Overview:

• Study Tools include a wide variety of tools including those that annotate a text (e-sticky notes, e-highlighting, e-text notes, and audio notes), tools used to help organize a students thought process (mind mapping), and tools used to practice information recall in preparation for a text or exam (flash cards, quizzes, etc.)

• Study tools can be both physical and electronic. Electronic are found built into programs such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs (ex. E-highlight) or can be accessed on websites or apps (ex. Flashcards, creating quizzes)

• Study tools can support students with reading comprehension and aspects of writing related to research and brainstorming.

Research

Johnson (2008):

• This study involved 48 university college students, who prepared for an examination using online study groups or online practice tests. The authors examined their effect of these study tools on knowledge, comprehension, and preference.

• Students preferred online quizzes to online study groups, however this preference for quizzes over the study groups was not related to any increase in academic achievement. This suggests that while students have preference for certain tools over others, it may be better for teachers to select and offer study tools based on learning benefits rather than student preference.

Austin, Biss, & Wright (2010):

• This study tracked the use and effectiveness of online study tools amongst 200 undergraduate students in a business communication course.

• They found that the percentage of questions answered correctly was comparable between the students in each class whether online tools were promoted or not. Furthermore, despite a reported increased sense of preparedness by students, these study tools did not seem to have a measurable impact on the students' exam grades.

Research Quick Facts:

Advantages

• When used effectively, these tools can deepen understanding and allow for more masterful application of information.

Disadvantages

• These tools require direct instruction

• These tools may be distracting for some users.

To Consider

• While students do prefer certain tools over other, these preferences don’t always line up with leaning benefits.

Insights from Practice

Reading

Study Tools can be helpful to students in three ways: 

1) Data Gathering: Highlighting key information as they read can help when reviewing the text for key information. 

2) Increase Understanding: Use note taking tools to write your own notes as you read, or 

3) Extracting: Can be used to help extract information in a Multi-pass reading strategy.

Writing

Note taking softeware helps students to be able to identify key pieces of info they want to include in their writing, which can be done by typing, copy & pasting, or highlighting important info. Some modern note taking tools will tag the notes with the reference source from which they came to assist with citations. Note taking tools can be also be used with note taking strategies such as a multi-pass method.

The following chart includes some programs that include a wide variety of study tools in one program/service. Many individual study tools can be found for free..