Having the right tech tools can significantly improve your productivity, and organization skills, providing a better learning experience at university. Here is our top list of must-have tech tools for university students:
Laptop:
A reliable laptop is essential for taking notes, writing assignments, and conducting research. Choose a model within your budget to meet your academic needs.
Note-Taking Apps:
Consider using note-taking apps like Microsoft OneNote, Apple Notes, Google Keep, Standard Notes, Notability, Evernote, or Notion. These tools will allow you to create and organize your notes, add multimedia content, and to be able to access them across various devices.
Cloud Storage:
Google Drive, One Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud provide cloud storage to back up your files and ensure you can access them anywhere. Depending on the storage needed, these can be paid services; however, they ensure that your documents are safe and accessible from wherever you are. For someone on a student budget, there are discounts for students available online.
Calendar and Planner Apps:
Use apps like Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook to manage your schedule, set reminders for important dates, and stay on top of deadlines.
Productivity Apps:
Tools like Trello, Todoist, or Asana help you manage tasks, create to-do lists, and stay organized.
PDF Reader:
A good PDF reader like Adobe Acrobat, WPS Office or Foxit Reader is essential for accessing and annotating course materials and research papers.
Reference Management Software:
When handling a lot of research papers, consider using reference management tools like Zotero or Mendeley to help organize and cite your sources.
Collaboration Tools:
For group projects or study sessions, tools like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype or Google Workspace and Google Meet can facilitate communication and collaboration.
Online Learning Platforms:
Your university might use programs like Blackboard, Canvas, or Moodle for course materials, assignments, and discussions. Start getting yourself acquainted with these.
Grammar and Plagiarism Checker:
Using tools like Grammarly or Turnitin can be a great resource to help improve your writing and ensure academic integrity.
Language Learning Apps:
If you're studying a foreign language; or living in another country, apps like Duolingo or Babbel can be helpful for practice.
Noise-Cancelling Headphones:
Get yourself a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones that can help you concentrate in noisy environments or even during virtual classes.
Digital Scanning Apps:
These are a useful tool to have. Usually, applications like CamScanner, Office Lens, and Google Lens can allow you to scan physical documents and convert them into digital files in no time.
Password Manager:
You will need the password manager to always help you keep your accounts secure. Google Chrome offers this in which your passwords are saved into the browser. Other services that provide a password vault and a secure password generator are; LastPass or Dashlane.
Try out as many of these tools as possible, then keep only those that align with your needs and preferences. Some of these services may require purchasing and can be costly, requiring a budget which may not be available to many students.
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