Software to help you study online
This list shows software that is mentioned in the book, Studying Online.
Planning and organising
Software to help you plan, schedule and keep up-to-date with all your work and assignments.
Trello
Trello is a “Kanban” planning system allowing you to plan visually and move things around the screen as you complete each activity.
https://trello.com/en
Airtable
This provides a highly sophisticated “spreadsheet” approach to organising and planning. Several templates are available for education.
https://www.airtable.com/
ClickUp
This is another planning system that is highly flexible and also has a range of useful templates. The company “guarantees” to save you one day a week..!
https://clickup.com/
ToDoist
One of the best “to do” systems you can find
https://todoist.com
Distraction blocking
Software and systems to help you block out the distractions you will inevitably face online.
RescueTime
This software analyses the time you spend on every different task you do. I will help you see what distracts you the most.
https://www.rescuetime.com/
Freedom
This can block your activity on all of your devices at the same time. So, when you switch off distractions on your laptop, your phone will also have them switched off too.
https://freedom.to/
Forest
This app allows you to grow virtual trees. Once you have grown trees, you can convert them into real trees planted on your behalf. More than 1.4m trees have been planted through this app. If you avoid distractions, your tree will grow. Pick up your phone while you want to focus and your tree dies.
https://www.forestapp.cc/
Focus Booster
This helps you break up your working time into 25-minute chunks.
https://www.focusboosterapp.com/
Brain FM
This is a music program that says it uses science to provide the right kind of background music depending upon what you are trying to achieve.
https://www.brain.fm/
Headspace
Headspace is a meditation and mindfulness app that will help you manage your mind to put you in a better mental space to avoid distractions.
https://www.headspace.com/
Screen recording software
You may need to record your screen for presentations and other assignments.
SnagIt
This is a versatile program that records videos and takes screenshots.
https://www.techsmith.com/screen-capture.html
Screencast-O-Matic
This is a free recorder that works on a variety of platforms, including smartphones.
https://screencast-o-matic.com/screen-recorder
Loom
A simple and straightforward system to record videos and presentations.
https://www.loom.com/
Screencastify
This is great for recording presentations. It even includes a submit function, if your lecturers turn that on. It avoids all kinds of hassles by doing this.
https://www.screencastify.com/
Windows folder colour changer
As explained in the book, Studying Online, changing the colour of your folder icons can help you stay more organised and productive.
Folder Colorizer 2
This program does what it says and changes the colour of your folders.
https://softorino.com/foldercolorizer2/
Folder Colorizer for Mac
If you use a Mac, you can change the colours of folders using the system itself. But this program lets you do it in one click.
https://softorino.com/folder-colorizer-mac/
FolderIco
Another way of changing the colour of your folders and also changing the icons you use.
https://www.folderico.com/
NOTE FOR MAC USERS: If you do not wish to get an extra program to change folder colours, you can do it yourself using the instructions on this web page.
PDF Programs
You will need to read and send plenty of documents using PDF. Here are some useful ideas.
Foxit PDF Reader
This will let you read PDF documents, as well as add annotations to them. The reader is free, but if you want a fully-fledged PDF editor, this is also available from the company but at a charge.
https://www.foxit.com/pdf-reader/
Wondershare PDFelement
This is a PDF reader and a PDF editor in one program.
https://pdf.wondershare.com/
PDF-XChange Editor
This is a paid-for PDF reader and editor, but it is one of the lowest costs systems around.
https://www.tracker-software.com/product/pdf-xchange-editor