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“Featuring a clean interface, MyStudyLife offers a comprehensive palette of schedules, timetables and personalized notifications that sync across multiple devices.”

” My Study Life is a calendar app designed specifically for students. As well as showing you your weekly timetable– with support for rotations – you can add exams, essay deadlines and reminders, and keep a list of all the tasks you need to complete. It also works on the web, so you can log in and check your schedule from any device.”

“MyStudyLife is a great study planner app that makes it simple for students to add assignments, classes, and tests to a standard weekly schedule.”

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10 Best Planner Apps for Students (Free & Intuitive)

Student life can be a wild ride, right?

Homework, assignments, class schedules, upcoming exams – it’s like a never-ending rollercoaster. But guess what? We have solutions for you.

Here are the 10 best planner apps for students, tested and approved, to help you conquer the chaos and ride that rollercoaster like a pro.

Say goodbye to missed deadlines and hello to seamless planning and efficient time management. Let’s dive right in!

I. How to choose the best student planner app for your needs

Here are 4 key factors to consider:

1. Free Version. Money matters, especially for us students. Look for free planner apps with generous feature offerings.

2. User-Friendly Interface. A good student planner app should help you get stuff done, not get lost in itself. Look for apps with clear navigation menus and well-designed icons.

3. Feature Set. Think about what’s essential for your study style, and check if the app has what you need – calendars, to-do lists, collaboration, compatibility with other productivity apps! And hey, the ability to personalize it with categories and labels is a plus.

4. Cross-Platform Compatibility . Make sure your app plays well with the devices you’re frequently using.

We noticed most students are glued to their mobile devices these days, so most planner apps we recommend below are available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

II. 10 Best Planner Apps for Students for 2024

Below are the 10 highest-rated planner apps for students we found for you.

Availability : iOS | Android | web

Imagine having a personal assistant who can keep your class schedules in check, handle your to-do lists like a pro, and make group assignments feel like a walk in the park.

Well, meet Upbase !

It ticks all the boxes: a great free version, a user interface that’s easier to navigate than your campus, and privacy controls.

Whether you’re in high school or college, this trusty sidekick will make your study life a whole lot easier. Here’s why it’s the coolest:

A. Generous Free Version

Upbase’s free version is like finding money in your old jeans – unexpected and awesome. Here’s the good stuff it packs:

• Unlimited users, tasks, lists, and storage.
• Daily, monthly, and weekly schedule , with a time-blocking feature.
• Task priorities, start and due times, durations, etc.
• Shared/private projects.
• Real-time chat tool and discussions
• Collaborative docs, files, calendars, and links.

B. Comprehensive feature set

Upbase is not just a school planner app; it’s a toolkit for academic success that you can easily access from the left-side menu.

i) Schedule

Centralize all your schedules in one place. Easily make plans for the upcoming week, day, and month. That’s what the Schedule page can do for you!

It has four views: Daily Planner, Weekly Planner, Week Calendar, and Monthly Calendar, each integrated with a drag-and-drop feature, making scheduling 2x faster.

And hey, don’t skip these secret weapons if you want to skyrocket productivity:

• Pomodoro timer.
• Notepad for taking quick notes.
• Daily Notes for daily journaling.

Perfect for managing homework, assignments, and group projects. Each list is like a project hub where all information is organized within reach.

For group assignments, you can delegate tasks, add priorities, set deadlines, and attach files. You can also create knowledge bases, organize files, post announcements, communicate with your team, and more.

The cool thing is: you get control of who can access each list .

This is crucial for college students who often work on multiple group projects simultaneously. They can ensure that only the relevant team members have access to a particular list, maintaining privacy and security.

Want to use lists as a solo? Easy-peasy! Just hide the collaborative tools with a few simple clicks.

This tool lets you access Slack-style channels, so you can keep the entire conversation within Upbase.

It also supports direct messages, so you can chat 1-on-1 with anyone on your team.

This feature allows you to categorize, search, and filter tasks in your workspace. You can filter tasks by one or multiple tags – a capability that other planner apps lack.

Take your task management experience to the next level with filters.

The feature lets you create a custom filter of multiple criteria such as lists, assignees, due dates, tags, priorities, etc.

vi) My Tasks

A private place where you can easily keep track of all assigned tasks and tasks you create. You can show tasks on a list or on a Kanban board and choose how to group them.

C. Great customizability

Make Upbase yours. Tailor it to your preferences and style:

• Personalize list icons and colors for a tailored look.
• Group similar lists into folders for intuitive navigation.
• Choose between List and Board views for tasks.
• Show/hide tools based on your needs for a clutter-free experience.

This study planning app offers one of the most generous free plans on the market. With the Free Forever plan, you get unlimited tasks, lists, members, and storage . If you’re a student looking for a free planner app, give it a try !

Availability : iOS | Mac | iPad | Apple Watch | Android | Windows | Web

Todoist is one of the few student planner apps that utilize natural language processing for task creation.

For example, when you jot down “Math assignment due Friday at 5 PM”, Todoist transforms your words into an actionable task named “Math assignment” with a due date at 5 PM on Friday.

Pretty cool, right? But that’s not all!

You can add notes, create a reminder, or add labels to this task.

Read Full Review : Todoist Review .

Furthermore, this school planner allows you to create projects, share tasks with your group, and delegate work.

Key Features

• Due dates & reminders
• Labels and filters
• Recurring tasks
• Natural language processing
• Available on multiple devices
• Never miss any important deadlines
• Easy to sort and filter tasks by your needs
• Lack of start dates
• Unable to assign a task to multiple members
• Only support 5 collaborators per free project

3. Google Calendar

Availability : Web | Android | iOS | Desktop

Google Calendar is a user-friendly student planner app, thanks to its clean calendar interface with various color-coding options.

For example, you can assign blue for classes, green for homework, and red for exams. So, when you spot blue in your calendar, you’ll immediately recognize it as a class.

But what truly sets Google Calendar apart from other student calendar apps is its seamless integration with other Google services. This makes it the best planner app for students who are either already part of the Google ecosystem or considering joining.

• Rich color-coding options
• Seamless integration with Google apps
• Day, week, month, and year calendar views
• Simple to use
• Manage your to-do list schedules, emails, etc. in one place
• Easy to distinguish different activities
• Weak task management capability
• Not sync well with non-Google apps

This student calendar app is typically included for free as part of Google’s suite of apps.

Availability : Web browsers | Windows | macOS | Android | iOS

Notion is like the cool kid on the block when it comes to study planning apps.

Unlike other apps, it gives you the freedom to design your own school planner, notes, and task lists.

You can also link related information, keeping your subjects, courses, and projects cohesive.

Working on group projects? Notion allows you to share pages with your classmates, delegate tasks, and more.

In short, Notion is the best planner app for students who value customization, seek an all-in-one solution, and are comfortable with a slight learning curve.

• Slash command & rich text format options
• Databases, tables, and pages
• Rich template inventory (such as project planner, homework planner, school planner, etc.)
• Able to create custom workflows, planners, and databases
• Easy to link related information together
• Accessible across devices
• Steep learning curve
• No real-time chat tool
• Time-taking for initial setup

Availability : Web | iOS devices | Android devices | macOS | Windows

Trello is the best planner app for students, and here’s why it rocks.

