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Your Guide to the Essential Tools for College Students

Written by College Cliffs Team At CollegeCliffs.com, our team, comprising seasoned educators and counselors, is committed to supporting students on their journey through graduate studies. Our advisors, holding advanced degrees in diverse fields, provide tailored guidance, current program details, and pragmatic tips on navigating application procedures.

Reviewed by Linda Weems I got started researching colleges and universities about 10 years ago while exploring a second career. While my second career ended up being exactly what I’m doing now, and I didn’t end up going to college, I try to put myself in your shoes every step of the way as I build out College Cliffs as a user-friendly resource for prospective students.

Updated: March 21, 2024, Reading time: 13 minutes

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College is the ultimate investment for your future. When transitioning to college, the amount of effort and time you spend preparing for college is critical.

While you’re still in high school, it helps to learn and understand proper time management, efficient note-taking methods, and so much more that can help you prepare for the strenuous demands of college.

The moment you enter college, you will start to realize that while it is exciting, it is also quite stressful and hectic at times. It is always challenging to stay on top of things, especially when surrounded by ongoing demands. A huge chunk of becoming successful in university life is learning how to prioritize and manage your time efficiently.

Although this may sound daunting, thankfully, you won’t have to do all these things independently. Learn to take advantage of the digital resources available online. With so many apps and digital tools today, going to college has never been as stress-free and fun.

College Cliffs is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

How Does Digital Technology Benefit College Students?

Over the years, Internet access and digital technology have significantly changed the landscape of university life and beyond. In research shared by ed.gov, they asserted that 60% of the jobs in the 21st century would need digital and computer skills.

However, apart from the many career opportunities students can gain with the most recent technologies, colleges and universities have reported fewer dropouts and higher attendance rates because of access to technology. 

Modes of Instruction

Technology-based teaching utilizes several learning programs, allowing students the ability to learn from a distance. University instructors who use technology tools in the classroom toggle between ones that include video, audio, illustrations, digital simulations, and other multi-sensory tools.

Students, in return, use these technologies significantly to improve their comprehension of topics. Whether they use them to listen to the news, read aloud informational texts, learn foreign languages, or purely for research purposes, students perform 30% better than those without digital resources. 

Better Access

Because of digital technology, people can conveniently meet regardless of their location. This is a great way for college instructors to reach a variety of students. Whether a student lives far away or right down the street, the power of technology can help bridge the gap.

For example, rural students can conveniently attend lectures and complete online coursework even during extreme weather conditions and unforeseen health concerns, or even provide visual/audio impaired students access to a judgment-free session. 

Seat Time

When you look at a traditional classroom setting, restructuring it better to match the ever-increasing needs of the 21st-century student often results in instructors talking about ‘seat time.’ This term is used to identify the time students have to be physically present in class to get the required full credit for their coursework.

Today, many college students populate the schools, and frequently, traditional classroom schedules will need daytime attendance. For most students, this requirement does not work.

Enter Technology!

Technology helps fill this gap in more ways than one. Since online courses usually follow an asynchronous attendance schedule, they can easily access their lessons based on their schedules. Hybrid courses also allow students to enjoy some in-class time, with most of the coursework and lectures taking place online.

With this approach, students are given ample flexibility, and universities can double the use of their classrooms: two hybrid classes sharing a classroom every other week equals the same occupancy as one in-person (full-time) class. 

The Basics

Universities that utilize digital technology help boost the overall learning experience of a student and give the basics a boost. For instance, in an article published by education.com, students who work on their writing skills do better when using word processing software than they would without it.

Although college instructors cannot clearly understand why this happens, they believe that this has something to do with the ease of revising their articles. Students feel that because of sharing files via shared drives or emails, they can easily receive constructive feedback.

In turn, the instant response allows the student to work smarter, not harder. Eventually, this leads them to produce better final outputs. 

Digital Learning Tools and Apps for University Students

For university students, the smartphone is one of the most valuable tools that play a crucial role in college: from study organization and management to in-class learning, community life and planning, personal security and safety, and even handling finances.

Here are some of the most valuable apps every college student should have to make the best out of their university experience. 

For Recording and Collecting

This app automatically identifies the measurements of the file you wish to crop and scan. It can even make autocorrect and sharpen images at your request. See an image on your classroom’s whiteboard. You can turn that into a Word document! You can even instantly turn a business card into your mobile contact.

Google Lens is another similar app that detects objects. It offers actions to your smartphone based on its visual analysis of the object. This is also similar to Bixby Vision and Google Goggles. 

 

Management

This app allows you to sync your calendars together, allowing you to adjust your work life with your new college life. When you input key information about your college semester, you can easily keep on track with your classes, assignments, activities, and fast-approaching exams.

My Study Life also allows you to connect all your other devices and gives you the option of cloud storage. Other apps similar to this include Exam Countdown, Pocket, TCY Exam Prep, and ACCA Student Planner.  

This app offers online studies in 12 different categories. You can receive your verified certificates and online achievements once you complete a course. Today, most universities even recognize Coursera credit, thus allowing students to have their online courses completed as part of their usual degree programs at a college. 

 

Security

Juggling multiple “lives” (college, work, and home) is certainly a challenge. Nonetheless, one should not let the fear of a challenge deter them from becoming successful.  With so many digital tools available today, advancing your career has never been so easy.