7 Ways Students Can Use Technology To Boost Their Study Skills

In a time where technology shapes much of our daily life, using it to enhance learners’ study skills can significantly improve their academic performance and efficiency. 

Below, we explore seven various and unique ways learners can use technology as a powerful ally in their education, allowing them to boost their study skills and revise more effectively. 

Embrace Digital Note-Taking

Making notes on paper can mean it’s more difficult to find certain notes to refer back to when it comes to study time. Digital note-taking apps, such as Microsoft OneNote, allow students to organise their notes efficiently, making them easily searchable and accessible from any device. This means they can review their notes on the go.

Additionally, these apps often feature tools for highlighting, annotating, and even sharing notes with classmates, facilitating collaborative learning.

Stay Updated with Educational Podcasts and Blogs

Podcasts and blogs can be excellent sources of inspiration and learning. Learners can find out about potentially useful study material and lecture notes from sites such as Studocu – mediums where educators and experts share their knowledge and insights, covering topics from study strategies to the latest research findings in various fields. Subscribing to these can keep students informed, motivated, and engaged with their subjects of interest beyond the classroom. 

Hearing from fellow students can be a great way to learn about potentially useful research material, podcasts, and educational blogs that would benefit learning. Through listening to podcasts or using educational blog posts, the subject becomes much more interesting than just reading information from a textbook or etextbook. 

Additionally, approaching information and learning by having discussions and hearing other points of view can help increase students’ knowledge of a subject and offer different perspectives to their own. Not only is being more open-minded a great skill to help boost their education and learning, it’s also a great skill to carry through into their professional life, too.

Harness Online Resources for Learning

The internet is a valuable tool for educational resources. You can find courses on a wide range of subjects either for free or at a low cost. These online courses can complement learners’ studies by providing different perspectives on the subjects they’re learning. Moreover, educational YouTube channels and podcasts can offer insights and explanations that might resonate with students more than traditional textbooks. 

Different people have different methods of learning effectively for them, and it might take trying different study methods to find one that works best for your students. For example, some people retain information best when writing it down, while others need to listen to others or see visual imagery such as charts or pictures. Try different study methods and tools and see which one suits them best and improves how well they can retain information.

Utilise Educational Apps

There’s an app for nearly everything, including boosting study skills. Flashcard apps are fantastic for memorising facts, languages, and formulas. 

Apps such as Carter’s Yard Phonics Flashcards and ChitChat2Fluency Kids Course are specifically designed to support learners’ improvement of phonics through flashcards.

Meanwhile, apps such as Studeam and Claro Writing Helper, can help learners manage their time and tasks more effectively, ensuring they stay on top of workloads and deadlines. These tools not only aid in organising study sessions, but also in tracking progress over time. Browse EdTech Impact’s marketplace to find one that could help your learners.

Participate in Online Forums and Study Groups

Engaging with peers can significantly enhance students’ learning experiences. Online forums and study groups provide platforms for discussing topics, asking questions, and sharing knowledge. Websites such as Reddit have communities dedicated to virtually every subject and academic level, offering a space for learners to seek advice or simply engage in discussions related to their studies. If they want to learn more about a subject they’re studying, encourage them to set up a group where they can collaborate on research and revision.

Take Advantage of E-books and Online Libraries

Physical textbooks can be expensive and cumbersome to carry around. E-books, on the other hand, are often cheaper and more portable. Many academic publishers offer electronic versions of textbooks, and platforms like Google Books provide access to a wide range of literature and academic texts for free. Furthermore, university libraries and public libraries often grant access to digital resources, including journals and academic papers, facilitating students’ research without the need to physically visit the library.

Improve Concentration with Focus Apps

Distraction is a common challenge these days, but technology also offers solutions to combat it. Focus apps and timers encourage learners to stay on task with time management techniques that break study sessions into manageable intervals. These apps often include features to block distracting websites and apps, helping students maintain concentration and maximise productivity.

Shiken integrates mindful practice into its app, sending students daily motivational quotes to keep them focused and engaged during revision periods. Meanwhile, Adventure 2 Learning is a video-centred education platform that tackles emerging topics – like Mindfulness and  Online Behaviour – in a way that’s exciting and fun for today’s learners.

Studying for long periods of time can actually make revision less effective, so remind students not to overload themselves. Making time for food and drink and spending some time outside can help give them the energy and relief from studying required to continue learning effectively.

Conclusion

Integrating technology into their study routine can transform how students learn, making the process more efficient, engaging, and enjoyable. By exploring and utilising the tools and resources available, they can enhance their study skills and pave the way for academic success.