First off, Trello’s intuitive Kanban-style interface is a breeze to navigate. It’s like digital sticky notes that actually keep you on track of upcoming tasks.

Read Full Review : Trello Review .

Secondly, it’s got all the features most students might need like due dates, labels, priorities, and reminders.

And if you’re teaming up on a group project, Trello enables you to invite friends, assign tasks, and share files.

• Kanban-style interface
• Easy to track a project’s progress
• Save time on repetitive tasks
• Suit different preferences and styles
• Too basic subtasks (no due dates or assignees)
• The calendar view is available only on the Premium plan and up

6. Power Planner

Availability : iOS | Android | Windows

Power Planner is a good college student planner app for both iOS and Android users.

What makes Power Planner special? It’s got your back for all things school-related, such as grade and GPA calculation, homework management with automatic reminders, and schedule tracking.

Plus, Power Planner offers nifty features like widgets for quick task check-ins and offline mode.

But note that while Power Planner is free to download, it includes an in-app purchase for premium features, such as the ability to add more than one semester and five grades per class.

• Grade and GPA calculation
• Automatic reminders
• Quick task check-ins
• Offline mode
• Easy to track grades
• Keep your class schedule in check
• Able to use when Wi-Fi is unavailable
• It takes time and effort for the initial setup
• Occasional synchronization issues
• Lack of collaboration features

Free with an in-app purchase of $1.99.

7. myHomework – Student Planner App

Availability :

What’s the deal with the myHomework Student Planner App?

Well, it’s super easy to use, with no confusing stuff here. It’s like having a friendly assistant to keep your academic life on track without any tech headaches.

Unlike many student planner apps, myHomework is accessible whether Wi-Fi is available or not. It’s also compatible with multiple devices, including phones, tablets, and computers.

So, whether you’re online or offline, your schedule is right at your fingertips – upcoming events, homework, exams, it’s got you covered.

And it won’t let you forget with those handy reminders.

In short, if you want a friendly, no-fuss solution for tracking assignments and organizing subjects, myHomework is the best planner app you can think of.

• Reminders & notifications
• Due date reminders
• Assignment tracking
• Upcoming homework widgets
• Offline access
• Little to no learning curve
• Able to access your schedule and assignments offline
• Simple to keep track of lectures, labs, and assignments.
• In-app ads in the free version
• Collaboration features are only available on the paid version

8. iStudiez

Availability : iOS | macOS | Android | Windows 10

Alright, imagine iStudiez as your digital planner buddy! Why’s it cool?

Well, iStudiez is not just a study planner app, it’s like your academic superhero. You can track your grades, manage assignments, and nail your class schedule. Plus, it sends you handy reminders so you’re always on top of things.

You can access iStudiez offline no matter what device you’re on.

So, if you’re all about keeping your school life organized and stress-free, iStudiez is the study planner app you’ve been looking for.

• Grade tracking
• Customizable subjects
• Tailored specifically for students
• Easy to keep tabs on your grades and GPA
• Access your schedule even without an internet connection
• Learning curve
• Occasional syncing issues between devices

iStudiez Pro is initially free with no ads. The paid version costs $2.99 USD on mobile and $9.99 USD on desktop, offering full features and synchronization.

Availability : iOS | Android

What makes Egenda stand out from other school planners is its simplicity.

No complex menus or tech mysteries. This planner app for students offers a straightforward and user-friendly interface that even non-experienced students can start using with ease.

And guess what? Egenda is accessible offline – only a few study planner apps offer this functionality for free.

So, if you’re seeking the best planner app for students that’s mobile-dedicated and straightforward to use, Egenda is right up your alley.

Note: Unlike other apps, Egenda has no web or desktop versions.

• Daily reminders
• Sort by class, completion, and due date
• Easy to sort tasks by specific needs
• Accessible in areas with limited or no internet connectivity
• Unable to use across devices
• Lack of advanced features available in some other daily planner apps.

This planner app for students is free to download, with in-app purchases ($2.99 per item).

10. My Study Life

Availability : iOS | Android | Windows | Web

My Study Life is like the Swiss Army knife of student planner apps.

It’s got everything a student needs, all wrapped up in one neat package and synced seamlessly across devices, so your schedule and assignments are always up-to-date, no matter where you are.

Homework, exams, class schedules – this study planner app handles it all. It’s like having a personal academic assistant that fits right in your pocket.

If you’re in search of an all-in-one planner app for students, My Study Life is the way to go.

• Customizable school planner
• 3 Different types of tasks: Revision, Reminder, & Assignment
• Class, task, and exam reminders
• Offer comprehensive academic-focus features
• Easy to track tasks, exams, and revision progress
• Accessible even without an internet connection
• Unable to rearrange tasks
• No calendar feature for task due dates

III. Which Study Planner App is Best For You?

Alongside smart planning practices, having a good planner app in your arsenal is essential. We’ve introduced you to the 10 best study planner apps for students out there; now, it’s your turn to make an informed decision.

Need our suggestion? Sure, give Upbase a try!

It offers seamless synchronization across devices, intuitive assignment tracking, and a user-friendly interface that simplifies academic organization. With Upbase, you can stay on top of your assignments, never miss a deadline, and make the most of your study time.

So, why wait? Sign up for a free Upbase account and embark on a successful study path. Your future self will thank you!

1. What is a student planner app?

Student planner apps are digital tools designed to help students stay organized, manage their to-do list, view upcoming classes, and improve time management skills.

2. Are student planners worth it?

Student planners are real game-changers to make study life easier. They help with organization and keeping track of homework assignments and upcoming deadlines.

3. What is the best planner for a student?

The best planner apps for students depend on individual needs, but some good choices include apps like Todoist, Upbase, and Google Calendar, which offer user-friendly interfaces and versatile features tailored for students’ organization.

4. What is the best online planner for school?

Here are some of the best online planners for school: Todoist, Upbase, and Google Calendar. They are all free to start, simple to set up, and easy to use, offering a wide array of features to streamline your school life.

5. What is a good free planner app?

One great free school planner app is Upbase. Its free version offers:

• Built-in calendars for hours, days, weeks, and months.
• Private and shared to-do lists with unlimited users for group projects.
• Real-time chat and rich collaboration features for seamless teamwork.
• Additional features like note-taking, bookmarks, and Pomodoro timers.

Furthermore, Upbase is user-friendly and accessible on web browsers, the Google App Store, and the Apple App Store.

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7 best student planner apps

The best apps to help students keep track of classes, homework, due dates, quizzes, and more.

Thad Thompson Jan 21, 2022

12 min read

Table of contents

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If you're a student, you need a system to organize classwork, exams, and life in general. And it's true, there is an app for everything. But there are lots of apps for planning and time management. Which ones make effective school planner apps?

