Quinn Wilson
\nIn Motion Staff Writer<\/p>\n
The beloved characters from \u201cGame of Thrones\u201d may be fun to watch, but putting aside beloved television shows and books will be a reality for many students in the near future. Ned Stark was right \u2014 winter is coming \u2014 but what was the one thing he didn\u2019t account for? Final exams.<\/p>\n
There are plenty of programs meant to entertain, but many apps used for educational purposes go unnoticed. Some students are still living in the Stone Age, a time where planners and Rolodexes were commonplace, but now the Internet is good for more than just cute cat videos. The apps and programs below are all compatible with devices that run on Windows and Mac OS X. More importantly, they\u2019re free and a sure fire way to get a handle on upcoming tests and projects.<\/p>\n
Evernote is a simple, efficient way to compile notes, web pages and other useful things for projects. Not only does it allow you to take notes, this program also records audio, saves snapshots and much more. The interface may take some getting used to it\u2019s not as straightforward as Google Drives but it does a lot in one small package. The PC version is a mere 55 megabytes, which is about the same amount of information as a track of songs on a CD. Being able to have all of your notes, favorite web pages, and inspirational photos in one place is convenient and Evernote manages to provide that in one small package.<\/p>\n
Prezi is a free alternative to its ancestor Powerpoint, which has survived through the ages, but the templates are bland and the options minimal. To make matters worse, Microsoft Office\u2019s current Student Edition costs $139. Books, tuition, and lab fees are more than enough to dry up a student\u2019s wallet, but Prezi\u2019s student and teacher licenses are free! An Internet connection is
\nrequired for the student and teacher version, but an EDU license removes Prezi\u2019s logo from presentations and gives the user 500 MB of online storage space. The templates are flashy and easy to use. For those that are not familiar with basic editing, Prezi provides an interactive tutorial for newer users to learn the ropes.<\/p>\n
Open Office is the open-source office suite that many students and teachers have been dreaming of. This free software is a great alternative for those that do not want to pay for Microsoft\u2019s office suite. Compatibility issues are minimal and Open Office can read as well as swap files from different office suites. The suite includes the following:<\/p>\n
StudyBlue gives students flashcards in a\u00a0place that none of us are apt to forget on\u00a0a library desk: our phone. As of Oct. 21,\u00a0over 600 students have signed up for a\u00a0StudyBlue account. An account enables\u00a0you to connect with fellow students, upload\u00a0flashcards, and download flashcards that\u00a0other students have created. With a click\u00a0of a button files can also be imported from\u00a0Evernote–they go hand in hand! Notes\u00a0taken in class can now easily be converted to\u00a0flashcards without needing to waste paper.\u00a0The more students that sign up, the bigger\u00a0the community. The bigger the community,\u00a0the easier it is to get great flashcards for all\u00a0of your classes.<\/p>\n
BibMe is the final must-have app.\u00a0Bibliographies are a tedious part of writing\u00a0a report, especially when remembering how\u00a0to format so many different styles is time\u00a0consuming. BibMe\u2019s supported formats\u00a0include the MLA, APA, Chicago and\u00a0Turabian styles. An account isn\u2019t required\u00a0to make citations, but the site will save your\u00a0bibliographies for free if you do. This is a\u00a0quick, easy way to make bibliographies\u00a0especially if the idea of formatting every\u00a0little source on your own seems daunting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Quinn Wilson In Motion Staff Writer The beloved characters from \u201cGame of Thrones\u201d may be fun to watch, but putting aside beloved television shows and books will be a reality for many students in the near future. Ned Stark was right \u2014 winter is coming \u2014 but what was the Continue reading Byte By Byte: Free apps make final exams almost bearable<\/span>