There’s no denying that you’re not going to get very far as a student if you don’t study, whether that’s at the high school, collegiate, or postgraduate level. Without learning the material, you’ll find it tough to pass your classes.
You can indeed turn to an online assignment service like Studybay.com and say something like, “Do my assignment for me” or “Write my assignment.” Cheap online help is available for college students who would prefer to pay someone else to do their homework for them. However, that’s probably not going to help you if you’re taking a test in class. That’s why familiarizing yourself with the material is still a must if you want to succeed in the academic world.
In between learning how to drive as a college student, socializing, and attending the occasional party, you’ll need to crack the books. Let’s talk about how you can optimize your study routine with assistance from some of the best tech tools that are currently available.
Digital Calendars
If you’re going to dedicate yourself to learning the lessons your professors are trying to impart to you, you need a few different things. Those might include:
- A good night of sleep so you’ll be well rested and able to retain the information
- A quiet place where you won’t be interrupted
- Some caffeine to stimulate your mind
- A block of hours when you know nobody will bother you
Getting the impetus to do these things is easier for some people than others. It’s about more than motivation, though. You may also need to schedule a time that you’ve marked on the calendar when you’ll try to absorb the material. Otherwise, you’ll probably be trying to study spontaneously when you have just a few free moments, and how well is that likely to work?
A digital calendar can aid you in your quest for academic supremacy. Google Calendar is one example, but there are many others. Setting up a time when you know you’re scheduled to review class assignments usually proves to be the better option than grabbing a spare moment here or there.
Note-Taking Apps
You can also look into applications that let you take notes. Gone are the days when students had to frantically scribble notes on a notepad in class and then squint at the results hours later to try to make out their own handwriting.
Instead, you can look into options like:
- Microsoft OneNote
- Evernote
- Google Keep
There are many others as well. What you’re looking for, ideally, are apps that have the most useful features.
Those may include things like text annotation and highlighting. They might include organizational features that allow you to categorize your notes according to class, project, date, or any other method you’d prefer. You can try out some different ones until you land on the one that seems to suit you best.
Educational Apps with Interactive Study Sessions
You can also find applications that are not just educational. They are also highly interactive. Quizlet is a good example of one of those. These apps let you design quizzes for yourself, and you can also create digital flashcards.
These are not new techniques. What’s new is the way you can automate and digitize your methodology for the memorization of facts and data you’ll need to know for in-class tests and quizzes.
If you use these applications often, you can usually identify areas where you’re struggling or where it’s obvious you need more work. You don’t need to utilize physical flashcards and carry them around with you as part of your study kit when you’re studying for a big test.
Collaborative Study Groups
Collaborative study groups are another great way you can optimize your outside-of-class routine. There are many of options in this area, but some of the most popular and well-established ones include:
- Microsoft Teams
- Google Docs
- Zoom
- Skype
The general idea is that you’re spending time trying to learn your lessons digitally and remotely along with some of your buddies from class. You can agree on different platforms you might use, but usually, you want one where you can seamlessly communicate with each other in real-time. You’ll probably want document collaboration, instant messaging services, and live-streaming video.
You can motivate each other this way. You don’t have to try to buckle down and hit the books by yourself if you have several motivated individuals from your class doing it with you.
Technology That Helps You Learn a New Language
Maybe learning a new language is part of what you’re doing at the high school or college level. Many high schools and institutions of higher learning now have a language requirement.
If so, then you might use an application like Duolingo for Schools. It’s free, which is always good to hear if you’re living on ramen noodles in the dorms.
You want an app that lets you use it on various devices, like your smartphone or laptop. When you’re between activities or on the go, you can spend some time learning vocabulary words or practising speaking conversationally in whatever language you’re taking.
Digital Journals
Some individuals who try to reach the higher echelons of academia find that it goes smoother if they keep a journal where they talk about their study habits. Google Docs has a feature like this, and Book Creator is another good one.
The idea is that you’re documenting your reflections while you work outside the classroom. Maybe you find that you respond better to certain memorization techniques. If so, it doesn’t hurt to make a note of that.
You can go back later and identify patterns that you can attempt to duplicate. No two people like to learn in the same way, and figuring out the best ways for you to study should prove invaluable.
Consider Using Music to Help You Focus
There’s a good deal of contention about whether music helps you learn or not. Some academic-minded individuals will tell you they need absolute silence when they’re cramming for a test, so they spend a lot of time in the library or use noise-cancelling headphones. However, others find they retain information better if they can listen to a playlist of their favourite tunes at the same time.
If you belong to this latter category, then you can look into an application like BrainFM. You can also use popular standbys like YouTube or Spotify. Spotify is not free, but you can sometimes try it for 30 days without paying anything. You can also look into whether they’re running any discounts or promotions for students. The company does that pretty often.
No matter which of these technological aids you decide to employ, you should remember that the optimization of your homework or studying routine is vital. Whether you enjoy learning the material on your own or get others involved, block off some time and try as hard as you can to make the lessons stick. That way, the effort you’re putting in should pay off in class. You will impress your professors, pass with flying colours, and embark on an exciting new career when the time comes.