Apps, Websites and Software to Help You Study
We've all heard it: study smarter, not harder. But how, exactly, can you study "smarter?" One answer lies in using online platforms, PC software and other tools—both new and old-fashioned—to deepen your instruction, stay focused on your studies, and get more out of each academic day.
Whether you're still finishing high school or already in college, the right student study tools can make a significant difference. Robust online learning platforms and course tutorials. Distraction-blocking apps. Even everyday objects like colored pens and highlighters. We'll present a wide collection of tools and methods to help you study more effectively, ace your exams, and become a better student overall.
Online Study Tools for Students
The internet has spawned a new era of learning. With just a few clicks, students can access a multitude of resources that make learning and studying more accessible and interactive.
- Interactive Learning Platforms: Online services like Khan Academy, Coursera, StraighterLine, Udemy, and Quizlet (to name just a few) have reinvented the process of studying. Through interactive lessons and self-paced learning, you can solidify your knowledge about virtually any topic.
Khan Academy is known for offering a vast array of subjects, from mathematics to humanities, that are tailored for high school students tackling tough subjects and preparing for college-level work. Coursera partners with top universities and organizations to offer access to college-level courses and programs across various disciplines. StraighterLine and Udemy offer large catalogs of courses for credit and non-credit—materials available all at once, so interested students can move at a faster pace. Meanwhile, Quizlet, a favorite with many students, takes a different approach, allowing you to create custom flashcards, games, and practice tests that make studying more dynamic and fun. - Academic Reference & Research Platforms: Starting a research paper is a daunting task for some students, Fortunately, academic reference and research platforms like Google Scholar, JSTOR, and Chegg can help. Just be sure to do your own work, not simply copy what you find.
Google Scholar is a search engine that indexes scholarly literature, providing a straightforward way to access academic resources. JSTOR is similar (and a favorite among college students), allowing you to access a deep digital library of academic journals, books, and primary sources. And Chegg—with a collection of step-by-step homework help, exam prep guides, and other resources on tough subjects—is said to be particularly effective for both high school and college students. - Collaboration & Task Organization: Teamwork and organization are integral aspects of academic life. From completing group projects to forming study teams with fellow students, you must be able to collaborate and work effectively with others. It helps you be more efficient, tackle tough tasks, and learn to prioritize the most important work first.
Tools like Google Drive allow you to share and simultaneously work on documents with fellow students or instructors. Project management tools such as Trello can help you to break down work into different tasks and then prioritize and delegate the most important ones. And for seamless communication, offerings such as GroupMe make it easy to chat, share files, and even coordinate project schedules with your study group.
Software-Based Study Tools
PC and laptop software and smartphone apps—whether you install them locally or access them remotely through the cloud—can considerably enhance your efficiency when studying. And with their emphasis on customization and personalization, these tools cater to individual learning styles and preferences, making them popular with students of all types.
- Digital Note-Taking & Revisions: Digital note-taking has many benefits over traditional note-taking. It's more organized, searchable, and environmentally friendly.
Evernote,Microsoft OneNote, and Workflowy are some popular options that allow you to create digital notebooks (with text, images, and audio clips) in an organized structure that you can use as a personal knowledgebase. For students who like visual aids, Quizlet helps you to create digital flashcards to help you learn and test your knowledge. - Reducing Distractions to Stay Focused: In an era of near-constant notifications from smartphones and other devices, staying focused can be a challenge. That's where apps like Freedom, Cold Turkey, and RescueTime come in.
Freedom and Cold Turkey allow you to block distracting websites and apps on your device, so you simply won't be bothered by them. RescueTime takes a different approach—it runs in the background and tracks the time you spend using different apps and websites so you can identify which activities are consuming the most time. Such data can be especially useful as you analyze your academic productivity—a practice many strong students do regularly to ensure they're putting their effort where it's most needed. - Time Management & Productivity Enhancers: Time management is a vital skill for every student. With assignments, exams, extracurricular activities, and personal life, managing everything—and deciding what you should do first, or next—can feel overwhelming.
Todoist and TickTick are apps that help you organize your tasks and deadlines by prioritizing your various assignments, setting reminders, and allowing you to delegate tasks for group projects. For tracking time spent on individual tasks, an app called Toggl can provide detailed insights. Another interesting option, the Forest app, provides a fun way visualize and personify your ability to stay focused. You plant a virtual tree that grows while you study; if you leave the app for too long—say, to check other apps on your phone—the tree might wither and die.
Physical Tools & Study Aids
While the digital world offers a plethora of tools to aid studying, traditional physical tools and study aids are still effective. They're simple to use, easily available, and have a nostalgic charm that some students find reassuring.
- Essential Study-Related Stationery: Traditional, everyday desk stationery still holds value for studying. Highlighters, for instance, are more than just colorful markers. When used strategically to mark textbooks and other physical documents, they help your brain identify key points and prioritize information.
Even simple Post-it Notes and binders can help you stay organized. Use Post-it Notes to jot down key points or summaries and place them in visible spots for frequent revisions. Or use binders to sectionalize and organize your study materials, ensuring your notes are tidy, categorized, and easy to navigate. - Subject-Specific Study Aids: The world of study aids is vast, with many tailored for specific subjects. If you're a science student, for example, you already know the value of physical models, such as ones that illustrate the complex structure of human DNA.
For math and engineering majors, a high-quality graphic calculator can speed up complex calculations, saving you precious time during exams. Even simple objects like a dry erase calendar or whiteboard can be helpful for some students, providing a comprehensive view of your tasks, deadlines, and scheduling commitments so you won't miss an important due date. - Tools for Organizing the Study Space: A clean, organized study space is conducive to focused learning. It's not just about aesthetics but functionality and efficiency.
So-called "day planners"—visual representations of each day's schedule—can be a first line of defense against missed deadlines and forgotten assignments. Desk organizers can help, too, by helping you keep your stationery, notebooks, and other essentials where you can easily find them, so you'll spend less time searching through a messy desk.
Conclusion
Many of these ideas and tips may sound simple or obvious, but actively using these recommended study tools can have a big impact on your academic success. And choosing the right tools is a personal journey. You need to explore the options and find the products, apps and software that best fit your learning style.
Remember, earning your degree isn't always about working hard. Often, it's about working in a smart manner—where each passing minute is spent on the most important tasks on your list. Today's students are capable of remarkable things, and you can amplify your talent and abilities with the right study tools.
