Technology has become integral to modern education, offering students and parents countless tools to simplify learning, stay organized, and even make studying fun. However, with so many options available, it can start to feel overwhelming. This “technology tune-up” can help you discover some of the best apps and tools to enhance learning while staying focused and productive. Whether you’re a student looking to boost your productivity or a parent hoping to support your child’s education better, here are some top picks to get started.
Staying Organized: Tools for Time Management and Planning
These apps are beneficial as staying organized reduces stress and keeps students and parents proactive rather than reactive.
Students:
- Google Calendar: This is perfect for scheduling classes, assignments, and study sessions. Its notifications help ensure that deadlines aren’t missed and that students are well organized.
- My Study Life: A student-focused planner that tracks homework, exams, and schedules in one place. It is a popular and easy-to-use app with some great features.
Parents:
- Cozi Family Organizer: Life is busy! This app will help you manage family schedules, track assignments, and coordinate activities to keep everyone on the same page.
- Todoist: A simple yet effective to-do list app for managing tasks and priorities for the whole family. Suitable for grocery lists and meal planning, too!
Mastering the Material: Study and Learning Apps
These interactive and engaging resources adapt to different learning styles, making it easier for students to understand and retain information.
Students:
- Quizlet: Create digital flashcards or use pre-made sets created by teachers, students and educational experts to practice vocabulary, concepts, or exam prep.
- Khan Academy: Offers free lessons, videos, and practice exercises on various subjects, from reading and math to art history and trigonometry.
Parents:
- Duolingo: Encourage language learning as a family and make it fun with quick, easy lessons, games, and challenges that keep everyone engaged and motivated.
- BrainPOP: Engaging videos and quizzes on various topics make learning accessible and enjoyable for younger students.
Help with Writing Assignments: Tools for Better Communication
Clear and confident writing is an important skill to develop, and these tools make it easier for students to learn proper writing techniques and express their ideas effectively.
Students:
- Grammarly: A writing assistant that checks for grammar, spelling, and clarity in essays and assignments. It can also help to generate ideas when you’re stuck.
- Hemingway Editor Simplifies writing by identifying overly lengthy or complex sentences and improving readability. The suggestions are coded, making finding mistakes and fixing them easy.
Parents:
- ProWritingAid: A tool to review your child’s work for structure and tone. This app highlights strengths and weaknesses in writing and offers suggestions for improving it.
- Google Docs: An easy-to-use collaborative platform where parents can assist in reviewing and editing their child’s assignments in real time. Also great for students to utilize for group projects.
Getting Help When You Need It: On-Demand Tutoring and Support
The extra support you need to work on catching up, keeping up, or getting ahead.
Students:
- Brainly: An interactive and collaborative platform where students can ask questions and get answers from fellow students and experts.
- Photomath: Take a picture of a math problem, and the app will provide step-by-step solutions and explanations.
Parents:
- Scholars Tutoring Services: Individualized support tailored to your child’s needs can provide the extra boost needed to succeed.
Maintaining Focus: Tools to Stay on Track
Limits distractions from apps and websites to create a more productive study environment, allowing students to maximize their time.
Students:
- Forest: Grow virtual trees by staying off your phone while you study. It’s a fun way to build focus and avoid distractions. You can also earn virtual coins and donate them to plant real trees worldwide.
- Focus@Will: Provides music scientifically designed to enhance concentration and productivity. Studies have shown a 200-400% increase in focus time with active users.
Parents:
- OurPact: Manage screen time for the whole family by setting schedules and blocking apps during study hours. It also features GPS and website filters.
- Freedom: Blocks distractions across all devices, helping the household stay focused when needed.
Technology can be a powerful companion in the learning process when used correctly. Incorporating these apps and tools into your routine will create a more organized, engaging, and productive educational experience. Try a few of these options and see which ones work best for you and your family.