Update: Hear more about back-to-school gadgets on Gearlog Radio.

I'm so glad I'm finished with high school/college/grad school. I look back and I can't believe that I spent 19 continuous years writing papers, taking tests, and staying up late studying.

But I still find myself ogling at the kinds of technology that are available to students. I'm not talking about typical products you now need to buy for school, such as laptops, digital cameras, and printers (parents and teens are expected to spend $3.1 billion on CE devices for back to school this year, according to the CEA). I mean the kinds of things you may not have known existed for school. Here's a list of items for the scholar in various subjects. Read Gearlog's Back to School Part II roundup.

SOCIAL STUDIES:

"I like geography. I like to know where places are." -Tom Felton
SmartGlobe 3D Interactive Globe ($100, Shop.com)
A couple of months ago, Oregon Scientific visited our office to tell us about the SmartGlobe 3D Interactive Globe. The SmartGlobe made me realize just how long it's been since geography class! To play, select any of the 30 games and point the pen on the country or city the device tells you to find. What's really cool about it is that it's updated using USB. So if a tsumani or a war has happened recently, the SmartGlobe knows. You can customize the activities for three age groups (Ages 5-8, 9-14, 15 and up, although I recommend that older adults and parents play, too!). It accommodates up to four players. Operated by 2 AAA batteries in the Pen and 4 AA's in the Base (batteries are not included).

CREATIVE WRITING:

"My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way." -Ernest Hemingway

InnoDesk S'Cool Toolz Automatic Pencil Sharpeners ($6.99 each)

If you're a writer, then you know that getting up from your desk to sharpen your pencil just takes time away from being creative. Don't risk losing your thoughts with this battery-powered portable pencil sharpener. Comes in three bright and funky colors: purple/green, green/orange, and orange/purple. Available at many retail stores, including Wal-Mart, Office Depot, and Office Max.

SCIENCE:

"Science does not know its debt to imagination." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Fascinations' Antworks Illuminator ($28.95, FatBrainToys)
Never owned an ant farm? Then you'll get a kick out of this one. It contains a type of non-toxic gel which provides nutrients to the colony. There's no need to feed the ants or give them water. Plus, it comes with a removable LED, which serves as a neat display for the home or classroom. Set also includes: Magnifying Glass, Extreme Zoom Lens, and Ant Catching/Tunnel Starting Tool. Ants sold separately.

BAND:

"I don't know anything about music. In my line you don't have to." -Elvis Presley
Behringer USB-Guitar iAXE393 ($149.99)
Practice the guitar at home when you're not in band class. Developed by Behringer, the iAXE USB Guitar lets you play a song and record it straight to your PC with multi-track recording and editing software. You can even jam along with your MP3, WAV and AIFF songs or backing tracks on your Mac or PC. A built-in connector allows you to connect your headphones to your guitar. Comes with USB cable, software, guitar strap, and three picks.
 
PHOTOGRAPHY:

"It is part of the photographer's job to see more intensely than most people do." -Bill Brandt
SMOY's SOHO PhotoCuff ($17-$28)
Why not wear those photos you take in photo class? This wearable vinyl photo cuff bracelet also sports two handy pockets to store and carry extra photos if you want to change photos to fit your mood. Four different styles to choose from.