Overview
This lecture introduces 10 useful computer apps and browser extensions that enhance productivity, studying, and organization for students.
Note-Taking and Organization Apps
- Microsoft OneNote is a free note-taking app allowing typed or handwritten notes, highlighting, drawing, audio recordings, and seamless syncing across devices.
- OneNote enables creating separate sections and pages for each subject or chapter, helping students organize their notes efficiently.
- XMind is a customizable mind mapping app with various layouts, themes, and keyboard shortcuts, ideal for visual learners.
Productivity and Task Management Tools
- Momentum is a browser extension that displays a daily focus task, motivational quotes, to-do lists, bookmarks, and customizable backgrounds on new tabs.
- Taskade helps plan projects, manage to-do lists with tags, deadlines, calendar view, and real-time collaboration, available across devices and platforms.
Browser Tab and File Management
- OneTab extension stores, groups, and names multiple browser tabs for easy access and declutters your workspace.
- Google Drive provides cloud storage, integrates with Google Docs, and offers offline desktop and mobile access through Backup and Sync.
Writing, Editing, and PDF Tools
- Grammarly is a browser extension that checks grammar, spelling, punctuation, and tone for emails, essays, and Google Docs.
- PDFelement allows annotating, editing, and highlighting PDF documents, with features like sticky notes and optical character recognition (OCR).
Focus and Study Enhancement
- Forest browser extension sets work timers and gamifies focus by growing a tree, blocking distracting websites, and syncing with the mobile app.
- KeyKey is a typing practice app that improves speed and accuracy by tracking errors and providing detailed feedback.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Mind Map — a visual diagram used to organize and connect ideas around a central concept.
- OCR (Optical Character Recognition) — technology that converts text in images into editable digital text.
- Cloud Storage — online service that saves digital files and allows access from multiple devices.
- Browser Extension — a small software add-on that adds features to a web browser.
- Syncing — automatically updating and matching files or data across multiple devices.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Download and try any recommended app or extension that suits your study needs.
- Check the video description for app download links.
- Set up sections in OneNote for your subjects and experiment with XMind for visual study.
- Activate Grammarly and OneTab extensions in your browser.
- Explore the free trial of PDFelement if you handle many PDFs.