When deciding on a planner app, you should obviously look for one with features most relevant to your life and your schedule. It should have a distinct purpose. And It shouldn't be thought of as a one-size-fits all productivity app . Here are the qualities to look for in a good student planner app:

Visually clean user experience vs. info-dense

Highly customizable vs. highly structured

Integrated with other apps vs. self-contained, with all the features you'll need in one place

Specialized for students vs. transferrable to post-school life

Here, you can check out just a few of the best school planners currently available. Each is highly rated, affordable, and, in several cases, geared specifically toward school and study. And they’re easy to find. Most are available in the Apple App Store or Google Play store for use on your iPhone, iPad, Android, or other smartphone.

7 great planner apps for high school and college students

Android, iOS, and desktop: Free with paid upgrades available

Todoist is a project planner and to-do list all in one. Used by companies like Amazon and Disney, and made for everyone from students to executives, Todoist is an app that can carry you through school and beyond.

Although you can pay to upgrade, the free version offers more than most students are likely to need. Todoist includes features that help you: 

 Enter important details or to-dos in a note-taking section before you forget them

Set up projects for each class and any other activities or hobbies you're involved in

Add "next action" items, so you can always look ahead to your next assignment

Cross items off your checklist without losing them for good

Other helpful features include due dates for individual tasks and reminders that pop up on your phone or email. You can customize every feature, so you won't get lots of notifications without asking for them.

Todoist also allows you to label tasks. You can label by priority, context (laptop work, library, etc.), or any other system you want to create. You can also indicate recurring tasks, like weekly quizzes, so you never miss an assignment.

2. Microsoft To Do

Android, iOS, and desktop: Free with Microsoft account

A reworking of the long-appreciated Wunderlist, Microsoft To Do has continued to evolve its features to make it stand out in the field of student planner apps.

One feature that stands out in To Do is that things you didn't check off from previous days stay in the “Yesterday” box. That way you can specifically choose which items to transfer to "My day," and plan a better time for those that won't fit in today's schedule.

To Do allows you to sort tasks into basic lists that you set up, such as "Work," "Home," or "Lab." You can then add subtasks to the items on each list. For example, if your list includes, "Presentation for econ class," create subtasks for "Brainstorm subjects," "Find sources," or other project milestones. 

To Do also includes some features that will please visually oriented people. Dark mode is helpful if you're reviewing your day just before sleep or when you first wake up in the morning. You can also change the background for each list, with lots of modern and inspiring designs.

3. Calendly

iOS, Android, and desktop: Free with additional features available on paid plans

Calendly simplifies scheduling with groups and individuals. As group projects have become the new normal, you’ll likely have to set up plenty of meetings with groups and individuals during the course of your time as a student. You can save a lot of time by scheduling and managing those meetings with Calendly.

Here's how it works:

Connect Calendly with your digital calendar, like Google Calendar , Outlook , and others.

Create a meeting request.

Set the parameters. For example, you can let recipients see your availability, so they can pick a day and time, or you can set a day and time and they can either accept it or request a different time.

Select recipients and send.

Calendly will gather responses from the people you want to meet with, and you'll have a meeting set up without the long texting thread that's usually required.

Other helpful features include the options of Round Robin or collective scheduling on the paid plans. If others share their availability, Calendly will show times that work for everyone, so you can pick. Or, you can use its Meeting Polls feature to let people vote on proposed times before setting your meeting . Also, you can set reminders both for yourself and for those who agreed to meet with you.

Calendly streamlines setting up meetings, so you can free up your time and attention for classes and other responsibilities.

Get started with Calendly

Ready to make scheduling easier than ever?

4. iStudiez Pro

Android, iOS, and desktop: Free with available paid Full Version upgrade 

iStudiez Pro is one of the highest-rated planner apps designed just for students. Enter your class schedule including the professor's name, contact info, and office hours. Then, you can color code your classes and use icons to make it visually interesting and easy to scan.

"Week view" allows you to plan your time and get ready for upcoming classes. "Day view" shows you tasks and scheduled items for today. For each class, you can add assignments, their due dates, and specific tasks associated with them.

If you upgrade to the Full Version of iStudiez Pro, you can even get a regular update on your GPA. As you receive graded assignments back, enter the grade and point value. iStudiez will do the calculating for you with its GPA tracker. It keeps this info from semester to semester, so you can keep the big picture in mind.

5. myHomework

Android, iOS, and desktop: Free or $4.99 per year for Premium

The myHomework student planner is a clean and simple planner app for education. Many teachers have already adopted it for e-learning or online instruction, but it's great for individual use as well.

It's formatted for several types of class scheduling, such as block, period, or time-based schedules. myHomework allows you to not only input assignments and add tasks required to complete them, it also allows for prioritizing and categorizing tasks, so you can focus on what's most needed at any given time. You can set reminders for upcoming due dates too, so you don’t miss deadlines by accident (or procrastination).

While you do need internet connectivity to sync with other devices, this homework app still has full functionality even when you're not connected to WiFi. The free version has plenty of great features, but the paid version of this homework planner lets you get rid of ads as well as share assignments, add file attachments to assignments, and switch out your theme.

6. Power Planner

Android, iOS, and desktop: Free with paid upgrade available

Power Planner is a well-established student planner app with many of the same features as myHomework and iStudiez, like entering your schedule, keeping track of your GPA, and viewing assignments and exams.

Though the app is full of useful features, one element that sets it apart from other similar apps is the responsiveness of the developer. Power Planner is updated regularly, offering continual improvements to its features.

The GPA calculator is more robust in this app compared to others, with its "What if?" feature, which calculates what scores you need on assignments to get an A in a class. It also includes notifications for due dates coming up. The paid version allows you to enter more grades and stores your GPA info from one semester to the next.

Android, iOS, and desktop: Free with multiple paid plans starting at $5, and an automatic student discount

ClickUp is the only productivity platform built to tackle everything from complex projects to your daily assignments, all in one screen. With hundreds of customizable features to organize documents, take notes, schedule due dates, and more, ClickUp is a great daily planner for students at every level.

ClickUp's flexible organizational Hierarchy is perfect for breaking down course loads into manageable tasks, subtasks, and Checklists. There are over 15 ways to visualize your schedule in ClickUp including a dynamic Calendar, List, and Everything view for a high-level look at all projects and deadlines. Plus, ClickUp's Home feature syncs with your favorite calendar app to present your classes, reminders, and messages conveniently alongside your upcoming tasks.

ClickUp was built to consolidate your work into one centralized hub that can be accessed virtually anywhere, even offline, from your phone, or on your Apple Watch. You can create detailed course notes, format drafts, and everything in between using ClickUp's built-in document editor, then export or share them in seconds with a simple URL.

Access its top daily planner features, ClickUp Docs, unlimited tasks, over 1,000 integrations, and more when you sign up for ClickUp's Free Forever Plan, and automatically save 25% on any paid plan for being a student.

3 tips for getting the most from your student planner app

In addition to finding a great app for students, these tips can help you increase your productivity and keep your schedule running smoothly. No matter which app you choose, you’ll get more out of it if you use it alongside smart planning practices.

1. Treat yourself to a semester review

At the beginning of each semester, set aside a couple of hours to prepare yourself and get everything organized in your app and in your head. Make it fun: Take yourself out for coffee, turn on your favorite music, and turn off your texting and other notifications. This is time to get in the zone.

