Resources / Campus Life

Tech Tools for College Success

Spread the Knowledge. Share:

Here’s what college students are using to maximize productivity, study smarter and make their academic life a lot easier.

In today’s fast-paced college environment, technology plays a pivotal role in shaping the academic experience of college students. From enhancing productivity to facilitating collaboration, tech tools and apps (such as Google Calendar, Notion, and Slack) have become indispensable to students who need help managing time, staying organized, and improving academic performance. This article will review some of the most popular tech tools and apps that college students use to navigate their academic journey more efficiently.

Types of Technology and How They Are Helpful 

Before diving into specific apps, it is important to recognize the foundation of many students’ tech toolkit. Your toolkit may vary based on your courses, major, and budget and include one or more of the following:

• Laptop: Laptops might be the most popular tech tool for college students because they can handle a range of tasks -- from writing papers to conducting research, taking notes in class, and participating in virtual classes.
• Desktop Computer: These computers are ideal for students who need powerful computing capabilities for tasks such as video editing, programming, or running complex simulations. 
• Tablet: Usually less powerful and much less expensive than laptops, tablets are perfect for notetaking, reading e-books, and quick internet browsing. Tablets with stylus support can be particularly useful for digital art and design courses.
• Printer: While many assignments are submitted digitally, having a printer can be handy for printing out reading materials, study guides, or project reports. 

Productivity Apps 

Productivity apps can be essential for helping students manage their time and tasks efficiently. These tools are particularly beneficial for students juggling multiple classes, extracurricular activities, and personal responsibilities. They can help students stay organized, meet deadlines, and maintain a balanced schedule.  

Task Management and Calendar Apps 

• Google Calendar: This widely used app helps students keep track of their classes, assignments, and extracurricular activities. It allows for easy scheduling, reminders, and synchronization across devices. You might use Google Calendar to schedule study sessions and meetings and set reminders for project deadlines. For instance, you can set a reminder to start studying for an exam a week in advance and schedule recurring group meetings for a semester-long project. It is free to use with a Google account.
  
  
• Notion: A versatile productivity app that combines notetaking, task management, and project planning. Notion’s customizable templates and databases make it ideal for organizing study schedules, tracking progress, and collaborating on group projects.Students can use Notion to create to-do lists for each class, manage research notes, and even plan semester-long projects. For example, you can create a table to track your assignments’ progress, add due dates, and include links to relevant resources. Notion offers a free plan with basic features and a student discount for the premium version.
  
  
• Todoist: A simple task manager that helps students create to-do lists, set priorities, and track deadlines. Its intuitive design makes it easy to organize tasks and stay on top of academic responsibilities. Todoist has a free version with premium features available for a fee.

Note-Taking Apps 

• Notability: Especially popular among students using tablets, Notability offers features like handwriting recognition, audio recording, and multimedia integration. It enables students to take detailed, organized notes during lectures and study sessions. For example, during a lecture, you can take handwritten notes while recording the audio to review later. You can also annotate PDFs of lecture slides directly within the app. There is a one-time payment to download the app, and then a monthly membership if you want access to all the features.
  
  
• OneNote: Microsoft’s notetaking app is great for organizing notes in a digital notebook format. OneNote’s integration with other Microsoft Office tools makes it easy to link notes with assignments and research. You can create separate notebooks for each class, include multimedia content, and even collaborate with classmates. For instance, you can embed a PowerPoint slide into your notes, annotate it, and share the notebook with a study group for collaborative editing. OneNote is free with a Microsoft account.
  

Study Aids 

Study aids are designed to enhance learning and retention. These tools can be beneficial for students who need additional resources to understand complex concepts or memorize large amounts of information.  

Flashcard Apps 

• Quizlet: A popular tool for memorization and review, Quizlet allows students to create and share flashcards sets. The app includes various study modes like matching games, practice tests, and live quizzes, making studying interactive and engaging.For example, you can create flashcards for your biology terms, use the matching game to evaluate yourself, and join a live quiz session with classmates to reinforce learning. It is available in free and premium versions, with the premium offering advanced study modes and offline access.
  
  
• Anki: Anki is a free, open-source flashcard generator known for its “spaced repetition” system, which helps you retain information by increasing intervals between reviews as you learn the material. It is particularly useful for subjects that require extensive memorization, such as language learning or medical studies. With Anki, you can create custom flashcard decks that include audio, text, images, and video, and track your progress over time. For example, you can use Anki to create a deck for medical terminology and include pronunciation audio clips to better understand the information. Anki has a free version and a paid mobile app.

Research and Writing Tools 

• Grammarly: Students who write many papers might find Grammarly helpful. Grammarly provides grammar and style suggestions, plagiarism checks, and vocabulary enhancements. Many students use Grammarly primarily to proofread their essays and research papers, but the tool also helps students improve their writing. by providing real-time feedback. It not only points out common errors, but also suggests more effective ways to phrase sentences and maintain a consistent style and tone. While Grammarly can assist you in producing clearer, more polished writing, it is important to remember that no tool can guarantee completely error-free papers. Grammarly offers a free version with basic features and a premium version for more advanced feedback.

