General Purpose Apps

	Evernote	For note-taking, research, creating to-dos, lists and attaching images, and PDF’s. Instantly synchronizes from computer to smartphone, tablet and the web. iOS and Android compatible.
	Dropbox	Free service that lets you store your photos, docs, and videos in the cloud and share them easily. Synchronizes from computer to smartphone, tablet and the web. iOS and Android compatible.
	Awesome Note	Note-taking application and to-do manager that allow you to combine notes with to-do flexibility. iOS and GalaxyNote compatible.
	2Do	Checklist to full-blown project management. A task manager app that lets you focus on what’s important. iOS and Android compatible.
	Things	Task manager app modeled after the GTD (“Get Things Done”) method of project management. iOS and Android compatible.
	myHomework	Digital student planner that lets you easily track your classes, homework, tests and projects. myHomework is available on multiple platforms, so you can always know what’s due wherever you are. You can find the myHomework app on the iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows 8, Kindle Fire and the Web.

Apps by Various Topics

Mapping
	Magical Pad	Note-Taking and Task Manager app that enables you to quickly take notes, capture ideas, doodle and manage lists and to-dos. iOS compatibility only.
	Inspiration	App for mind maps and graphic organizers to help you: brainstorm and visualize ideas with maps and diagrams; organize thoughts and information; make sense of complex concepts and projects. iOS compatibility only.
	SimpleMind	Mind mapping tool that turns your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch into a brainstorming, idea collection and thought structuring device. iOS compatibility only.
	Coggle	Mapping tool allows users several advanced features to diagram information and use it for collaborative aspects project management, report writing, and just brainstorming.

Handwritten Notes
	Pennultimate	Handwriting app for iPad that combines the natural experience of pen and paper with the flexibility and syncing of Evernote. Take notes, keep sketches, or share your ideas from anywhere. iOS compatibility only.
	Noteshelf	Note-Taking app that allows you to jot down whatever comes to mind, just like an ordinary pen and paper. Write with finger, stylus or smart pen. Easily allows for exporting to Evernote, Dropbox, Twitter and Facebook. iOS compatibility only.
	Notesplus	Note-Taking app that allows you to type, draw or record notes. Import and annotate and highlight on PDF’s. Easily allows for exporting to various outlets. iOS compatibility only.
	Notability	Note-Taking app that allows you to create, illustrate, outline, annotate, record, capture photos. Automatic cloud synchronizing to iPhone and iPad. iOS compatibility only.

Annotations & Readers
	iAnnotate PDF	PDF document reader that allows for reading, annotating and sharing PDF documents, Word/PowerPoint files and images. iOS and Android compatible.
	GoodReader	Document reader that allows you to read virtually anything, anywhere: books, movies, pictures. Easily annotate, manage, transfer, and sync files. iOS compatibility only.
	Adobe Acrobat Reader	PDF document reader app that allows for reading and annotating PDF’s across various platforms. iOS and Android compatible.
	PDF Expert	PDF Expert is a professional PDF viewer and annotation tool for iPhone/iPod Touch. Read and annotate PDF documents, highlight text, and annotate. Sync with Dropbox. Copy files from Mac and PC. PDF Expert is a professional PDF viewer and annotation tool for iPhone/iPod Touch. iOS compatibility only.

	Browzine	A tablet application that allows you to browse, read and monitor many of the library’s scholarly journals in a format optimized for iPad and Android tablets. The selected articles can be can easily be synced with Zotero, Dropbox, RefWorks. Note: Browzine is available for free through Penn Libraries to all current students, faculty, and staff. Works on Tablet devices: iPad, Android.

Apps for for Managing Articles, References and Digital Annotations

	Mendeley	A digital manager that organizes references, research, and enables collaborative discovery of the latest research. Compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux.
	ProQuest	Allows users to create personal bibliographic citation database using this web-based bibliographic management tool.
	Zotero	Allows users to organize online resources, bibliographies, blog posts and PDFs. This way, users can organize all the searched web content in one place and keep track of what information has been located, and then, find it again easily. Compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux.

Apps for STEM courses

	Wolfram Alpha	A free open source tool, allows users to submit mathematical and computation queries through a text field. Wolfram Alpha computes answers to user queries and displays relevant visualizations that make the answers easy to comprehend and apply to other problems of similar nature.
	Khan Academy	A free educational resource that offers video tutorials on a wide range of subjects including: mathematics, history, physics, general and organic chemistry, micro and macroeconomics. Khan Academy allows users to develop a personalized dashboard to tag favorites and most commonly used tutorials.
	Molecular Workbench	A free open source portal that allows users to launch and customize concepts at atomic and molecular levels in physics, chemistry, biotechnology and nanotechnology.

If you have found an app that works best for you, please share it and we will add it to our collection.

Spring term that is!

If you ask an online student –

“what are the most important skills for academic success?”

organization and time management

are usually right there at the top. One way to stay organized and be aware of all the demands on your time is the use of a planner.

Things to keep in mind when planning your time:

Start with your fixed commitments (work, appointments, family or other obligations)
Add in at least 3 hours per week PER CREDIT of your coursework. That means if you are taking a 3 credit class, you should budget nine hours of time for reading, reviewing online materials, discussion boards, assignments and study. How much school do you have time for?
Make sure to schedule time for health and wellness – meals, exercise, and time to relax
Think about scheduling in some “fun” whether that is an afternoon fishing or shopping, a visit with friends or family, or just taking a long hot bath.

There are as many different styles of planners as there are students. What is important is to figure out what works for you. If you try something and it is clunky, or takes too much time to develop, or you just don’t feel comfortable with it – try something else! There is no right or wrong to planning, as long as you get everything done on time without feeling like you are always “at the last minute”. Plan your work, then work your plan!

Some methods students have used in the past:

post-it notes stuck on a wall calendar, when an assignment/test is done, toss the post-it
paper planners, including both a full-term calendar to look ahead, and weekly and/or monthly calendars
electronic calendars such as Google calendar, Cozi, or Outlook
planner apps such as Wunderlist, College Study Buddy, OmniStudy, or iHomework

As you start a new term, think about what worked for you in your previous courses.

How can you take what worked well in the past and make it even better this term?

Plan to use free academic resources including NetTutor, the OSU Online Writing Lab, and consider partnering with an Ecampus Success Counselor as you identify and work toward academic goals.

Classes start Monday March 31, and your Blackboard sites should all be open. If the are not, please contact your instructor or Ecampus Student Services at ecampus.ESS@oregonstate.edu

Ecampus Student Success

Category Archives: Time Management

Apps That Increase Efficiency & Productivity