Give yourself time to look through your new app's features and figure out the best way to use them (or customize them) for you. It's helpful to read reviews, as people will talk about the most useful features. It's also an easy way to learn how to use the app.

Gather your syllabi, work schedules, and any other pertinent calendar info. First, enter all your calendar info for the semester. This helps you understand what your weekly schedule will be like. Then create projects or enter assignments (and due dates) for any big projects  your professors already have planned.

For example, the class may require a video assignment due at the end of the semester. Create a task called "plan out video project," and set the due date for around the time you want to begin the project. You don't want to get bogged down in planning the details of all those projects during your semester review. If you stay focused on the big picture, you may have time for more specific project planning at the end of your review session.

This is also a good time to set goals for yourself. Do you want to turn in more assignments on time or participate more in class? Do you want to learn a new instrument or join a team? Get inspired about doing more than just making it through the semester. With a powerful school planner app on your side, this could be your best semester yet — and there's more to that than just getting good grades.

2. Add a weekly review to your calendar

To keep your planner system functional, you have to keep giving it attention. Set up a time every week — about 30 minutes to an hour — for reviewing your projects and planning out your weekly schedule. Make this appointment as set-in-stone as your class times, so you aren’t tempted to put it off.

You can use this time to input any grades you've received if you've chosen an app with a GPA-tracking feature. Make sure that for every project, assignment or exam, you've entered specific tasks to prepare for them as well. You don't want to just remember that you have something due. You want to have a plan for turning in your best work! 

This is also a great time to set up meetings you'll need for the week. Use an app like Calendly to send out requests for meetings, so you're not scrambling at the last minute to find a time when everyone can meet.

And don't forget to schedule some rest! One of the best ways to stay motivated and stick with your work is to know you have some quality fun time coming.

3. Plan daily check-ins

Every morning look over your daily schedule and your list of things to do. This usually doesn’t take more than five minutes, but it can do a lot to help you bring your best to the things that are important to you.

Improve your learning through great planning

Choosing the student planner app that’s right for you is a great way of keeping your mind focused and your grades high during the semester. A great app will help you stay on top of your classes and work, especially if you keep your app up-to-date with regular reviews. 

A great calendar app can also help you to make the most of the other aspects of your life, for a less stressful, more rewarding student experience. The world needs what you have to give, and these apps can help you give your best.

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Thad Thompson

Thad is a former Content Marketing Manager at Calendly. When not sharing scheduling and productivity insights, you’ll find him hiking trails with his family or thumping a bass with a power pop band.

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The 13 Best Student Planners of 2024 for Staying Organized

Screen-free planning ahead.

If you buy something from the links on this page, we may earn a commission. Why Trust Us?

When a huge school project is due, maybe it’s not the best idea to rely on your phone to remind you to complete it. Sure, using a traditional pen-to-paper planner might be an adjustment, as most of us are accustomed to clicking and tapping notes into our iPads and smartphones , but we found some of the best student planners — and we have a feeling they’ll transform even the most tech-obsessed into old-school planner devotees. Whether you're a high schooler or college student, there's a lot to keep track of, between homework, tests, game nights, coffee dates, meetings, and goal planning. Use these academic planners to create to-do lists, keep track of important information and contacts, and log monthly, weekly, daily, and even hourly tasks. (Yes, hourly .)

From agendas designed to optimize your academic life to options that keep track of busy extracurricular schedules, these planners will help you start the school year off right — and keep you organized and productive until you turn in your final final exam.

Lemome Weekly and Monthly Student Planner

This student planner combines old-school minimalism with modern convenience. An elastic-band closure and pen holder keep everything neatly together. Inside, you’ll get weekly and monthly page views with plenty of lined and blank pages for notes and sheets of stickers for important moments. The design is unobtrusive and easy to follow, with enough direction to keep students on task. Plus, it’s durable enough that it won’t fall apart halfway through the year.

Overall, the combination of style, durability, and price makes this student planner our number-one pick.

Happy Planner Sunny Picnic Student Planner

A colorful 12-month Happy Planner, complete with motivational quotes, is sure to inspire you to organize your year. With pages for daily, weekly, and monthly notes, you can get as detailed or high-level with your schedule and goals as needed throughout the year. Plus, the smaller size makes it easy to carry everywhere you go.

Artfan Student Planner

This celestial cover might be enough to win you over, but what’s on the inside is even more important. You'll find a well-laid-out planner with 380 stickers and space for goals, and weekly, daily, and monthly to-dos.

anecdote Hardcover Student Planner

This one is for minimalists. Simple and small enough to toss in your backpack, this planner will get plenty of use. The pages include space for listing priorities and to-dos, and because it’s an undated planner, you can use it whenever you like. Structured to last, the simple planner has a sleek look that is unisex and mature-looking.

Order Out Of Chaos Academic Planner

For teens who want to start taking control of their responsibilities and schedules, this planner is designed to keep all assignments and extracurriculars on track. Each semester, classes are listed once, and the daily calendar pages that follow line up with every class listed. It's a full 8.5x11-inch planner, so there's plenty of space to write.

Papier The Jag Academic Planner

Whether you love your planner or go days without writing down anything, you’ll never be sorry you chose this gorgeous customizable planner. Each page allows you to fill in the year and the date, and the design offers a generous amount of writing space to plan everything your way. Sections for goals, important dates, and to-do lists make this one feel like a grown-up planner.

Rocketbook Panda Reusable Student Planner

The Panda Planner includes daily, weekly, and monthly pages — all designed to break larger goals into smaller tasks, allowing you to get as granular as you need with every assignment. The best part is that the cloud-integrated planner is totally reusable year after year. After you add notes, scan them with the compatible app to save them, and then you can erase them later. This is the one planner that will last you until you graduate.

Moleskine Moleskine Classic Student Planner

Busy college students will appreciate this pocket-sized, 18-month student planner from Moleskine. With rounded page corners, an elastic closure, stickers, and even an expandable folder, this little planner offers a lot. You’ll get a weekly and monthly view, plus plenty of blank pages for notes. It’s a classic you’ll want in your daily life long after graduation.

Poprun Faux-Leather Student Planner

If you're ready to get super granular, this one is for you. The pages let you plan each day down to the hour, in addition to weekly and monthly views. There’s also a yearly overview, a list of major holidays, a page for tracking monthly expenses, and space for saving new contacts and passwords. This soft, faux-leather planner comes in four sizes and 10 bright and classic colors.

STMT Student Planner Set

Who says that using a traditional planner has to be boring? Complete with stickers, pens, and markers, you can customize your agenda to your exact taste. Each month starts with a page for you to jot down reminders, like emails to send and texts to return. The weekly and monthly view will keep you on top of your assignments, while the accessories will make writing down homework due dates more fun — maybe?

Artfan Monthly Student Planner

This 18-month soft-sided planner will fit right in with your other important spiral notebooks. You’ll get a large monthly calendar spread with plenty of space to write on each day, plus other pages for jotting down any new logins and contacts. The two-sided clear pocket on this thoughtfully designed planner is great for holding random items.

