Stewart Brand, an American project developer and writer, famously said, “Once a new technology rolls over you, if you’re not part of the steamroller, you’re part of the road.” I stumbled upon this quote, and l can’t stop thinking about it. I’ll be honest: it has inspired the writing of this piece. Think about it. When new technology emerges, those who actively engage with and adapt to it (the steamroller) move forward and benefit. Those who resist or ignore it (the road) are left behind and possibly overrun by the changes. What am I getting to? To avoid being negatively impacted by technological progress, you must be proactive and adaptive.
Nowadays, students can access many tools and resources designed to enhance their academic experience. Software as a Service (SaaS) is a technology that you must be part of its steamroller. This invention has revolutionized the way students manage their studies. It has become indispensable in academic settings. We now have collaborative platforms that facilitate group projects and advanced tools that assist in research and time management. Are you leveraging such tools? Or you are waiting to be part of ‘the road’ and get overrun by the changes. The flexibility and accessibility provided by these tools enable students to stay organized, improve productivity, and achieve their academic goals.
Of the many SaaS tools available, some stand out for their exceptional functionality and student-friendly features. One of the most valuable categories includes essay writing platforms that help students craft well-structured and polished papers. Besides, the availability of essay writers – international platform for finding reliable professionals ensures that students can seek expert assistance when needed. These tools save time and enhance the quality of work.
But why SaaS Tools?
What makes them indispensable for today’s students? SaaS tools have become integral to learners because they streamline various tasks and enhance overall productivity. One of their key advantages is their accessibility. You can access them from anywhere with an internet connection, which eliminates the need for physical presence or specific devices. This accessibility helps students juggle multiple responsibilities and manage their time efficiently. Moreover, SaaS tools often offer specialized features tailored to academic needs. For example, letter writing services can assist students in drafting formal correspondence to ensure their communications are professional and effective.
Another reason SaaS tools are among the best is their ability to foster collaboration and communication among students and instructors. Many SaaS platforms have features that support real-time collaboration. They allow students to work together on projects regardless of their physical location. Take Zoom, for instance. It’s crucial in today’s globalized education environment, where students often participate in virtual classrooms and international study programs. As a student, you know that tools that facilitate seamless interaction and feedback significantly enhance the learning experience. They make group work more efficient and effective.
There is no shred of doubt that SaaS platforms are invaluable. But like anything else, some are good, while others are exemplary. In other words, some stand out as better options due to their superior functionality and user-friendly features. That’s why we have identified the crème de la crème of the SaaS tools that are incredibly useful to college students.
11 Best SaaS Tools for Students
By the ‘best,’ we mean differentiating quality from dross. Or better yet, picking the diamonds from the rough. We know that leveraging the right SaaS tools can significantly enhance your academic experience. The tools herein simplify tasks, improve productivity, and provide support across various aspects of student life. Here are eleven of the best SaaS tools for students.
1. Evernote
Evernote is an excellent tool for note-taking and organization. It’s intended for archiving and creating notes with embedded photos, audio, and saved web content. As such, students can use it to capture notes in various formats, including text, audio, and images. The powerful search function makes it easy to find specific notes quickly, even handwritten ones. And that’s not all. Evernote allows you to organize notes into notebooks and tags, helping students keep their study materials well-structured and easily accessible.
2. Grammarly
This tool is a favorite of many. No wonder it’s used by millions globally. Grammarly is a writing assistant that helps students improve their writing by checking for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. It also provides suggestions for enhancing clarity, engagement, and delivery. The tool integrates seamlessly with web browsers and word processors, which makes it easy to use across different platforms. So, how is it beneficial to students? Grammarly helps them learn and develop better writing skills by offering detailed explanations for its suggestions.
3. Trello
If you aren’t using Trello, you’re not at par with technological advancements. This tool is a project management platform that uses boards, lists, and cards to help individuals organize tasks and projects. It is handy for managing group projects. It allows team members to assign tasks, set deadlines, and track progress in a visually intuitive way. There’s something about this resource that makes it unique. Trello’s flexibility makes it adaptable to various types of projects. Yes, you can use it for simple to-do lists or complex workflows.
