STUDENT TOOLS THAT HELP
Practical tools
There are many practical and effective tools available for students to enhance their studying. See which ones are going to suit your needs.
- Flashcards: Flashcards are a great way to review and memorize information. Many online flashcard tools, such as Quizlet and Anki, allow you to create and share flashcards.
- Note-taking apps: Apps like Evernote, OneNote, and Google Keep are great for organizing and syncing your notes across all your devices.
- Pomodoro timer: This technique involves breaking down study sessions into short, focused intervals (usually 25 minutes), followed by short breaks. Many Pomodoro timer apps, such as Pomodoro Timer and Forest, help you stay focused and track your progress.
- Mind-mapping tools: MindMeister and Coggle allow you to visually organize and connect ideas, which can help you study complex topics.
- Online resources: There are many online resources available for students, including Khan Academy, Coursera, and edX, which offer free courses and lectures on a variety of subjects.
- Group study tools: Collaborating with other students can be a great way to learn and stay motivated. Tools like Google Docs, Slack, and Zoom can help you organize group study sessions and stay connected with your peers.
Ultimately, the most effective tools for studying will depend on your learning style and individual needs. Experimenting with different tools and techniques is essential to find what works best for you
The Pomodoro technique is a time management strategy that involves breaking your study or work sessions into focused intervals, typically 25 minutes long, followed by short breaks. Here’s how it works:
- Choose a task you want to work on.
- Set a timer for 25 minutes.
- Work on the task without interruptions until the timer goes off.
- Take a short break of 5-10 minutes.
- After the break, start another 25-minute session and continue until you’ve completed four pomodoros.
- After completing four pomodoros, take a longer break of 15-30 minutes.
The Pomodoro technique is effective for several reasons: - It helps you stay focused: Working in short, concentrated intervals makes you more likely to stay engaged and avoid distractions.
- It helps you avoid burnout: Taking short breaks between pomodoros can help prevent mental fatigue and burnout, allowing you to maintain productivity over extended periods.
- It helps you track your progress: The Pomodoro technique provides a simple and effective way to track how much time you spend on a task and how much progress you’re making.
- It helps you prioritize tasks: By breaking tasks into smaller, manageable chunks, the Pomodoro technique can help you prioritize your workload and tackle tasks more efficiently.
Overall, the Pomodoro technique effectively manages your time and improves your productivity, making it a popular method for students and professionals alike.
Meet MindMeister
MindMeister is a popular online mind-mapping tool that allows users to visually organize and connect ideas in a hierarchical or non-linear fashion. Here’s why MindMeister is effective:
- It helps with brainstorming and idea generation: MindMeister provides a flexible and intuitive platform for brainstorming and organizing ideas, making capturing and connecting thoughts in real-time easy.
- It promotes active learning: Mind maps are a form of active learning that requires engagement and interaction with the material. Creating mind maps makes students more likely to retain information and understand concepts more profoundly.
- It encourages collaboration: MindMeister allows multiple users to work simultaneously on the same mind map, making it an excellent tool for group projects or study sessions.
- It supports visual learning: Mind maps use visual elements like colours, images, and icons to represent ideas and concepts, which can be particularly helpful for visual learners.
- It promotes organization: Mind maps provide a clear and structured overview of information, making it easier to organize and categorize ideas and concepts.
MindMeister is an effective tool for students because it helps with brainstorming, active learning, collaboration, visual learning, and organization. Using MindMeister, students can improve their critical thinking skills, enhance creativity, and better understand complex topics.
Enjoy Coursera
Coursera is a popular online learning platform that offers a wide range of courses from top universities and organizations worldwide. Here are some tips for using Coursera for better studying:
- Set clear goals: Before starting a course, set clear goals for what you want to learn and achieve. It will help you stay motivated and focused throughout the course.
- Create a study schedule: Create one that fits your lifestyle and allows you to balance coursework with other responsibilities. Stick to your plan to ensure you stay on track.
- Take advantage of course resources: Coursera courses often include additional resources, such as quizzes, discussion forums, and supplementary reading material. Take advantage of these resources to enhance your learning and deepen your understanding of the material.
- Engage with the course community: Participate in the course community by asking and answering questions, sharing insights, and engaging in discussions. It will help you connect with other learners and gain additional perspectives on the material.
- Use the mobile app: Coursera offers a mobile app that allows you to access course materials and study on the go. Take advantage of this feature to fit learning into your busy schedule.
- Set deadlines: Many Coursera courses offer deadlines for assignments and quizzes. Use these deadlines as motivation to stay on track and complete the class promptly.
Following these tips, you can use Coursera to enhance your studying and achieve your learning goals.
Get Tutor help
Tutoring services can be a valuable resource for students who need help with assignments. Here are some ways that students can use tutoring services to get the most out of their study sessions:
- Prepare for the session: Before your tutoring session, review your assignment and identify specific areas where you need help. Come to the session with a list of questions or topics you want to cover.
- Be an active learner: During the session, actively engage with the tutor by asking questions, sharing your thought process, and seeking feedback. It will help you better understand the material and retain information.
- Take notes during the tutoring session to help you remember key concepts and strategies. Review your messages after the session to reinforce your learning.
- Practice what you’ve learned: After the session, apply what you’ve learned by working through practice problems or assignments. It will help you solidify your understanding of the material and identify areas where you may need further help.
- Follow up with the tutor: If you have additional questions or need further clarification, follow up after the session. It will help you stay on track and progress toward your learning goals.
Overall, tutoring services can be an effective way for students to get personalized help with assignments and improve their understanding of course material. By actively engaging with the tutor, taking notes, and practicing what you’ve learned, you can get the most out of your tutoring sessions and achieve your academic goals.