1. Zotero
Citing your research doesn’t have to be a major time drain.
With the Zotero browser extension, you can automatically generate citations for
online sources such as Google Scholar, ProQuest, JSTOR, and The New York Times
with one click. Zotero stores each citation in its companion desktop
application, and you can also install plugins for Microsoft Word and
LibreOffice to quickly add those citations to your papers. The basic app is
free, and includes 300 MB of storage for Zotero’s optional cloud service, which
stores PDFs, images and other files alongside your citations. Additional
storage starts at $20 per year.
2. Ginger
3. OneNote
OneNote is hardly the only note-taking software with online
syncing, but Microsoft’s solution is especially conducive to schoolwork. You
can organize your work into notebooks, each with its own sections and pages, which
makes sense for separating notes from each class.
Beyond text, OneNote lets you create checklists, bullet
points, audio snippets, and free-form drawing. It’s especially useful if you
have a device with a stylus, such as Microsoft’s Surface Pro 3, as it can help
replace your paper notebooks. The fact that OneNote supports a wide range of
platforms—including the desktop, the web and most mobile operating
systems—doesn’t hurt.
4. Foxit Reader
Dedicated PDF readers aren’t as vital as they used to be now
that some web browsers—such as Google Chrome—can read PDF files natively. But
if you’re juggling multiple PDF files, or need to annotate them with highlights
and notes, you might want to give Foxit a look. The desktop software provides a
tabbed view of all your open files, and comes with lots of markup options.
Although Foxit sells several premium versions of its software that are aimed
toward professional users, students can probably get by with the free version.
Though it isn’t pretty, it’s hard to beat old, reliable
Audacity when you need to record and listen to lectures. The free, open-source
software lets you record audio straight from your computer’s microphone (or an
external mic, if you prefer), and then save it as a WAV file for later listening.
You can also use the “change tempo” effect to slow the speech of your most
hyperactive professors.
6.Google Drive and Chrome
Google Drive has always been useful as a free alternative to
Microsoft Office, but it used to be a hassle for editing and saving actual
Office files. Fortunately, a new Chrome extension allows you to open and modify
DOC, XLS, and PPT files directly, without having to convert them to Google’s
format first. While you’re at it, enable offline access for your documents
(Google’s support page has instructions) so you don’t have to worry about
spotty Wi-Fi in the lecture hall.
StudyMinder
Calendars and to-do lists can only go so far when you’re
trying to keep track of four or five classes at a time. StudyMinder provides
another layer of organization, letting you set pop-up reminders for upcoming
assignments, as well as create a budget for study and homework time, with
percentages and check-off boxes to mark your progress. You can also view your
assignment grades as the semester goes on, and estimate your GPA from past
classes. The software costs $30, but you can try it free for 30 days.
Regardless of whether you’re already using another cloud
storage solution, Bitcasa is worth installing for one reason: It allows you to
create an online backup of any folder on your hard drive. Most other services
can only sync a specific folder, requiring you to rethink how you store your
files. Set Bitcasa to “ mirror” your most precious folders—say, the one with
all your homework and term papers—and your work will be protected if your
computer gets fried, lost or stolen.
While high school and college are wonderful times to develop
your procrastination skills, sometimes you really need to get to work. Cold
Turkey can enforce better study habits by blocking applications and websites at
scheduled times. Be warned, however, that you can’t circumvent Cold Turkey’s
restrictions by shutting the program down or even uninstalling it (at least not
without elaborate workarounds). You must wait until your designated block
period is over before you can start sabotaging your productivity again. The
program is free, but the developer encourages donations and gives a percentage
to charity.
9. Flux
If you’re going to be staying up late writing papers and
cramming for exams, the last thing you want is to have trouble falling asleep.
F.lux helps by adjusting the warmth of your computer’s display based on the
time of day. As the sun goes down, your screen loses its blue hue, and takes on
a more orange vibe that mimics the look of indoor lighting. The idea is that
your body will be better-primed for sleep when it’s finally time for bed. You
can, however, disable the lighting change temporarily when you really need to
pull an all-nighter.
source:http://www.pcworld.com/article/2466587/the-best-educational-software-for-students.html#slide1
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