Finally, the results for the previous semester have arrived. Did you score well? Congratulations. But if you aren’t satisfied with it, no need to worry! It can happen to anyone. You need to work on points that are tricky for you. Hard work alone cannot help us. We need to adopt “smart work” in life. And, for our assistance, fortunately, there are some technology-backed great learning tools. These are sure to boost your learning, and ultimately, your CGPA. It is not hearsay or a tattletale. I’ve tried the tools mentioned below in my own life. And after getting good results, I thought to present them before you. So, why wait? Let’s have a look at these tools one-by-one!
1. Wikipedia
Who doesn’t know this name? Wikipedia is a great website where you can find tons of information about almost every topic. The sole need is to use it most effectively. Instead of looking for a Wiki article on Google, try to search it on the Wikipedia website itself. Just type the relevant keyword in the search bar, and you’re ready to go! To get the most out of it, you can also create an account for yourself. Wikipedia offers a built-in “Book Creator” tool to export content to other devices. With this tool, you can combine multiple pages into one document also. To activate it, you can’t forget to go to the Book Creator page. You can download pages as PDF files as well to view them later or when you’re offline.
2. YouTube
Watching music videos in 4K can be fun. But using YouTube for learning is super powerful. YouTube is a free (okay, mostly free) encyclopedia in which you can find information about everything in video format. If you’re tired of reading, this is the place where you can enjoy your learning in real-time. The need is to head towards reputed and knowledgeable channels. You’re not supposed to learn from those who don’t know much about the topic. From whiteboard lectures to well-crafted infographics, YouTube has a wide variety to offer. My personal favorite is to look for animated videos first to understand the concept better. However, your taste may differ. It is a well-known fact that we learn 30-40% more while visualizing the concepts instead of reading about them.
3. Khan Academy
Then comes a not-for-profit organization that provides educational content for free. On the website, you’ll find hundreds of videos covering a lot of concepts. Fundamentally, Khan Academy covers many subjects for all ages in 30 different languages. You can also access all this stuff on your phone by downloading the Khan Academy application from the app store. There are many more free and paid services as well, which offer great content in bite-sized lessons.
4. Quizlet
Sites like Quizlet offer great resources if you want to practice while learning. Here, you can find and try quizzes from thousands of students and educators from around the world. In addition to this, you can create your personalized flip cards to memorize formulas, terms, and definitions. On Quizlet, you can learn while playing and enjoying. Quizzes arranged in the form of a small game give you points for every correct answer. Gamified content, along with cool memes as stress-busters, makes learning zestful. It makes Quizlet a must-try website.
5. Quora
Got any questions while learning? Someone must have answered them before on Quora! Just type it in any search engine (or in Quora itself) and get the relevant results. It’s a suggestion that for a better experience, you should follow the topics of great importance. With this, you can always find new questions posted on the site without any effort. And for every answer you come across on Quora, don’t forget to check out the comments. You’ll see a lot of highly qualified people waiting for your questions in the evenings or on weekends.
6. Coursera
If you have some weeks to give to a specific topic, then here are some content providers. Coursera is one of the largest platforms of open online courses. You can find a lot of resources available from highly reputed educational institutes in the world. Many programs are free to study unless you want a certificate upon completion (which requires you to pay). But if you desire to learn only, it is an excellent place for you. However, it’s worth noting that Coursera is not the only one that provides free online education. The alternatives include edX, MyDegree, Udemy, MIT OpenCourseWare, Stanford Online, Codecademy, Open Culture, TED-Ed, etc.
7. Other tools and tips
Apart from these resources, you can improve concentration with applications like “Forest” and “Self Control.” However, nothing will aid until you plan for success yourself. You need to elevate your self-esteem and be positive all the time. A good study schedule can help if you don’t find yourself alert at the time of studying. Instead of cramming at the last night, try to learn for at least 30 minutes daily. Having discussions with your peers on topics can help you memorize them for longer. I, personally, try to teach concepts to others for better understanding as well as for revision.
Phew!! We covered a lot of points today. These are the things that give good outcomes at the ground level. Remember that taking a schematic approach for learning is much better than mesmerizing everything at the last moment. I hope that you’ll use these tools to the fullest. Always keep in mind that if you dare to achieve something, there’s nothing that can stop you.