4. Khan Academy
They say that education is expensive. But not anymore! With Khan Academy, you can learn for free about math, art, computer programming, economics, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, finance, history, and more. This tool offers a vast library of educational videos and practice exercises across various subjects. It provides personalized learning dashboards that allow students to learn at their own pace and track their progress. Again, if you’re not using Khan Academy, you are ‘the road’ that Stewart Brand alluded to, and you’ll be left behind and overrun by the changes.
5. Coursera
Imagine this platform has 7,000+ world-class courses. And with one browser tab, you can learn without limits. Coursera partners with top universities and organizations to offer online courses in various disciplines. It provides access to high-quality educational content, including video lectures, quizzes, and peer-reviewed assignments. As a student, you can earn certificates upon completion of courses. You read that right.
And what’s more, its certifications are recognized globally. This premise means they can enhance your resumes and professional profiles. Besides, Coursera’s flexibility allows you to learn new skills and knowledge at your own pace. We better leave it at that!
6. Quizlet
I wish I had known about this tool sooner. Quizlet helps students create and study flashcards, quizzes, and games. It has various study modes, including matching games, practice tests, and spaced repetition, which helps students retain information more effectively. Don’t be surprised if you find a question from Quizlet in your end-of-semester exams. Instructors also use it to set exams. Doomed are you if you ignore it. And yes, it has a vast library of pre-made study sets created by other users that cover disparate subjects. This versatility makes Quizlet an excellent tool for exam preparation and active learning.
7. Zotero
Zotero is a free reference management tool that helps students collect, organize, and cite research sources. Many researchers and graduate students are familiar with it. This tool automatically senses content in your web browser, allowing you to add sources with a single click. Zotero’s integration with word processors facilitates easy citation and bibliography creation. It also supports different citation styles. You can use it when conducting extensive research and writing academic papers.
8. Slack
Tell me about a cloud-based team communication platform better than Slack, and I will wait. Slack is a new way to communicate with your team. It’s faster, better organized, and more secure than email. It supports real-time messaging, file sharing, and video calls. It’s the go-to platform for coordinating group projects and discussions. You can create channels for specific topics or classes. It’s also integrated with other tools like Google Drive and Trello. What a way to enhance functionality and streamline workflow management.
9. Mendeley
I have used this reference manager software for many years now. I’m impressed with how easily I can add papers directly from my browser with a few clicks or import any documents from my desktop. Mendeley allows users to create and manage bibliographies, annotate PDFs, and collaborate with other researchers. Its powerful search capabilities and personalized recommendations make it easier to discover relevant literature. It’s more like Zotero but with different other features.
10. Zoom
Will I be lying if I say most of you learned about Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic? This is where you say ‘blessing in disguise’ forks. For those still living in the past, Zoom is a video conferencing tool essential for remote learning and virtual classrooms. It supports high-quality video and audio calls, screen sharing, and breakout rooms for group discussions. So, if you cannot meet physically with your classmates, use Zoom to connect virtually. Its user-friendly interface and robust features make it a preferred choice for online classes, study sessions, and group meetings. The best thing about it is that you can record sessions, which helps you revisit lectures and discussions for better comprehension and retention.
11. Duolingo
Honestly, I just discovered this tool recently after my best friend mentioned she was using it to learn Spanish. You should have seen how excited she was, telling me how it’s a fun, free app for learning 40+ languages through quick, bite-sized lessons. Speaking of it, I should ask her if she’s consistently using it and how Spanish, often called the language of romance, has added a passionate and poetic touch to her expressions of love.
This language-learning platform helps students improve their language skills through reading, writing, speaking, and listening exercises. Duolingo’s bite-sized lessons and personalized learning paths make language learning accessible and engaging. Anyone can use it to learn new languages for academic or personal enrichment.
Shape Up or Ship Out!
As a student, you must adapt to stay ahead. SaaS tools offer the perfect solution to streamline studies, enhance collaboration, and optimize productivity. As Stewart Brand suggests, those who embrace new technology move forward, while those who resist it risk being left behind. This insight has inspired the writing of this piece. You must be proactive and adaptive in the face of technological progress.