Tools to Stay on Top of All Your Online Classes
By: Karla Leung ‘22
With the move to online classes for a while, you’re probably spending a lot more time on your laptop — those classes that don’t allow laptops can’t say anything now! Of course there are hundreds of productivity tools out there, but these are a few that I use, or that I think would be useful to you all, to keep up and make online classes a bit easier.
Organization
Notion
After a friend introduced me to Notion, it’s been my go-to for organization and staying productive. There are a bunch of different templates, such as calendars, to-do lists, meeting notes, and mood boards—the uses are endless! The best part is you can work collaboratively (plus their integration of emojis is super cute). You can download it for free here!
Todoist
Todoist reminds me a lot of Notion, especially in its layout and overall aesthetic. However, instead of being super open-ended, with tons of different templates and uses, Todoist is one thing: a simple, straightforward to-do list. You can quickly add tasks and check them off, with options to plan ahead for the next seven days, as well as categorize them by type. It’s a super simple and straightforward way to keep all your tasks in one place, and can be used across both your phone and desktop. Sign up for free here!
Google Calendar
Almost everyone I know already uses Google Calendar, but if you don’t here is your sign! I love how it’s connected to your email (and every one of us has a Gmail account through USC) so you can easily send invites to other people, while also syncing it to both your phone and laptop. It’ll send you scheduled notifications, as well as allowing you to visually see if you’re busy at a glance. And if you’re struggling to keep up with your classes, schedule time in your day on Google Calendar to keep yourself in a routine, just like you would at school. And if you already use Google Calendar, don’t forget to adjust your calendar for any time zone changes, as well as update any changing deadlines or new assignments. Check out Google Calendar here!
Studying
Kami
Kami is a Chrome extension that allows you to take any document or PDF and annotate it freely! You can write, doodle, highlight, just like you would on your physical notes or textbook, which helps with information retention. It’s a great tool to look back at your notes, and draw diagrams and doodles to help you better understand them. And a big plus is that you can save paper and trees by using this alternative! Download the extension here.
Quizlet
Quizlet is a given; we’ve all used it to quickly study and cram for tests. It’s the perfect tool for memorization, and now is the time to keep using it! Of course, if you’re getting tired of making Quizlets, you can always try making a Kahoot with your friends!
Productivity
Momentum
Now that we’re all stuck at home and often alone, it can be easy to lose motivation. Momentum is a popular Chrome extension that shows you an inspirational quote on each new tab, while prompting you to set a goal for the day. Taking the time to set a daily goal, which I personally think is super important, can help you keep sight of things you want to achieve. You can download it here!
StayFocused
You can clearly tell I love a good Chrome extension, and StayFocused is another great one to add to the extensions amassing at the top right of your browser! When you’re ready to study or work, you can give yourself a set amount of leisure time on StayFocused, but once that time is up, they restrict you from accessing distracting sites, webpages, or even specific web page content that you set for yourself. It’s highly customizable, so you can pick and choose which get blocked and which are allowed. Download it here!
With all these sudden changes, I hope these programs can help make your new online classes a bit easier for the next few months! Good luck, stay safe, and stay home!
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