools; and

• Send digital photos and videos using their cell phone cameras.

Many people may view text messaging as playful communication rather than meaningful work. It's hard to challenge the advantage of instantly capturing a thought or image for a class assignment and then sharing it with your team.

Additionally, public Wireless (Wi-Fi) hotspots enable students with laptops to access the Internet and e-mail in a variety of public spaces. Wi-Fi hotspots are offered at university campuses and retailers such as Mailboxes Etc., which is supported by Bell Canada.

For families with younger children, Bell Mobility's Seek & Find gives parents peace-of-mind, knowing their sons and daughters are where they should be. This location based service works through cell phones equipped with GPS technology that let parents know the exact whereabouts of their children. Users can locate their kids or be alerted via a web site if their son or daughter misses a scheduled appointment such as after-school soccer practice or dinner at grandma's house.

With so many great resources to help students and parents, going back to school has never been better.