Top 5 Educational Tools for Students

One of the most profound ways in which technology has changed education is that it has made it more accessible than it was a few decades ago. From laptops, educational apps to online courses, technology has undeniably changed the face of education today. The host of digital tools readily available now have contributed a great deal in enhancing students’ learning experience. Technology is also playing a key role as a catalyst in encouraging interactions between parents, teachers and students – tapping into the domain – and ensuring that students construct knowledge. Thanks to the advent of Ed-tech, education is no more dominated by blackboards, chalks, dusters and textbooks.

For students, one major advantage of going to college in the digital age is that there are a host of online resources, right at their fingertips. Rather than serving as a distraction, the top productivity tools help students stay focused and make the most of their time. And the good news: These tools can be had free of charge, saving students the hassle of paying for apps or keeping up with potentially costly subscriptions.

1. Coursera: What to learn more about something or pick up a new skill? Coursera offers massive open online courses (MOOC) from top universities. Courses are available for free, all students need is a reliable Internet connection, so they can study anywhere, anytime. Each course typically lasts 4-6 weeks, though some are longer. Students can access high-quality course materials, instructional videos, discussion forums, and interactive lessons that would otherwise be out of reach. The platform includes paid courses, too, and those come with additional projects, and, upon successful completion, a certificate that may count toward a master’s degree. For those who want to enhance their career prospects, specializations give them the opportunity to acquire a new job skill, with challenging, self-paced courses that include real-world assignments and projects.

2. edX: The second-largest MOOC-provider after Coursera, edX offers more than 2500 courses from 140 prestigious colleges, universities, and top-tier companies. as one of the best free online productivity tools, this app was founded by Harvard and MIT. It connects more than 20 million like-minded learners from around the world. Removing geographic and cost barriers, edX meets learners where they are with rigorous, self-paced courses on subjects ranging from computer science to communication. EdX operates via an open-source platform, so educators can leverage technology to regularly add new features that enhance the learning experience. Paid courses are also available that allow students to work toward master’s degrees in engineering, IT management, marketing, and several other fields, with more programs in the works.

3. Evernote: Need to keep up with class notes and other stuff, but don’t want to deal with piles of paper or isolated computer files? Evernote transforms the way busy people in general, and students in particular, keep track of important info. Evernote provides a single, secure source for storing and readily accessing files, photos, and voice memos from any device. Even better, Evernote is compatible with digital assistants Siri and Google. As if all that isn’t enough, users can share their info with others, even if the recipients don’t have an Evernote account themselves. Evernote’s browser extension makes it possible to capture everything from PDFs to full webpages, and other online items. Students can also get to-do list reminders so they don’t miss important deadlines for term papers and projects.

4. Google Docs: Google Docs is a top productivity tool that enables users to create documents in a variety of styles and formats (with helpful templates included). Plus, users can convert documents back and forth between Google and Microsoft Word. Another feature that makes this app one of the top productivity tools is its versatility. Students can easily create and store documents on any device, even when they don’t have Internet access — a plus when service is down or there’s no Wi-Fi and users are worried about maxing out their data plan. Google Docs saves changes automatically and maintains revision histories so students can look up different versions of the same document. Real-time editing and chatting allow for seamless collaboration.

5. Insight Timer: Research shows that productivity is higher when students take time to rest and rejuvenate. If you’re looking for free online productivity tools that help you do that, look no further than Insight Timer, the free meditation app. With an extensive library of more than 30,000 titles, this site features a collection of guided meditations for relaxation and restful sleep. The free timer feature allows users to customize settings to incorporate meditations into their daily routine. Students can also adjust settings to more easily access their favourite meditations and talks. New to meditation? This app includes a free 7-day course on the fundamentals of the practice. What’s more, Insight Timer’s resources are available in 30 languages, so they’re available to students worldwide.