In a century where educational technology has become the norm, securing valuables at school, such as portable devices, is more important now than ever before. For middle school and high school students, Master Lock has designed an incredibly smart padlock that puts control in the palm of your hands by way of Bluetooth. The Master Lock 4400D Indoor Bluetooth Padlock turns your phone or any Bluetooth-enabled device into a key. Say good-bye to forgotten combinations or lost keys and hello to secure convenience.

With the Master Lock Bluetooth Indoor Padlock, you can unlock your lock, share limited or permanent access with guests, and monitor activity using the free Master Lock Vault app. To open the lock with your phone, simply touch any button on the lock while your device is with you. If you don't have your phone or the battery dies, no problem. Enter the directional code on your lock keypad. will Knowing this padlock has a hardened boron alloy shackle will give you peace of mind, as will tamper alerts whenever you are not around. And a low batter reminder on both the padlock and app will come in handy, too.

Another one of my favourite Master Lock padlocks is the equally innovative 500iD Speed Dial Set-Your-Own Combination Lock. I first discovered this lock when I tried a Breakout EDU escape game at a the Toronto GAFE Summit last year. It opens with a combination of up/down/left/right directional movements and can be reset to any number of movements in any sequence. You can also apply matching passcode indicators such as letters, numbers, colors, shapes, symbols for added customization. This lock is perfect for younger kids who don’t yet have Smartphones.

Every thought about securing your child’s backpack to protect important school documents, personal information, homework and valuable items, such as smartphones, laptops, tablets and money? Neither had I. But, now that my son wants to bring his iPad mini to school on BYOD days, it is important to ensure protection for when his table is left unattended in his backpack, such as during recess. With the Master Lock 1550DAST Backpack Lock or Master Lock 1548DCM Set Your Own Combination Padlock, the added layer of protection will help deter possible theft.

For college students living on campus, the Master Lock 5900D SafeSpace provides extra safety precautions to ensure that your valuables are safe and secure. It is also a great portable solution that you can take with you since it includes a heavy duty cable that can be secured around a stationary object.

Disclosure: I received product to help facilitate this review. Any opinions expressed in this post are my own.