Bored with the same old revision techniques? Wish you could be sitting outside in the sun instead of being cooped up in the library with your highlighter? Trying a new revision app could be the answer to both of these questions! Here are the Study Blog’s top three revision apps for this summer…
In light of the beautiful weather we’ve been having, you may be facing the struggle between knowing you should be cooped up revising in the library and sitting outside on a picnic blanket on the grass next to Oculus. Let’s face it, in term three we feel like we only have the option of the same repetitive studying, usually in one study space – but have you thought about using a revision app to shake things up? While it might not be a full substitute for note taking, playing on a revision app on outside on the piazza steps is a great way to exercise your mind and take in information as a nice change to mundane highlighting in a study booth. Here are my top 3 tried and tested revision apps, with some specific examples of how you can use them to suit revising for your degree.
Memrise
Memrise is my number one favourite app for revision because I’m not sure how I would have got through my first year of university exams, or indeed my A levels, without it. It’s perfect for when you need to learn and regurgitate material for exams. The app allows you to create your own modules. For example, if you need to learn new Spanish vocabulary, you can enter in the correct information and then test yourself until you know the phrases by heart. Memrise is unique in that it combines science with fun learning, and helps you to create vivid sensory memories. For me, this meant that learning Middle English phrases for my Med Ren English Literature exam actually felt like I was playing a game. Often I would play on it in bed before I start my day of revision, and you can amaze yourself by how much you’ve actually learned. If there are any down sides to this app I would say that it might be more difficult to learn big chunks of information, the format is more suited to learning definitions. But there are ways of getting around this. If you’re studying a humanities subject and have lots of names and theories to remember, I found it useful to enter a scholar’s name and then a brief summary of their main argument and some relevant dates.
GoConqr
If you’re more of a visual learner, GoConqr is a similar concept to Memrise but offers you the chance to create mind maps and flowcharts. Their cloud-based tool makes it easy to create a diagram in minutes. The creating process feels productive for me because I have to work out the relevant information first before entering it into the flowchart. If you are like me and like colour-coding and will always have your trusty coloured pens and highlighters nearby, GoConqr lets you choose your own colours and inserts images or videos to make the learning process as visual as possible. Handy to have all of this on an app on your phone, right?!
Bubbl is another great mindmap tool for brainstorming.
Remember the Milk
Remember the Milk is a great app for when you’re on the go and have an idea (maybe for a term 3 essay or dissertation) and need to write it down instantly. You can use this app to make revision notes and lists and then sync them up to your computer for when you get home. It’s also good to see all of your revision tasks in one go and then prioritise them accordingly. You can also set reminders so that you will get notified to fulfil that task, such as reminding you about that one section of the module you skipped over this morning! If time management is something you need to work on, you can check out some more tips here.
Headspace
I only stumbled across Headspace in the beginning of term three and have found it extremely beneficial. This is not specifically for revision, but is a guided meditation app. Wellbeing is more important than ever in term three and this app teaches you how to become aware of your thoughts and changes in mood in attempts to guide you towards having a better headspace. You can plug in your earphones for as little as three minutes at a time and practice breathing exercises. I find it really calming after a particularly stressful day or as a revision break.