Students pursuing higher education know just how difficult it can be to stay on top of your course load and succeed in all your classes. More students are pursuing a quality online education now than ever before. It’s a great way to access college and university, but it comes with some drawbacks.
When studying remotely, it’s easy to lose track of time or your workload. Maybe you need tutoring help or encouragement to stay focused. We know there’s no shortage of challenges, but we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeve to help you out.
Check out the following list of the top digital resources for college students.
1. Quizlet
There are many ways in which developing proper study habits can be a challenge for students. One common reason is that you just don’t have anyone to study with. Quizlet gives you a way to receive help studying, without having to text a classmate.
There are seven different study modes available on Quizlet, each designed to work best with your learning style. You can quiz yourself on any topic, from foreign language vocabulary to anatomy terms. Create flashcards on your own or select from pre-loaded options.
2. Hemingway Editor
Not everyone is born a writer, but college students are pressed to write—a lot. You might draft hundreds of pages’ worth of essays, research papers, and literature receive while pursuing higher education. If you’re not a natural talent, Hemingway Editor can help.
You can upload, paste, or type in this live editor. Hemingway will color-code your writing to show where it can use improvements. It’s a great way to learn (or just quickly fix) grammar. The Editor will point out everything from passive voice to overused adverbs and spelling mistakes.
3. PapersOwl
On the topic of papers, sometimes you need more than just sentence-level correction. Grammar is important, but so are other aspects of a paper. How is your structure? Do you have a solid thesis? Have you accidentally plagiarized someone else’s work?
PapersOwl has a host of resources for students to improve the quality of their personal essays and research papers. The website is staffed by professionals in every field, who can provide valuable assistance and feedback on your projects. There are free examples of papers with great structure, as well as citation tools and a plagiarism checker.
4. Evernote
Do you know that feeling when you have so much to do that you’re struggling to keep organized? It’s not uncommon for students to feel overloaded—sometimes to the point you feel like your brain is a jumbled mess. It becomes nearly impossible to keep track of project flows or what you need to work on.
Evernote is a great platform for managing all those thoughts and ideas bouncing around in your head. It’s a multifunctional app and website for note-taking, making to-do lists, and planning projects. There is a cost for Evernote, but some colleges and universities have a deal so students can access a subscription for free.
5. Toggl
Time management can be a challenge for students at the best of time. Those with attention disorders or who are overwhelmed by their course load might be especially prone to distractions. Whether you need help focusing or just want to track how much time you spend on a project, Toggl is a great option.
You can access Toggl by browser, mobile app, or desktop app. It’s a hassle-free time tracker. It gives you the option to create a list of all your projects and track time for each. You can set up notifications to alert you when to take a break—maybe after you’ve been reading your psych textbook for an hour.
6. Coursera
Sometimes you take a class but don’t get what you expected out of it. On the other hand, maybe you’re currently enrolled in a class but aren’t receiving the help you need to make fully understand the material. Perhaps you’re just interested in learning more about an intriguing topic without paying for it.
Whatever your drive to learn, Coursera is a great website. There are countless free courses on almost every topic on this educational website. There are video lectures, forums, and homework for every course—but you can complete or pass on any part of the course you want.
7. Freedom
Online classes are great for accessibility and flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Unfortunately, it’s all too easy to drift off to other parts of the internet when you don’t have a professor breathing down your neck. All of sudden, the history of the Roman Empire looks boring… but that sale at Old Navy sure looks interesting.
Freedom is a blocker for your browser. You can limit certain types of websites, like shopping, social media, or YouTube. Turn it on and off when you please or set a timer within the extension so you won’t be tempted to click away from your class.
8. StudyBlue
When you aren’t surrounded by fellow classmates in real-time, you don’t have the opportunity to collaborate. Sure, you can try to track someone down on the forum and try to convince them to join forces with you, but that’s kind of pain.
StudyBlue is like a matchmaking app for college students. You can design a profile with your classes, study habits, and learning goals, then connect with others you match with. You can use the platform to trade class notes, study guides, and flashcards. Introverts rejoice!
There’s no denying that pursuing higher education is important. Online learning makes it easier than ever to earn a degree, but there are drawbacks. By using some of the tools we’ve outlined here today, you might find that achieving success in your online courses is easier than ever before.
So take a look through these websites and apps. Improve your writing, keep track of tasks, manage your time, and learn something new. At the end of the day, your college education will be what you make of it—why not make the most of it?
