A laptop can be a great tool for helping you in your studies. Being able to type up your notes and papers makes writing and editing easier, and it can help keep you organized. In addition, accessing the Internet puts you in touch with a world of information that can help you understand any subject. However, being on your laptop can leave you vulnerable to distractions, both in the classroom and at home, so it’s important to be mindful of how you use this technology
Follow the guidelines set by your teacher or school. Your teacher should clearly outline their policy for using laptops at the beginning of the course. Be sure to pay careful attention to these rules and follow them closely.
For instance, you may not be allowed to have your laptop open during lectures, or you may only be permitted to access specific programs or websites. You may also only be allowed to bring your laptop on certain days.
In some cases, these policies may be set by the school, rather than by an individual teacher.
Type up your notes in your own words. When you’re listening to a lecture in class, try not to just type out exactly what your teacher or professor is saying word-for-word. Instead, listen carefully to what they’re saying, and jot down important words and concepts in your notes. Don’t worry about writing in full sentences, and make note of any supplemental reading or additional materials that your teacher references during their lecture.
You can also include questions that you might have. Then, when you’re studying, you can try to find the answer to those questions in your notes or textbook.
Close or uninstall programs that might distract you. While your laptop can be a powerful tool for learning, it also contains a lot of opportunities to become distracted during class. Before class starts, turn off any messaging apps, games, social media notifications, and so on. Also, avoid opening any websites or apps that aren’t related to what’s going on in class.
Even if it only takes a second to close a notification, it could cause you to miss something important that your teacher says.
- You can also use airplane mode to disable your internet completely while you’re in class.
Use productivity software to help you stay disciplined during class. If you have trouble using self-control, or if you aren’t sure how to turn off notifications without uninstalling an app, try looking for an extension or an app that you can customize to block certain websites or apps. There are a number of different types of productivity software available that you can tailor to your exact needs.
- For instance, you might install an extension on your web browser that blocks you from going to certain websites during school hours or while you’re studying, or that limits how many hours you can use those sites during the day
Consider leaving your laptop at home if it’s not required for class. If you’ve tried a few things to boost your productivity but you still find yourself getting distracted by your laptop in class—or you realize you’re just not as fast or efficient as you are without it—you might just need to leave it at home. That way, you won’t even be tempted to use it to check your Instagram during class.
This will also help protect your laptop from being damaged in your backpack or during class.
Retype your notes and save them in organized files. Whether you type your notes during class or you take them by hand, chances are you jotted them down hurriedly, so they may appear messy or incomplete. After school, take a little time to type your notes into a word processor. Use complete sentences and proper grammar, then refer to these notes while you’re studying for quizzes and exams.
Save your notes in separate folders for each class. For instance, you might have a folder for English, one for History, and one for Biology. You can even have subfolders for different chapters if you prefer.
If there’s anything in your notes that doesn’t quite make sense, you’ll know you need to focus on this area as you study.
Download any study aides recommended by your teacher. Your teacher or professor may use software that allows you to view or listen to previous lectures, learn more about a topic, ask questions, take practice quizzes, and more. If any of these are available, take advantage of them!
You can also download your own apps to learn more about a subject. For instance, if you’re taking Spanish, you might use software like Rosetta Stone to help you learn the language.
Reach out to your teachers, professors, or classmates if you need help. If there’s anything in your textbook or notes that you don’t understand or if there’s a topic you’d like a little more information on, try sending an email to your teacher or professor. You can also ask them if there’s another communication they prefer, like a schoolwide messaging app.
You can also use apps like Google Hangouts or Skype to form study groups with your fellow students!