Blue Sky Weekly and Monthly Student Planner

This student planner from Blue Sky helps plan weekly projects, includes a bird’s-eye view of each month, and has a goals section that will keep you on track throughout semesters. We especially love the 5x8-inch size, perfect for the front pocket of a backpack.

Paperage Undated Weekly and Monthly Student Planner

Because this student planner is undated, you can start planning on your own schedule. It includes 12 months of weekly and monthly pages, plus extra space for to-do lists and notes. It lays flat, has an expandable pocket for extra paper, and comes with eight sheets of fun stickers.

Jess is a Commerce Editor, covering best-selling products for Hearst Magazines. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two kids.

Cat Bowen has been covering parenting and home for over a decade. At Best Products, she has tested hundreds of products for parents and for the home, often spending dozens of hours per product to ensure her reviews are accurate and informative. Prior to joining the team, she was at Romper where she covered everything from breastfeeding to child sleep habits to abortion rights access. You can find her work on Bustle , Romper , and more. Cat is a bit of an intellectual magpie and perpetual student, most recently receiving a graduate degree in gender studies where she examined a topic that vexes so many — pockets in women’s clothing.

Melanie Yates is the Senior Digital Editor at House Beautiful , where she oversees design, gardening, and home renovation content. Since joining the team in 2024, Melanie ideates, assigns, and edits digital stories from in-house and freelance writers and helps execute big-picture projects for the brand. Prior to this role, Melanie was a senior editor at Best Products for over eight years, where she launched the site’s home vertical, conducted numerous bedding product tests, wrote The Present Perfect newsletter column, and produced video tutorials on how to wrap a gift. A lifelong enthusiast of the written word, Melanie holds a BA in broadcast journalism from Hofstra University and a certificate in copyediting from UC San Diego Extension. She’s always on the lookout for the next vintage find to furnish her Queens apartment.

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Coordinated Calendars

Easily organize and color-coordinate your schedule and schoolwork, capture details about every assignment, and plan your study schedule.

Read More »

Schedule at a Glance

Categorize your assignments, set up grading scales, and enter details about teachers, room location, schedules, credits, and more!

Grade Analysis

Constantly up-to-date details about your grades in every class, a breakdown of your progress, and insight into which classes you're acing and what could use improvement.

Assignment Details

Enter due date and textbook details, add notes to remember later, set a priority level, and record grades when complete.

Materials Organizer

Maintain a list and details of the supplies, books, technology, and equipment you'll need to pick up to be ready for class each semester and each day.

Filtered Lists

Sort assignments by class, priority level, due date, materials needed, etc. for an easy way to structure your study time and plan your approach to mastering your courses.

Coordinated Calendars. The Home Base.

Don't worry about trying to remember every homework assignment, project, or test— use that brainpower to ace your classes and let Helium whip your schedule into shape! Easily organize and color-coordinate your schedule and schoolwork, capture details about every assignment, and plan your study schedule. Keep track of the details of your class, put together your necessary supplies, and catalog things like teacher contact info and class location.

Sign Me Up! Back to Top

Schedule At A Glance. The Brass Tacks.

With at-a-glance overviews of your past and present terms and classes, a quick sketch of your schedule is always handy. Categorize your assignments, set up grading scales, and enter details about teachers, room location, schedules, credits, and more!

Grade Analysis. The Bottom Line.

Tired of always wondering how you're doing in a class? Frustrated by trying to calculate your own grades? Record grades as you get them, and Helium takes care of the rest! A full workup of your progress is always just a click away, with constantly up-to-date details about your grades in every class, a breakdown of your progression through the term, and insight into which classes you're acing and what could use improvement. We'll crunch the numbers for you!

Assignment Details. The Nitty Gritty.

Never miss an assignment again! Let Helium remember the details of every assignment so you don't have to. Enter due date and textbook details, add notes, set a priority level, and record grades when complete.

Sign Me Up!" Back to Top

Materials Organizer. The Meat & Potatoes.

Everything you need for every class in one place! Helium will maintain a list of the supplies, books, technology, and equipment you'll need to pick up to be ready for class each semester and each day. Make textbook resale a snap by recording details about each book, such as seller, price, and condition.

Filtered Lists. The Nuts & Bolts.

In addition to viewing your assignments and events in the calendar, manage your schedule in List View for a concise snapshot of your assignment lineup. Sort assignments by class, priority level, due date, materials needed, etc. for an easy way to structure your study time and plan your approach to mastering your courses.

The Delightful Dingo. Our Mascot.

Because. Dingos primarily are wild neighbors to our Aussie friends, though they can also be found in parts of southeast Asia. They have a bit of a love/hate relationship with their human neighbors, who partially consider them pests and partially credit them for keeping rabbits, rats, and kangaroos (yes, kangaroos) at bay. An iconic aspect of Australian culture and history, we also think Dingos are cool because of their complex conversation system that, unlike that of Fido who just noticed the mailman out front, is only 5% barking.

myHomework Student Planner and Digital Hall Pass system

Get better grades.

Our Student Planner App is Easy to Use and Getting Organized is proven to help you Be at your Best.

• Android Tablets / Kindle
• Android Phones
• Mac & Chromebook

The leading cross-platform student planner

myHomework has free apps so students easily access their planner anytime and anywhere. The planner has helped millions of students since 2009 get better grades. If you're a student, sign up today .

For school administrators: An integrated Digital Hall Pass, Reward Points & Planner system

With over a decade of experience as an education focused software vendor, our system works to support school staff by simplifying the work of managing student behavior. Increase safety, get more class time, and reduce vandalism. Learn more.

• Download on the App Store
• Download on Google Play
• Download on the Mac App Store
• Download on Windows Store
• Chrome Web Store
• Download on Kindle Fire

myHomework Basic

• Track assignments, projects, tests and more...
• Track classes
• Receive due date reminders
• Sync between devices
• Upcoming homework widgets

myHomework Premium

• FREE features +
• Ads Free Access All Themes
• File Attachments
• Enhanced App Widgets
• External Calendar Access
• Share Planner or Homework
• Import Homework

All in one Planner system

Digital hall passes, flex period management, rewards points and planner system.

myHomework helps adminstrators improve building performance on many levels. From homework responsibility to hallway management, our system can fill in the pieces missing in your digital ecosystem. With myHomework for schools , administrators get a great value from a education focused company with nearly a 15 year track record in the industry.

• Hall Passes

Flex Periods

Rewards points.

• Support / Help
• Planner System
• Flex Period

Homework Planner

Our free homework planner printable will keep you organized and on top of your homework assignments. We also offer a digital version if you prefer. Both are free.

Homework Planner Template

Our free homework planner printable will keep you organized and on top of your homework assignments. If you prefer a digital version, you can open the PDF homework trackers on an iPad and write on them with a note-taking app and stylus (see digital planner ).

Select any homework planner template from the selection below. Select a format that you think will work best for you.

Homework Calendar

When I was a student, I personally loved using a homework calendar. It helped me see the bigger picture and take all of my obligations into account. You can use the homework calendar template as is or you can edit it to suit your needs. Add your list of assignments below. Add each assignment to the calendar on the due date. This is a blank calendar that you can use for any month.

