#follwing back

With the advent of the smartphone and tablet, studying is now an activity that you can more easily do on the go. Apps make it easier than ever to study for that final or midterm, and they utilize instructional methods that speak to just about every learning style. So whether you like to learn by moving and touching (swiping, tapping, and clicking), by seeing what you’re learning (pictures, graphs), or listening (instructional videos, recordings), there is an app that will make it much more pleasant to study. Here are some apps from CollegeChoice.net and ExamTime.com.

Quizlet

Quizlet is one of the most versatile studying apps available. Create a set of flash cards with Quizlet on any topic. Arrange your study cards by subject. Add pictures. Add text and definitions in different languages. Play games to learn how to spell the words on your flash cards faster and more accurately. You can also play games to match the front and back sides of the cards. Add your voice or add words in 18 languages (helpful for studying foreign languages) to the cards if you want an audio component.

Recording App

Speaking of voices, use the voice memo app on your phone to record your voice or your professor’s lectures (if she allows it). When you review your notes, making an audio recording of you paraphrasing the notes in your own words forces you to state what you learned out loud. Later on, listen to the recording to review faster than re-reading the textbook. Listening to lectures again can help you clarify concepts you don’t understand.

iTunes University and Khan Academy

Check out the course material from colleges and universities on iTunes U (only available for iOS). You can watch video and read text on subjects that you’re studying. You may find a resource that explains something you didn’t quite catch in class in a different way. Download the Khan Academy app to watch videos on a variety of topics to enhance your in-class learning and to help you study for tests.

MyScript Smart Note

If you like to write down notes with a pen and paper in class and not type, then MyScript Smart Note might be a great app for you. There are lots of apps that let you handwrite with a finger or stylus, but they can’t really keep up with the speed with which you have to take notes during a lecture. This app isn’t any better about getting your  notes down faster, but it is good for taking notes if you’re taking notes from a book and are studying at home or at the library. One positive aspect of MyScript is that it can recognize handwriting in more than one language, and it can understand even the worst handwriting. This app is available for iOS and Android. The app enables you to change what you wrote with certain hand gestures. You can also draw and add media like images, sound, or PDF files from cloud storage. For a couple of dollars, you can add more pages, the ability to export, and back-ups as well. 

XMind

Xmind is only for desktops and laptops, but it is a versatile mind mapping tool. It isn’t mobile, and there is no Web app for it, but it can be a great planning tool for studying. Mind maps help you categorize and organize your thinking around a central topic and are usually helpful for visual learners. XMind has a free version, but you can pay extra for cloud storage and business-level perks if you want. 

ExamTime

This app lets you create mind maps, flash cards, notes, and quizzes. You can use all of these tools to help you prepare for exams. Organize your notes, and create flashcards and practice tests of your own. Share them with your friends to help them study, and they can share their materials with you to help you improve your grades. Your notes are all stored in one location, making them easier to find and study from. You can also study in groups, private message other users, use the online calendar, and plan your studying. This is a Web app, so you can use it from any device with a browser.

SelfControl

If you’re like most students, your mind wanders easily when you study. Use SelfControl to block a list of websites for an amount of time you choose when you study. You can better concentrate on studying and stay off of the Internet. 

There are times when being a good student is what it takes to pass a class or earn a good grade on an essay. “Good” doesn’t necessarily mean earning A’s throughout the semester, though, or that your professor is likely to want to help you out if you need her to. If you really want to get on your professor’s good side, you’re going to have to work hard. Slacking off is not going to make her happy. Here are seven tips to help you get your professors to love you.

1.) Go to Class. We know, basic, right? Show up to class, and your professors will remember your face as belonging to a person who actually is present for lectures. It’s natural for the professor to believe that you genuinely care about learning and your grade if your seat is warm every time she calls roll. If you demonstrate you care, you can expect to earn some brownie points.

2.) Go to Office Hours. Don’t ever tell your professor that you didn’t know when office hours were, and that’s why you failed your last test. They’re on the syllabus. You could ask the professor himself or the teaching assistant. Ask another student. Go to the professor’s website to find out when office hours are. There is no excuse for not going to office hours if you need help. If you make the effort to show up to office hours to ask questions about the lecture, text you read, or about an upcoming test, it shows that you want to establish a personal connection with the teacher and that you really want to do well in class.

3.) Ask Questions in Class. If there was something you didn’t get from the homework, make sure to ask your teacher. Do this during class if you can because there are likely to be other students who need an answer to the same question. If you don’t ask during class, go to office hour or send an email to ask. You could also leave your professor a voicemail if he prefers phone calls to emails. This helps your understanding of the material and again shows that you are paying attention to the material and truly want to comprehend it.

4.) Answer Questions in Class.

You can be of great help to other students if you can answer their questions during group work or when the professor leaves it open for a student to answer another student’s question. Also, pipe up when the instructor asks a question about the material being presented. This indicates that you read the assigned homework, listened in class, and that you have a good understanding of what you’re supposed to be learning.

5.) Do Your Work. 

You can’t get by on a wing and a prayer in most classes. You’ll need to actually do your homework and turn it in. Doing the work and reading assigned shows that you’re serious about understanding what your instructor is trying to convey. If you need help, make sure you ask ahead of time so that you aren’t begging for an extension.

6.) Demonstrate Maturity.

Cut out the wise cracks in class. Your schooling is your most important job right now, so treat it accordingly. Act professionally, just as you expect your professor to act. While it’s totally cool to laugh and have a good time in class, it’s also important to remember that you are at college to learn. Acting inappropriately can also negatively affect everyone else’s learning, and you don’t want your professor to remember you for being the class clown. 

7.) Get Help When You Need It. 

Contrary to popular belief, your professor doesn’t really want to see anyone fail. She is not out to make your life miserable. If you need help, ask for it. Your professor may offer to tutor you or direct you to resources on campus that can help you get a passing (or better) grade. Don’t avoid talking to your professor because you think he won’t want to help you out. In reality, he wants to see you succeed, and taking ownership of your education by asking for help will definitely help you get on his good side.