• Zotero: A free, easy-to-use citation management tool, Zotero helps students collect, organize, cite, and share research sources, Zotero integrates with your word processor and automatically generates citations and bibliographies directly within your document, eliminating the need for manual formatting. It also ensures that all your citations are consistently formatted and updated as you add or remove sources. Zotero is free to use, with additional storage available for a fee.

Language Learning Apps

• Duolingo: Duolingo is a popular language learning app that offers interactive lessons in various languages. Its approach makes learning new languages fun and engaging. For example, you can use Duolingo to practice vocabulary and grammar through short, daily lessons, earning points and rewards as you progress. Duolingo offers a free version with ads and a premium version with additional features and no ads.
  
  
• Memrise: Memrise uses spaced repetition and mnemonic techniques to help students learn new languages. It offers a wide range of courses created by native speakers, making it a more reliable resource for expanding your language skills. For instance, you can use Memrise to learn new words and phrases in a foreign language, reinforcing your learning with interactive exercises and real-life video clips. Memrise offers a free version with basic features and a premium version with additional content and tools.

Studying and Concentration Apps

• Forest: Forest is an app designed to help students stay focused and reduce phone distractions. When you start a study session, you plant a virtual tree that grows as long as you stay focused. If you leave the app, the tree dies. For example, you can use Forest to set a timer for a 30-minute study session, ensuring you stay focused on your work without checking your phone. The app offers a free version with basic features and a premium version with additional customization options and the ability to plant real trees through partner organizations.
  
  
• Pomodoro Timer: A Pomodoro Timmer app helps students implement the Pomodoro Technique, a time management method that involves working in focused intervals (usually 25 minutes) followed by short breaks. For instance, you can use a Pomodoro Timer app to break your study sessions into manageable chunks, helping you maintain concentration and reduce burnout. Many Pomodoro Timmer apps are available for free.

Collaboration Tools 

Collaboration tools can be very helpful for group projects and team-based assignments. These tools facilitate communication, coordination, and file sharing among team members, making it easier to work together without having to meet in person.

Group Project Management 

• Microsoft Teams: A comprehensive communication platform that integrates chat, video conferencing, and file sharing, Microsoft Teams offers unique features like built-in task management, file collaboration, and is integrated with other Microsoft Office apps. You can create channels for each project, hold virtual meetings, and share documents all in one place, making it particularly useful for coordinating complex group projects and staying organized. Microsoft teams is free with a Microsoft account.
  
  
• Slack: Popular in both academic and professional settings, Slack offers channels for different projects, direct messaging, and file sharing. Its integration with other apps like Google Drive and Trello provides added convenience. For example, you can use Slack to communicate with your study group, share research materials, and coordinate project tasks. Slack offers a free version, with premium plans available for more advanced features.

File Sharing and Collaborative Editing 

• Google Drive: Google Drive is a cloud storage service that allows students to store, share, and collaboratively edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Like Slack and MS Teams, you can use Google Drive to collaborate on group projects, share lecture notes, and store important files; however, Google Drive focuses more on document storage and collaborative editing than communication and project management. Instructors often suggest students use it, but do not always require it due to its ease of use and integration with other Google services like Google Docs and Google Sheets. For example, you can create a shared folder for a group project, collaborate in real-time on a Google Doc, and track changes made by each team member. Google drive is free with a Google account, with additional storage available for purchase.
  
  
• Dropbox: Another cloud storage option, Dropbox offers file sharing and synchronization across devices. It is particularly useful for backing up important files and accessing them from any location. Dropbox is generally preferred for larger files or specific types of files that require more robust syncing capabilities, such as large files for multi-media projects. For example, you can use Dropbox to store and share high-resolution video files for a film project, ensuring everyone on the team has access to the latest version. Dropbox offers a free plan with limited storage and premium plans for additional features and storage. While Google Drive is often integrated into the classroom setting, Dropbox might be chosen for its simplicity and efficiency in handling larger files or specific types of files, such as high-resolution videos or complex datasets.

ChatGPT: A Powerful Tool, but one to use with caution

This AI-powered tool can be incredibly helpful for generating ideas, summarizing information, and even drafting text. However, it is crucial to use it responsibly. Students should be aware of the risks associated with relying too heavily on AI, such as plagiarism and the potential for inaccuracies. Additionally, relying too much on AI can hinder the development of critical thinking and a strong work ethic. For more detailed guidance on using ChatGPT, refer to CollegeData’s: 5 Things College Applicants Should Know About Using ChatGPT .  

Incorporating the right tech tools and apps into your academic routine can significantly enhance your college experience. From managing your schedule to collaborating on projects, these tools are designed to make your academic journey more efficient and productive. By leveraging these resources wisely, you can stay organized, improve your study habits, and achieve your academic goals. 

*The products and websites referenced above are suggestions that you may or may not choose to use. Reference to those products and websites does not constitute the implied or expressed recommendation, endorsement, or sponsorship of these products or websites by 1st Financial Bank USA (“Bank”). The Bank has no control over the sites to which links are provided above and therefore is not responsible or legally liable for the completeness, reliability, suitability, or availability of these sites or the content, information, or products contained on these sites.