Word | Editable PDF | Image

The following homework schedule is similar to the one above but it doesn’t have a list of assignments.

Add your list of assignments or homework on the due date. Mark each one once you have completed it.

Daily Homework Planner

This daily homework planner will help you keep track of assignments received and due.

Word | Editable PDF | Image | Excel

Editable PDF | Image

Weekly Homework Planner

This weekly school planner will keep track of the assignments and homework you received all week and when each one is due. There is also a checkbox to mark it when it is complete.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday

Thursday and Friday

Homework Checklist

If you select the Excel version, then there is a dropdown list to select the subject, priority, and status. You can edit the list of subjects under the “subjects” tab. Each subject is automatically assigned a color code . All assignments that are due the next day are colored red. Assignments due that week are orange and those that are due that month are yellow.

Word | Editable PDF | Excel | PNG

This homework tracker can track your homework assignments, the subjects, due dates, and the status of each assignment. There is a dropdown list to select the subject and each subject will be marked with a different color. To change the list of subjects, go to the subject tab and list each subject. The priority can be either urgent, high, normal, or low. The status is either “to do” or “done”. You can change the priority or the status in the tabs.

Assignment Tracker

This Excel spreadsheet keeps track of assignments, who is responsible for each, and when each assignment is due. The color of each assignment changes according to the due date. When the assignment is due it will turn yellow. You can also open this spreadsheet on Google Sheets.

What is a homework planner?

This is a planner to track your homework and assignments to ensure that you prepare and submit everything on time. An assignment planner can keep track of all your assignments and is a great tool for priority management. However, if you have other obligations such as tests, social and family gatherings, etc, it might be better to prepare a planner that takes all your obligations into account. If you have a family gathering the day before a test, then you will know you will need to start studying one day earlier than you would have. If you don’t keep track of deadlines and everything you need to do, you might find yourself stressed or too late to get everything done. Planning will take the stress out of school and help you be more productive and organized.

How to use an assignment tracker?

Learning how to manage your time is an essential skill that will be needed later on in life as well. Time management is something that sets efficient people apart from those who do not manage their time well and get little done or even fall apart when stressed. Our job as parents is to give our children the skills and tools to manage their time well and get things done, even when they have a lot on their plate.

Start helping your kids to get organized when they are young. Help them write their assignments in their planner. Help them organize their time and schedule. The younger they are, the less they have on their plate. This is the time to help them acquire the skills they will need when they are older and obligations start to become more overwhelming. Remind your kids to review their planner regularly until it becomes a habit. By the time they are older, in high school or college, they will be able to manage their time efficiently.

It isn’t enough to write assignments and homework in a planner when you receive them. In order for a planner to be efficient, you will need to review it regularly. Start a daily habit where you check your homework calendar daily to see what needs to be done. This should be part of your child’s daily routine. If it isn’t feasible to check daily, then it should happen at least once or twice a week. If that doesn’t work, then try setting reminders on your phone.

How to make a homework planner?

Choose whether you want a weekly assignment planner or a daily or monthly planner. Whatever works for you. Scan the templates on this page and see which one you think will be the most helpful. If you like it as-is then download the PDF version. If you prefer to edit it to meet your specific needs then select the Microsoft Word version and edit as you please. Make it work for you.

If you feel comfortable using a spreadsheet then try the assignment deadline spreadsheet template above.

If you are a college student, then you might want a comprehensive student planner that includes a homework tracker:

• College Student Planner (our free student planner includes a class schedule and all other tools you will need during the school year)
• Best Planners for College Students
• School Calendar Template

2 thoughts on “Homework Planner”

amazing resources for students- thank you.

Thank you for your wonderful collaboration with these material 🙂

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Assignment Notebook 4+

Assignment tracking made easy, tyler sherman, designed for ipad.

• 5.0 • 3 Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

Screenshots

Description.

Assignment Notebook has been totally revamped and redesigned to provide students with a premium experience tracking assignments, test, and quizzes for an affordable price… free! Assignment Notebook offers remote storage for across device syncing for a low price as well, though these features are not required in order to utilize Assignment Notebook’s powerful features. Gone is the old design of a “notebook” style user interface, in favor of a more powerful, more organized interface that makes keeping track of assignments more straight forward, and more fun. We have also added several new features around assignment/class tracking. To help make the user experience even better, we have added several new features such as a dark mode theme and haptic feedback on events. [Summary] The “Summary” tab is the tab where you will be shown a crucial summary of your class schedule and due assignments, all in one place. You are also able to prioritize your assignments by simply dragging them in the order that you prefer. This screen will show you exactly what you need to see as quickly as possible, so you can get back to what you need to do. [To Do] The “To Do” tab will give you the full list of all incomplete assignments, as well as quizzes and tests that are upcoming. You can edit these listed items directly from this tab, or add new ones from the “Add” tab. If you tap on an assignment, test, or quiz, you will be taken to the detail screen that gives you all relevant details regarding this item. Details such as when the item is due, when it was assigned, or any relevant notes or class details you may have provided when creating the assignment. [Add] The way you add classes and assignments has changed for the better. You are now able to track classes that have different times on different days. You are also able to more quickly specify the remaining class details. Adding assignments has slightly changed as well, now you are able to see more relevant class details for the classes you are currently taking. This provides you with much better insight as to what class you are actually adding the assignment to. [Schedule] The “Schedule” tab will give you your class schedule in an easy to understand view. It allows you to jump directly to specific days by just tapping on the calendar icon and choosing the day that you wish to view. When you find the class you wish to view, you can just tap on it to view the assignments, tests, and quizzes that are upcoming for that class. If you wish to edit that class instead, just hold down on the class for a few seconds and you will be able to edit these class details or remove it from your calendar. [Terms of Use] https://leaseassistant.com/?page_id=176

Version 7.0.2

What's new in version 7.0.2: - Small bug fixes What's new in version 7.0: - Project creation! - You can now create projects that you can work on and keep track of with your classmates - Adding your classmates so you can more easily collaborate outside of school - Messaging and group chats with your classmates - Share assignments, quizzes, tests, projects, and notes with the simple scan of a QR code

Ratings and Reviews

App privacy.

The developer, Tyler Sherman , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

• Contact Info

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

• Basic Plan $2.99
• Notetaker Plan $5.99
• Core Plan $0.99
• Optimum Plan $19.99
• Premium Plan $9.99
• 1,100,000 Data Vouchers $9.99
• 200,000 Data Vouchers $1.99
• 21,000,000 Data Vouchers $199.99
• Yearly Subscription $49.99
• Monthly Subscription $2.99
• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

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14 Best Note-Taking Apps for Students for 2024

6th Sep, 2024

Take better notes in class or bring ideas together in one base. These note-taking applications are perfect for students that need an all-round notes day-to-day.

52 Note-Taking Apps: Ranked

Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with new apps, deals & free resourced, develop by leading experts.

A studio for your mind | A place to make sense of the world and create amazing things.

It's free. No credit card required.

Looking to be more productive in class with note-taking?

