Top 5 tools to make online and remote learning easier and more accessible

We know how essential it is for all students to have a workspace or environment that is conducive to effective learning. So when your laptop is your lecture hall it can be both a blessing and a curse.

While remote learning can provide flexibility and a quieter environment, you can also be distracted by notifications, tempted to have social media tabs open for constant checking or simply struggle getting into the ‘zone’ of learning.

This is especially true for working students, parents or part time students, that are balancing their studies with other responsibilities.

Luckily, there are lots of tools which can help you work smarter online. 

1: Record lectures and elevate note taking

Glean

Using Glean to record, transcribe and take notes during the lecture will help students become more active learners in online lessons, and provide a platform to study notes from outside of lectures.

Adding Glean’s chrome extension means you can keep your notes pinned to the side of your desktop, alongside all your lecture calls, giving you easy access to take notes.

We understand that aside from lectures, there’s multiple other ways to learn and study online, for example, watching YouTube videos to develop further understanding of theories, or reading articles. Glean isn’t just for lectures, it’s for anytime you need to take notes.

You can record videos online using the chrome extension, allowing you to transcribe audio along with your notes. Using the quick notes features lets you use keyboard shortcuts to add key components, such as sections for review, as well as taking screenshots, adding diagrams or tasks!

2: Create a distraction free online learning environment

One Sec

Trying to focus on a lecture but distracted by the notifications and reminders popping up on your laptop? We know the feeling.

Depending on your device, the easiest fix is to enable a do not disturb mode or mute notifications, keeping your desktop free so you can focus on the important stuff. But, there’s always the temptation to open tabs or ‘check in’ on other apps…

One sec is a handy tool to practise self discipline and reduce the time spent checking certain apps or websites. Simply install the browser extension, add in any apps or URLs you want to limit, and it’ll remind you to pause before opening.

Taking a few seconds to breathe and evaluate if now is the best time to be checking other apps will help build the habit of staying present on the lecture call and your notes.

3: Organize reading lists

Candl

*Spoiler* This tool is going to benefit all learners, not just remote! But, since remote learners' resources have to be online, why not organize your reading list there too?

Candl is the perfect tool for keeping track of what you need to read and what you've read already. It’s essentially like a book club without the social side. There’s a useful ‘to read’ list where you can add books once they’re mentioned in a lecture - we suggest using Glean to create a weekly task reviewing lectures for reading suggestions.

Being in higher education means reading a lot of books, it’s easy to forget what you have or haven’t read and the key takeaways from each.

On Candl you can add notes under any book you’ve read, which can then be used for assignments or studying. Plus, there’s a collection feature so you can keep them organized by module/topic just like your Glean notes!

4: Referencing made simple

Grammarly

Speaking of reading lists - references. Everyone’s least favourite part of assignments. Just when you’re taking that sigh of relief as you finish, you realise you still have your whole list of references to do. Not fun.

Citations and references can be made easier, most writing tools have a built in reference list function however it can be unreliable. Of course the best habit is to add your references as you go. That’s where Grammarly comes in handy.

Most people know Grammarly for their writing expertise, but did you know they can help with referencing too? It’s free, all you need to do is sign up and Grammarly will automatically generate references when you’re on article pages online.

It’s an invaluable tool for students, automating the often tedious and time-consuming process of referencing sources. This automation means you can dedicate more energy and focus to the core content of assignments, rather than getting stuck on the administrative details of citation. 

5: Avoid eye strain

Dark Reader

Being an online learner means a lot of screen time. This can lead to eye strain and fatigue, making it difficult to engage with online lectures. On top of your lectures being online is all the reading and research that comes with it.

Dark reader is a chrome extension that allows every web page to be in dark mode, plus you can even customize the contrast and brightness, which some people may find more comfortable.

Reading in dark mode won't work for everyone, but many people find it easier and less of a strain, especially when studying late at night or in dim lighting.

There you have it - five simple tools you can use while learning online to help elevate and enrich your learning experience!