The Internet.

Is there a better gift for students?

It allows you to keep in touch with friends, and it also gives you something to do when you’ve completed your schoolwork.

Without the Internet, life would be more dull.

You might love the Internet as a way to relax, but there’s also a lot that it can do to help you improve your study habits and make you more successful.

The following list contains the top useful websites to enable you to get organized, develop new skills, and plan for the future.

So the next time you take a break, check out some of these websites!

Scheduling, Organization, and Personal Effectiveness

1. MyStudyLife

MyStudyLife is a free app that lets you coordinate your calendar and to-do list.

Designed especially for schools, this is a planner that can be customized for rotating schedules and long-term assignments.

You can even set up reminders about your homework due dates and store assignments in the cloud, so they’re always accessible.

 

2. Habitica

Habitica is a free app that turns your focused study goals into a game.

Do you want to study a certain number of minutes each day?

Or do you want to finally get down to writing that English essay?

Add it as a goal to Habitica, and it turns into a monster to be slain in the game.

You’ll also get to work with groups of like-minded students, which will make your schoolwork more fun.

 

3. Todoist

Todoist is my favorite app for organizing my to-do list.

Its clean look keeps you focused, and the app allows you to organize tasks into categories like household chores, reading lists, and long-term projects.

You can access Todoist from any device, so you’ll always have your to-do list with you.

 

4. Google Calendar

In addition to an ongoing list of assignments, you also need to keep track of your busy schedule of extracurricular activities, family commitments, etc.

Google Calendar is an easy way to do that.

You can even set up alerts and reminders so that you’re always on top of things.

 

5. Dropbox

If you’re in love with Microsoft Word and don’t want to be limited by Google Docs, Dropbox is the perfect solution for you.

Once you set up a Dropbox account, you can access your work from any computer or device, so you can always get your work done.

You can also share documents with friends or group members — their edits show up instantly for convenient group work.

 

6. Slack

Speaking of group work, Slack is the app for getting projects done when you and your group members can’t all be together 24 hours a day.

Slack allows you to set up a dedicated space for group texts and document sharing, so you have everything you need in one place.

The app allows you to get your projects done without worrying about being able to coordinate schedules — which is nearly impossible when your friends are just as busy as you are.

 

Acquiring Knowledge and Skills

7. UnplugTheTV

If you need a break, you don’t have to watch mindless TV shows filled with commercials.

Instead, head over to UnplugTheTV.com, where you’ll find an informative and entertaining featured video explaining one of the world’s great mysteries.

There are at least two new videos added every day, so you’ll never get bored.

 

8. EdX

Want to take free college courses from some of the best universities in the world?

EdX makes it possible.

From music theory to computer programming, you can pursue your passions and get a head start on college skills from professors at Harvard, MIT, and Berkeley, to name just a few of the universities involved in the program.

 

9. Coursera

Like EdX, Coursera offers online classes taught by university professors and designed to give you a head start on college.

Though some lectures are available for free, full courses with feedback from professors carry a fee — but financial aid is available.

 

10. Udacity

If you love technology and want to be a maker, Udacity’s courses in coding and tech are for you.

The courses are designed for real-life work in the tech world.

Your school probably doesn’t offer any courses similar to these, so taking a Udacity course is an excellent way to get a jump on industry knowledge.

 

11. Academic Earth

Academic Earth is another website that offers plenty of online courses, with classes available in everything from accounting to sociology.

Academic Earth also provides an entertaining “Video Electives” section, as well as information on what to expect from a degree course in any subject.

This can help you to plan what you might want to study further down the road.

 

12. Codecademy

Codecademy has just one mission: to teach you to code.

Their interactive online courses are broken down into bite-sized lessons and cover topics such as building a web page and learning to code in different computer languages.

If you’ve ever wanted to create your own app or website, this is the perfect way to get started.

 

13. Lynda

Lynda is an online video library packed with instructional material on various topics.

A good deal of the content is aimed at entrepreneurs and businesspeople, but there are also computer literacy courses and creative options like Photoshop tutorials.

 

14. Udemy

Like many of these online course websites, Udemy offers a wide range of subjects in its library for a relatively small fee.

What sets Udemy apart is its easy-to-use app, which makes keeping coursework in your pocket a breeze.

They also have a good selection of personal development courses to teach you everything from speed-reading to leadership skills.

 

15. Instructables

Sometimes you just want to make something, whether it’s related to craft, food, or electronics.

Instructables are detailed, step-by-step directions to help you build just about anything.

It’s an especially good place to learn basic skills like cooking, sewing, and carpentry.

 

Resources for School

16. Khan Academy

Khan Academy is such a useful resource that your teachers may have already recommended it as a way of getting extra help with your academics.

They offer free online courses and videos. Because the videos are broken down by specific topics, it’s easy to get information on that grammar rule or complex science topic with just a quick search.

 

17. Koofers

Koofers has an incredible database of practice tests, flashcards, and study guides to help you prepare for exams.

Although it’s geared toward undergraduates, younger students can access the material to study for their own classes and get a taste of what to expect in the future.

 

18. SparkNotes

When you need help understanding that Shakespeare play or another work of literature assigned in class, SparkNotes is your go-to website.

They have detailed study guides to break down the plot, characters, and themes of just about anything your English teacher might assign.

SparkNotes also has guides for other subjects too.

 

Improving Writing

19. Essay Punch

If you’re one of the many students who struggle with organizing your thoughts into writing, Essay Punch will give you the extra practice you need.

The interactive features walk you through the steps for building an essay from scratch.

You can seek extra guidance, and you can even track your progress along the way.

 

20. The Online Writing Lab (OWL)

This is a fantastic resource for everything you need to know about grammar, punctuation, and writing papers.

At the OWL, you’ll find in-depth descriptions and samples of works-cited formatting, as well as explanations of why certain grammar rules are important.

 

Free Books

21. The Online Books Page

This enormous database of free online books covers centuries of fiction and non-fiction, with new titles added regularly.

It’s a good place to begin in-depth research or browse for a new book by your favourite author. (If you’re looking for inspiration, here’s my list of the top 20 best books for students.)

Planning for Your Future Career

22. MyMajors

If you’re not sure what path to take in your future studies, MyMajors will help you figure it out.

Based on your answers to an aptitude test to determine your strengths and interests, you’ll get recommendations for courses of study and access to a database of universities.

 

23. ASVAB Career Exploration Program

When you’re totally focused on academics, it can be easy to forget that one day you’ll need to translate your knowledge and interests into a practical career.

This is where the ASVAB Career Exploration Program comes in.

It provides an interest inventory to take stock of how you like to spend your time, which will point you in the direction of careers that you’ll find enjoyable and engaging.

 

Conclusion

With all of these websites at your fingertips, it’s easier than ever to put your time on the Internet to good use. As a student, this is an important part of managing your time well.

Whether you plan to focus on doing well in the classes you’re taking or would rather explore a new topic of interest, there’s something on this list for everyone.

So the next time you have some free time, check out a few of these websites.

Turn this into part of your personal development plan, and you’ll be on your way to becoming a more organized, knowledgeable, and successful student!

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