Students collect class notes, PDFs, presentations, ideas, research titles, and millions of links across a typical study day. That's enough to make your head explode if you're not using some app or system to bring that all into one location.

Many students have apps like Apple Notes, Google Keep , or maybe even notebooks, which are good but might not be able to provide the large-scale function our curated list of best student-focused note-taking apps can help with.

Leveling up your notes app in university or college is probably one of the best investments you can make during your studies. Let's explore the best apps for it!

What makes a good student note-taking app?

The best student note-taking apps are low-cost & tailored for study .

When we picked these tools, we ensured these attributes were reflected in the recommended note-taking apps. But why? Low-cost apps keep the bills down for students eager to invest in their future and on a student budget.

Tailored for study is essential, as many of the tools selected are chosen for their student-focused features, allowing you to study, manage flashcards, and maximize your time at college.

How we evaluate and test apps

Our team carefully vet all the apps and tools featured on this website, providing valuable insights into the best resources for your needs.

As you might expect, our site contains countless applications, but our team’s role is to find, categorize, and present the critical information you need to choose the right one for you and your team. Helping you match with the best resource is essential to us, and that’s why it’s a core principle of everything we do at Tool Finder .

For more information about our affiliate & how we make money, explore here .

Recommendation

RemNote is an advanced note-taking app popular with students for creating flashcards.

What is RemNote?

RemNote is a note-taking application popular with students who want to revise and study for exams. Its features include flashcards, PDF annotation, and bidirectional linking, which are standard in PKM apps .

RemNote is popular with students for their note-taking abilities and ability to create flashcards for deeper learning, but is it your next note-taking application? Let's see.

Why is RemNote a good note app for students?

RemNote is one of the best student note apps because it is, at the core, designed for students with flashcards, unlimited notes, and an app on all devices. Inside RemNote, you can instantly create a note and turn it into a flashcard.

RemNote also packs powerful PDF annotation (Pro feature) and connection to notes, meaning you can connect to any presentation or PDF your lecturer sends. This makes for an easy experience, but you can also annotate it to add more value. You get 3 PDF note annotations as part of your free plan on RemNote.

RemNote is best for more intense student note-takers and is excellent for structured note management. A little education is required, but this is the best of our list for all-around student note-taking management .

RemNote Pros

• Unlimited flashcards
• Easy-to-use features
• Can extend to PKM use for post-college
• Analytics for flashcards insights
• Way to add daily notes for journaling

RemNote Cons

• It can be expensive for a premium
• Many people might find it overwhelming

Tips for Being Productive in College

Here are some healthy and productive tips for college & university study:

• Establish goals in your personal, academic, and professional life
• Identify your most productive times for studying
• Maintain a healthy balance between work, study, and personal life
• Use calendar apps to block out specific study times
• Create a visual schedule that balances study time with daily activities

A beautifully-designed note-taking tool that was originally developed for students.

What is Supernotes App?

Supernotes is a note-taking app that allows you to easily create, share, and manage notes with your team. It is popular with students and the PKM note-taking community and has recently been featured in free AI note-taking apps .

Supernotes wants to be your base for notes by providing a new approach to note-taking with notecards, no more folders, and a better way to collaborate on notes on the go.

Why is the Supernote app a good student notes app?

Supernotes provide us with a firm base for your notes. It has grown on many people using things beyond student note-taking thanks to the clean, minimal nature of the app and the focus on notecards instead of constant folder organization. This makes it easier to connect notes using backlinks and to share notes with other students.

Collaborative notes are one of the gem features of Supernotes. Students can take notes and share them with other students using Supernotes, too. This makes life so much easier when missing a lecture (intentionally or not) and sharing those notes after it happens.

Supernotes are a great note-taking tool for students as they provide a collaborative environment in which to work on their notes. Productivity tools like this are super necessary for students to embrace. They are easy to use and allow easy sharing and note access. They also allow for easy editing of notes, making it easy for students to keep their notes organized and up to date.

Supernotes Pros

• Security-focused
• Offline and fast-loading notes
• Comes with all apps (including Linux)
• Independently developed tool
• Premium pricing isn't crazy

Supernotes Cons

• The free plan limits you to 100 notes.
• Can be overly complicated for some people

Evernote is a note-taking application with tasks, calendar and AI features inside.

What is Evernote?

Evernote is a note-taking application that was first built in 2000. It is available on iOS, Android, macOS, web, and Windows. Professionals and individuals use it to take notes, add tasks & manage calendar notes in one.

It is famous for note-taking and has a traditional format for collecting and organizing notes. Bending Spoons acquired Evernote and are the developers and owners.

Why is Evernote still one of the best note apps for students?

Powerful search, powerful PDF management , and powerful extended abilities with tasks and calendar management. This is more of a notes app for students, but beyond that, think of Evernote as a notes app for life, allowing you to store work project notes, meeting notes, and lightweight tasks, too.

Evernote used to be the hottest app for student note-taking purely because of the ability to add attachments to notes. However, one feature that still appears to student note-takers is the ability to capture notes into notebooks with the Evernote Web Clipper. It remains a brilliant notes app clipper for capturing links or snippets from pieces you're researching, searching for links and references three times as easily.

Advice : Evernote is much more extensive if you go over the limitations. The more powerful features like tasks, search, offline, and large uploads are locked under premium. So, while the free plan is good, it will only take you so far (yes, that is a line from Oppenheimer).

Video: Evernote Review

Here's everything you need to know about Evernote in 2024:

Evernote Pros

• Easy to use
• Bring all your tasks, notes & calendar in one
• Comes on iOS, Android & all desktop
• Comes with popular Web Clipper on browser
• Bending Spoons has been actively developing

Evernote Cons

• Much pricier than before

Microsoft OneNote

Note-taking and organising app perfect for students, academics and general notes.

Quick Facts

• Pricing : Free
• Features : Sketching notes, tabs for organization
• Popular with : Education and academic settings

What is Microsoft Onenote?

Microsoft OneNote is a digital note-taking app that allows users to create and organize notes flexibly and intuitively. This is part of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

Why is OneNote one of the best free note apps for students?

If budget is your concern, look no further than Microsoft OneNote . It offers the best free notes app for students, hands down. The notes experience allows you to take notes in a tab format, giving your notes app almost a ring-binder feel. It also has a solid iPad and Microsoft Surface apps, meaning you can make notes and sketches all in one.

We always recommend Microsoft OneNote when managing your notes with a Microsoft account. Suppose your school, university, or college offers a Microsoft for Education plan tied into your email. In that case, you are highly likely to have OneNote with free access and storage, so we recommend taking advantage of that.

Advice : Microsoft OneNote is practical and offers an excellent free experience. It isn't for everyone. Some people don't like their notes being in the Microsoft ecosystem, but for many, it'll hit the nail on the head for an upgraded, more focused Microsoft Word-like notes application that meets the bill.

Goodnotes is a iPad focused note-taking application with AI and handwriting tools.

What is GoodNotes?

GoodNotes is a digital note-taking app that allows you to handwrite or type notes on a virtual paper using the Apple Pencil on iPads or other iOS devices. It offers an intuitive and distraction-free environment for taking organized notes for work, study, or personal use. GoodNotes uses styluses to help make you more productive on the go.

