Learning a new skill can be challenging. Building new habits, developing persistence and motivation, and finding time for your new interests take a long time to master. Luckily, many apps allow you to learn on the go or help you manage time and eliminate distractions for a better learning environment. That said, if you want to learn a new skill this summer, here are some useful apps that will reduce your learning curve and elevate your skills.
Udemy
Udemy is a well-known platform offering over 200,00 courses, ranging from professional to personal development. Its user-friendly interface allows you to keep track of your progress, take notes during study sessions, or interact with other course attendees and instructors through the Q&A section.
Offering access to over 200,000 courses, Udemy is one of the most versatile options out there. If you don’t like the first course you’ve come across, you will likely find another teacher that covers the same topic.
At Udemy, you can learn how to cook or speak more eloquently, study the art of fitness, or learn a programming language such as JavaScript or C++. However, you should take into account that most Udemy courses are paid. But, instead of charging hundreds of dollars for certification, Udemy offers cost-effective alternatives that will teach you everything you need to know about a particular topic for a fraction of the price.
If you want to learn a new skill but don’t want to spend extra money, you can also find free courses on Udemy. Some practical free lessons we’ve come across revolve around time management, HTML, the basics of web development, photography, and art fundamentals.
Udemy could be an excellent choice if you want to dabble in teaching as well. If you want to learn how to create a course and teach others, you can make course materials, upload them on the platform and earn some extra bucks.
Microsoft Office Lens
If you’re a student or prefer to surround yourself with other people who share the same goals, you know that taking notes on your laptop is not always an option. So, you either scribble everything on paper or take pictures of your friend’s book or notes.
Those pictures can look blurry, sometimes making them impossible to read. Microsoft Office Lens app solves this issue. The app has one purpose – capturing information from books, whiteboards, business cards, or menus. In other words, it’s a lifesaver when the professor changes slides too fast, or you don’t have the time or energy to make notes.
It can capture content from any angle and ensure your notes aren’t blurry. So, if you’re preparing for another learning quest, Microsoft Office Lens is one of those tools worth keeping in your arsenal.
RealCalc
We all rely on standard pre-installed calculator apps to calculate basic operations. But for those needing a scientific calculator that features more advanced functions, RealCalc is a perfect option. The app is available on Android, and most features are free to use. It offers features such as binary, octal, and hexadecimal calculations and unit conversions. It even allows you to adapt the interface to your preferences.
If you want to upgrade to a paid plan, you’ll get access to additional features, including fractions and a 12-digit display.
Habitica
Do you ever think that habit tracking and time management are tedious?
Say no more.
Although its primary purpose is to help you track habits and productivity, Habitica offers a fun approach to this somewhat dull task. It allows you to gamify your life by tracking your progress, earning rewards, and spending your hard-earned gold on in-game goodies. Just like in many games, Habitica will penalize you with health loss if you don’t complete your tasks, treating you like a real in-game character. On the other hand, those who stay true to their goals advance faster – it’s like healthy competition against yourself.
With Habitica, you can create customizable task lists and track your progress effortlessly. Although the approach seems excessive and unnecessary to some, many users are satisfied with the app, as it holds them accountable and helps build positive and healthy habits in a fun manner.
That said, if you can’t seem to follow your schedule or need an extra nudge to focus on your studies, Habitica may solve that issue.
Cold Turkey
Distractions are the enemy of productivity. It’s so easy to break focus and give all our attention to unimportant tasks or a copious amount of content from YouTube, Reddit, TikTok, and other social media apps. Although there are many ways to eliminate distractions, sometimes you really need to go cold turkey if you want to see progress.
Cold Turkey is probably one of the most rigorous website blockers out there. Once you block distractions for a specific amount of time, it’s almost impossible to unlock them. Other similar apps allow users to do that, so many end up studying for a while, only to return to their distractions as soon as the boredom hits again. More importantly, the Cold Turkey app doesn’t log your data, so you don’t have to worry about privacy concerns. If you need to block specific apps or websites to ensure a productive study session, Cold Turkey is the way to go.
Quizlet
Flashcards are engaging and interactive, so incorporating them into your studying routine aids with concentration and retention. However, flashcards can be impractical – it takes a lot of time to create them, and as they are physical objects, you always need to keep them by your side in order to use them. Luckily, digital flashcards are a thing, and if you’re looking for an easy-to-use app to keep your flashcards neat and organized, Quizlet is an excellent choice.
The tool features a flashcard maker to ensure a fully customizable learning experience. You can enrich your flashcards with terms and definitions or even images from the Quizlet library. Even better, you can share your flashcards with study buddies to save time and study together.
As you can see, many various tools can help you learn daily and track your progress like a pro. So, find the one (or a few) that best fits your learning experience, and you’ll acquire sufficient knowledge about a desired topic by the end of the year.Â
