Being a student in today’s world has its perks. Technology keeps changing how students approach education and how teachers present work in the classroom. Students have access to a wide number of apps on their phones and computers. These tools allow them to study quicker, in more comfort, and in more engaging ways.
Choosing the right software toolkit can help you complete your assignments, improve your learning outcomes, and gain and retain knowledge. Below are some of the best apps that are certain to be useful during your academic year.
OneNote
Taking notes has been proven to improve learning results. OneNote comes with many features for managing notes and information.
The software allows you to connect ideas and information in any way you prefer. OneNote 2016 includes a free add-in called OneNote Class Notebook. This is a personal workspace for teachers and students. Teachers can create notebooks for students to access and to be distributed as handouts. Class Notebook allows you to get real-time feedback from your teacher, and it can be integrated with your school’s learning management system (LMS) to receive assignments and grades.
Microsoft Office
As a student, you’ll need to perform a considerable amount of reading, writing, and compiling and presenting of data. Though there are alternatives out there, Microsoft Office remains the gold standard when it comes to the word processor, presentation creator, and spreadsheet software you’ll need to do all this day-to-day work.
Unfortunately, Office can be quite costly. Thankfully, many students are entitled to get the software for free as a result of licensing agreements between their school and Microsoft. Before paying retail price or resorting to an open-source alternative, you should check if you’re able to get Office for free through your school.
Zotero
Some of the most annoying tasks a student has to perform include collecting articles, arranging citations, and managing information sources. Zotero is a software that does all these tasks for free.
Zotero helps students collect and save sources. This makes referencing for projects and essays much easier. The app works by creating an online folder for different projects where you can add sources with a single click. You can organize your library, find relevant information quicker, and collect articles from the web with ease using Zotero. And it’s compatible with Linux, Mac, and Windows so will work on virtually any computer.
Autodesk
Autodesk is a suite of premium design software that includes AutoCAD, AutoCAD Map 3D, AutoCAD Architecture, and Autodesk Sketchbook Pro. The apps can cost hundreds of dollars – however, for students the full suite is absolutely free.
You can get the software for three years, free of charge, using your university email address. ProAutodesk is compatible with Mac and Windows.
Google Drive
Google Drive helps student’s backup data, store files, and work together in the cloud. The app features a built-in office suite, cloud storage, and file syncing. Student and teachers can use it to share materials, collaborate, and get feedback. There are numerous cloud storage services available, but Google Drive is one of the best.
These apps won’t replace the learning process, but they make it easier and more interesting. Use them and enjoy living in such a beautiful age.