With students becoming more and more tech savvy these days, how can they keep up with all the new gadgets and apps that are out there? How can they take that information to heart with tech? Here are five suggestions:
- Handwritten notes. Yes, handwritten. Numerous studies have shown that taking handwritten notes helps a student to retain the information more than just typing them out. So how can you use tech to hand write your notes? Various tablets let you hand write them, but one of my favorites is the Smart Pen by Livescribe. You record the lecture at the same time you are taking notes. Doodle instead of writing? It doesn’t matter. The lecture links to whatever you write. This is great for students who learn best by using their hands – whether taking notes or doodling. Check with the DRC to find out more.
- Back up your notes. There are services that will automatically back up your computer for a relatively small fee. That way, if your computer crashes, you haven’t lost all your information. A low tech way to do this, as well, is to email yourself regularly with a copy of your work. Or put it on a jump drive or external hard drive. There is little that is more frustrating than losing your 40-page essay the night before it is due. Be proactive – it pays.
- Organize those notes. Whether you use a separate notebook for each class, or simply dividers, keeping those notes close by is always a good idea. Tech gurus often love Evernote because it is a digital planner’s dream. You can clip online articles, take photos, transfer your handwritten notes and even transform them into a presentation. Check out our Weebly post on note taking. Other good points are there, as well.
- Ever heard of RateMyProfessors.com? A lot of students use it to see what other students have to say about professors. Often, if you have a choice between two classes but one professor has a teaching style that complements your learning style (and another post will work on that issue), knowing in advance which professor you might decide to use is often a good idea. This is also one way to know that you’ll enjoy the class instead of slogging through it. Check out the website.
- Take advantage of your student discount. Often colleges and various vendors will offer students discounts for tech stuff – but they will also want proof that you are a student. For example, Microsoft has an agreement with many colleges to offer Microsoft Office (yes, the whole suite!) for free. Check it out your college’s IT department and see if they have jumped onto that deal. Apple also offers discounts on Macbooks and other Apple products. Check them out as well.