Are you wondering how mobile technology can improve study habits? These apps will help you study effectively and pass those exams. They provide practical solutions for developing concentration, organizing one’s work, researching effectively, sharing and storing information - all by turning learning into an exciting journey.
Nearly every student has access to a smartphone or a tablet. A new Mc-Graw Hill research shows that 80% of students are turning to mobile devices to assist with their studies.
Many career opportunities require students to perform exceptionally in exams. Poor study habits can hinder students from attaining their desired course certificate and diploma, which may result in not getting the desired job or career position.
On the positive side, you can develop study habits at any age. Technology provides the tools that motivate students to learn subjects easily. The research has found that students who opted to use certain apps saw an improvement in retention and academic performance.
For this reason, students benefit more when they use technology to study their coursework as opposed to traditional methods like reviewing notes, group study and reading textbooks.
Here are some of the best apps to develop effective study habits.
Google Drive
There are many apps for syncing files on to the cloud. Google Drive is like a file cabinet. You use it to store documents and other digital files that you can access anytime as long as you have an Internet connection.
Once you’re inside Google Drive, you’ll find tools that you’re already familiar with, such as google docs, slides, sheets and forms. You can place things in it, but you can also use the tools to work on class assignments.
Google Drive is perfect for collaboration. You can add two or more people to work on projects at the same time. The best part is that the files save automatically, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to save them.
Evernote
Evernote is a note-taking app that allows you to create digital notes and notebooks for different subjects. It has the search feature, which will help you to search your notes for any word or phrase.
When you create a new note, you can add a tag - for instance, ‘Important’. This tag will help you find the notes you need to focus on. Aside from that, you can add images, PDFs and links for more information.
Evernote is not only a note-taking app, but you also use it to create a to-do list. This app saves your files automatically. You can study anywhere on your phone.
Evernote lets you share notebooks with whoever you want. You can make your notebooks public by creating a link and sharing it with study colleagues.
Merriam Webster Dictionary
Merriam Webster Dictionary is one of the best dictionary apps for vocabulary building. This app contains fun quizzes that you can take to learn new words or test your vocabulary skills.
The app is like a thesaurus. This feature provides synonyms and antonyms for words included in the dictionary. You can also mark new words and save them in the favorites section.
When it comes to audio pronunciations, the Merriam Webster Dictionary uses real English speakers instead of text-to-speech robots. With this, students learn proper pronunciation. This app has a voice search feature, so students can also look up a word without having to spell it.
Trello
If you need a tool to organize your study plans and projects, Trello would be an excellent app for you. It allows you to organize projects using boards. Each board is like a separate to-do list.
The board allows you to create lists and every list has a card. The Trello card is a place where you can attach files, comment, add labels, create checklists, add due dates and so much more.
By using Trello, you’ll free up your mental load by remembering every planning detail. This app will help you juggle different projects and complete them on time. What’s more, you can add friends to your boards if you need help with your projects.
Quizlet
Quizlet is a software that contains flashcards that students use to revise information. This application lets you prepare for big exams such as midterms and finals. You can use it to review any subject such as history, vocabulary, biology, chemistry and more.
It contains custom images and audio that you use for studying any foreign language. This feature helps you memorize vocabulary and pronunciation effectively.
Quizlet enables you to share flashcards with your classmates for group study. Students have the flexibility to study what they want and when they want.
The upgrade to Quizlet unlocks more features such as night theme, offline access and beyond.
Duolingo
Duolingo is a fun app to study a new language. It is jam-packed with cool features that simplify learning. Language experts designed this app and every course is free.
This application contains bite-sized lessons that cater to all areas of language, such as speaking, reading, listening, vocabulary and grammar. The lessons are simple and organized so you can finish them quickly.
Duolingo makes learning fun by letting you track your progress. Attain rewards and achievements daily as you work towards your study goals. Duolingo has a community of over 100 million-plus learners across the globe. You can join a community and learn in a group.
WordHippo
WordHippo is an online dictionary and thesaurus for finding similar words and opposite words.
If you want to use this app, type the word in the search box and you’ll see a list of words that rhyme. It also provides an example of how to use the word in a sentence or phrase.
WordHippo allows you to translate from English to other languages.
Microsoft To-Do
Microsoft To-Do is a task management app that will help you stay organized and manage your tasks daily. Whether it is handling projects and homework, Microsoft To-Do will help you stay productive and reduce stress levels.
This app lets you create a list of tasks. You can then transfer the ones you want to prioritize to My Day. It contains a task management feature that enables you to break tasks into steps. This method applies to projects that rely on a specific procedure.
Your lists are accessible anywhere and on any device. You can also share your lists and task assignments with your classmates.
TEDTalks
TEDTalks is a platform for spreading ideas to inspire and motivate its audience. It come in various disciplines like science, technology, psychology, communication, environmental issues, etc.
Students feed off of their curiosity and expand their world views by watching these videos. They can explore over 3,000 topics from remarkable speakers.
TEDTalks has a video library with subtitles in over 100 languages. Students can learn any subject in their mother tongue. They can access a broad catalog of videos anywhere and using any device as long as they have internet access. They can download the videos and watch them anywhere at any time.
Forest
Forest is a productivity tool that helps you stay focused and spend less time on your phone and computer.
This app is based around the Pomodoro technique to stay focused. The idea of this technique is to use a timer to break down your work into 25 minute chunks.
Forest has utilized this technique to improve productivity. When you open the app, you can adjust the timer to the amount you want to focus on.
The idea behind this app is when the timer is running, a small tree will grow as you avoid distractions. But when you exit the app, it will send a notification that the tree will die if you don’t get back to the timer. At the end of the timer, your tree will be fully grown and the app will reward you.
My Study Life
As a student, managing school work and projects day by day may sound stressful. My Study Life makes your study life more manageable. It stores your classes, homework, and exams in a cloud.
The app lets you set up an account and then it will provide you a tab for the calendar, dashboard, task and exams. You can insert your schedule for the whole week from your calendar. Add homework due so you don’t forget to complete it on time.
My Study Life syncs data on several devices. It allows you to access your schedule anywhere and even while you’re using the app offline.
Coursera
Coursera is an online learning platform that provides courses from different fields that students can study on their own. It has over 2,000 courses and specializations developed from one of the top universities in the world.
You can browse through a collection of courses and select the ones you want to master. Stream the videos anytime or download the course to study offline. At the end of the course, you can earn a certificate.
Effective study habits to help you succeed
Just having these study apps won’t guarantee you an A-plus in exams. You have to put in the work by developing the following habits. The apps can only assist you in attaining the results you want.
Get organized
It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed by extracurriculars, assignments, tests and finals that you may fail to complete some of them in time. Staying organized will help you manage all these tasks at once. An organization app like Trello and My Study Life might give you what you need: a place to store all your school activities and keep track of them.
Develop a study plan
First of all, you need to know what the test is going to be about. You need to find possible questions that you might find in the topics that were covered. Then from there, you can allow some time to prepare instead of cramming notes at the last minute. You can use planners like Microsoft To-Do and My Study Life.
Avoid distractions while studying
If you want to get the most out of your study sessions, remove all kinds of distractions. Turn off the TV and radio. Set your mobile phone to Do Not Disturb to stop notifications from appearing on your screen. Forest helps stay focused on your schoolwork.
Conclusion
Are you concerned about managing your schoolwork or passing exams? The traditional method of study might not work for everyone. Study apps can certainly help you improve your academic performance. Always try to develop a study plan and avoid distractions while you study if you want to get the most out of these apps.
