Not too long ago, you’d be considered an early-adopter if you brought your laptop or tablet to class. Today, it’s the norm. But not every student uses technology to their full advantage. If you want to get ahead of the curve, use these tips to leverage technology to help you excel in school.
Use study apps
It may sound cliché to say, “there’s an app for that,” but at this point there really is an app for everything. Want easy access to Cliff notes? Download the app. Need help organizing your notes and bookmarks? Download the Evernote app. Want to look up words on-the-go? Merriam-Webster has an app too.
Find the apps that will be most helpful to you in your day-to-day coursework. Even if you’re not sure one exists, search for it. You might be surprised.
Save your notes online
You may already take notes on your laptop or tablet, but do you save them to the cloud? When you save work to the cloud, there’s an automatic backup with three major benefits. One, you can access your notes from any device. Two, you’ll never lose them. Three, when you save your notes online you essentially create a searchable database, so you can find everything quickly.
Collaborate online
As you start downloading apps to help with your schoolwork, you may notice that most have a collaboration feature. Even Dropbox allows you to share files. Other apps, like Google Docs, allow you to collaborate on the same document in real time. You can even use Evernote to share notes and bookmarks needed to come together on a group project. Group chats and hangouts can also help you work together when you’re not in the same physical location.
Create to-do lists
When you first get to college, everything can be a bit overwhelming. You have more schoolwork, homework, and a whole set of new friends. To-do lists can help you do everything you need to without worrying about missing anything. When you plan each day in your online calendar, you’ll find time to fit everything in. Add classes, deadlines, homework assignments, and time with friends. This way you’ll always know what you’re supposed to be doing. Some things can be flexible, of course, but you should have a plan for approximately when they’ll get done.
Relieve stress
You can also use your smartphone to help relieve some of the stress that comes naturally with college. Download guided meditation apps, self-help audio books, or relaxing music. Do whatever helps you bust anxiety. If you’re dealing with larger issues like depression or addiction, the stress-management techniques become even more crucial. You might be surprised at the help you can find through technology. There are drug and alcohol rehab resources, depression treatments, and more. If you’re having trouble finding the right program or if you think you need more help than technology can provide, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of your school’s counselors. Addiction and depression are serious problems that can have dangerous consequences.
Virtually everyone is using technology these days, but not everyone is using it to its full potential. With these tips, you can easily get ahead of the class and set a new curve for grading excellence.
For more great tips on all things pertaining to college, check out the other blogs on College Basics.
