With the continuation of online learning for many post-secondary students and even some high school students this fall, it’s time to start getting prepared for this digital delivery method. The best thing we can do right now is arm ourselves with the tools we’ll need to make online learning as productive as possible. Read on to learn about five of our favourite digital tools for online learning.
Google Drive
Google Drive is our favourite cloud-based storage. Easy to use, accessible from any device, and with plenty of storage, Google Drive provides students and educators with a safe location to store and share files. Pro-Tip: before school starts, make new folders for each of your classes so that you can easily find all the digital resources you’ll have in the fall.
Tomato Timer
We’re all big fans of the Pomodoro Technique here at Options. By using a timer to break down work into intervals of time (usually of 25 minutes), students are able to better manage their time and focus their attention. Tomato Timer allows you to easily track your work intervals and breaks as well as customize the length of time for each.
SelfControl
Sometimes, there are just too many distractions online. SelfControl allows students to block their own access to potentially distracting websites for a set period of time. Free and easy to use, SelfControl is a great tool for eliminating the distractions that might potentially interfere with online learning.
EasyBib
For students entering their first year of post-secondary, citing correctly can seem a little overwhelming. EasyBib, a free digital tool that generates bibliographies, not only makes referencing a breeze but also teaches students how to cite.
Adobe Scan
Even though most of your resources will be available digitally, you may still find yourself with handwritten notes or paper worksheets. Having the ability to scan these with your phone and create PDFs, means that these loose pieces of paper can be organized, shared, and edited more easily. We like Adobe Scan because it’s free, simple to use, and effective.
Looking for other ways to get ready for the fall? Check out our post about creating the perfect workspace or this one offering more tips for online learning.
