Tech Tips: Finals Week Edition

Music festival season may be upon us, but right around the corner is finals week! Check out these four apps to help you ace it:

Quizlet

I have terrible handwriting and would always hate having to guess what my illegible note cards really said before I started using Quizlet. Now, I make “study sets” online. The mobile app and mobile website sync seamlessly with your devices so you can use your sets while on the go. Quizlet also has a wide variety of different study modes you can play with so you can try beating the clock with flashcard matches or even take spelling tests. Pro-tip: search your class name before creating your own. I’ve stumbled upon public sets created by older students before!

EasyBib

I haven’t manually created a bibliography since junior high school and might not ever again as long as I have EasyBib. This web application creates simple forms to fill out for your sources and then generates perfectly formatted, alphabetized bibliographies in APA, MLA or Chicago style. With many websites, EasyBib can automatically figure out most of the necessary information after being given just a URL!

SelfControl

SelfControl is a free application for Mac OS X that lets you self-select specific websites to block for any period of time. Simply add the targeted sites, start your timer and use the internet without temptations.

News Feed Eradicator for Facebook

Of course, completely swearing off Facebook during finals week isn’t totally viable for many of us. There’s often Facebook groups for classes or group chats for school projects. News Feed Eradicator replaces your never-ending news feed with a motivational quote so you can hop onto the social media site, check your notifications and avoid getting side-tracked.

Caitlin Tran is a sophomore majoring in arts, technology and the business of innovation. Her blog tech column, Captcha, runs every Tuesday.