GoodNotes wants to manage your notes visually with handwriting notes. It is popular amongst Apple users with Apple Pencils and iPads, but it now comes on web, Android, and Windows devices, too.

Why is Goodnotes one of the best note apps for students?

Goodnotes has had a big facelift in the last year and is much more focused on AI note-taking, meaning better handwriting support, typed notes, and beyond. Goodnotes works wonders for taking sketch notes and recording lectures or audio files to revisit essential notes you've made.

Goodnotes offers good levels of customization for notebooks, including stickers, templates, and even a big store (locked under premium). This level of customization appeals to many students wanting a BuJo-style notes app with sketch abilities.

Advice : If you don't have an iPad, there's no point in looking at Goodnotes, but if you do, this will be one of the best investments at the low cost of $9.99 for a year.

Goodnotes Pros

• Ideal for those who use iPads
• Works well with styluses to make sketch notes
• The reasonable $9.99 per year pricing
• Popular for students

Goodnotes Cons

• It might not be for everyone

Bear Notes is a minimal, markdown note-taking application perfect for iOS and Mac.

• Pricing : Free, $2.99 per month or $29.99 yearly
• Features: Hashtags, editor abilities & offline modes

What is Bear Notes?

Bear Notes is a note-taking application that uses markdown. It is available on iOS and macOS and is built natively for easy use. Users store ideas, capture quick notes, and organize them using Bear's unique hashtag folders.

Students commonly use Bear to organize their notes, and those who like simple, minimal note-taking apps use markdown . Apple has praised Bear Notes for their build quality.

Why is Bear Notes a good student note-taking app?

Bear Notes is a solid iOS and macOS app for handling notes. Many people like Bear for its markdown abilities, and for students looking for something more than Apple Notes, Bear Notes is an excellent option.

Bear Notes allows you to organize your notes by focusing on hashtags and note regular notebooks, meaning you can create nested hashtags perfect for multiple spanning notes. This means that a note with a revision for an exam that spans numerous classes could be connected to various places. You can use the sketch abilities on the iOS app to better handle ideas and thoughts you're bringing together.

Bear Notes has one of the best note-taking experiences for macOS users . It is lightweight and provides one of the better Mac experiences, and it was the winner of the Apple Design Award in 2017 for just this.

Video Tutorial: Bear Notes Review

Bear Notes Pros

• Comes with a markdown editor
• Really reasonable pricing per year
• Easy to use for all types of note-takers
• Well-developer and respected developer
• Bunch of themes and app icons to customize

Bear Notes Cons

• It might be too basic for some
• Limited to iOS and macOS devices

Notion is an all-in-one workspaces for notes, projects, tasks, documents & calendar.

• Pricing : Free, starts at $10 per month
• What it does: Daily journal, planning, notes, team wiki & more
• Popular for: Small-medium teams using a wiki, individuals planning, students
• Alternatives : Anytype , xTiles

What is Notion?

Notion is an all-in-one productivity app for notes, project management, tasks, and calendar management. It is available for macOS, Windows, web, iOS, and Android. Although it is a complex tool, users can use the no-code layout to build workspaces for any scenario.

Notion has been a popular Evernote alternative .

Why is Notion good for student productivity?

Notion is a flexible and customizable workspace that can be useful for student productivity when organizing tasks, events, projects, notes, documents, and more.

You can use templates to help get you started, and there are probably tons of templates available to suit your study needs, depending on the topic or class you are taking. Notion does come with a learning curve; however, once you understand the basics of adding databases, linking pages, and adding elements, you can create a great workflow.

So, if you want to create a visual place that makes sense, Notion might be an excellent choice to boost student productivity.

More Student Note Apps

These are some more recommended tools thsat could work well in university and college for planning notes and building a research library.

Anytype is a privacy-focused, open-source, note-taking application for notes & PKM.

Lunatask is an encrypted to-do list app for habits, notes & journal entries.

Capacities is a note-taking application with no folders and a focus on objects.

Craft is a personal and team documents application that creates beautiful docs.

Simplenote is an efficient light note-taking application and a Bear alternative.

Obsidian is a locally stored note-taking application with millions of PKM fans.

Advice from Francesco D'Alessio (ex-student)

Why should students take notes.

As a former university student, one of the critical lessons I learned was that I cannot store everything in my brain. This was paramount from concepts in books I'd read, like Getting Things Done by David Allen and Tiago Forte's newly formed concept, Second Brain .

"Your brain should be a thinking tool, not a storage tool" is a quote from David Allen's book, and this quote has always stuck with me as an effective way to think about how your brain uses knowledge and information.

So, students think of it this way: the more you store in a notes app, the better—the more your brain can be freed up for thinking through a problem or concept, and the more insightful results you'll have in the long term. This changed how I felt about notes and can activate authentic learning for many people trapped in "your brain needs to store all this."

Why do I need a productivity app as a student?

Productivity apps can help you better manage stress by relieving your mind of tasks. They can also help you remember the essential things and allocate time to coursework and group activities for university or college.

Using them can mean the difference between success in your topic.

Personalized Picks

What is the best note-taking app for my student life.

We've narrowed down these tools to specific student situations that we'd recommend against; they range from being a PhD student to looking for a cheap note app.

What is the best student note-taking for iPad?

Goodnotes is the best tool for iPad users at college and university. It maximizes the use of the Apple Pencil, which can be used to make notes, sketches, and more on the iPad.

What is the best note-taking for PhD students?

We recommend RemNote as the best note-taking app for students taking courses longer than three years or pursuing a PhD. Its combination of power features for study, revision, and interconnected notes best suits the needs of researchers and students.

What is the best free student note-taking app?

Want to save a buck? Well, in this case, Microsoft OneNote might be your best option. It works wonders for managing your digital filing cabinet, and with Sketch, you can make notes more interactive if you have an iPad or tablet device.

What is the best Mac notes app for students?

The build quality of Bear Notes presents a great experience for students looking for a better way to take notes on their new Macbooks as they start university. The low fee of $29.99 makes it a light yet approachable way to take notes that can be shared and exported to other people for use later on.

• Best Evernote Alternatives
• Best Free AI Note-Taking Tools
• Best ADHD Planner Apps
• Best PKM Apps for Note-Taking
• Best Habit Tracking Tools
• Project Management
• Note Taking Apps
• To-Do List Apps
• Calendar Apps

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Top 7 Homework Planner Apps for Students

Whether you are attending classes, completing your assignments, studying for a quiz, project work, extra-curricular activities, or squeezing some time for friends and family. You’d agree that organizing and planning goes a long way. That’s why a homework organizer or a homework planner app can be a lifesaver to keep track of all your assignments, tests, submission deadlines, and exams. I did the research and shortlisted the perfect homework planner apps for Android and iOS. Let’s check those out.

Read:  Best Notes App for Windows to Increase Productivity

Homework Planner Apps for Students

1. student planner- homework agenda & notes.

The first app on the list is a simple homework and notes management app. It keeps track of homework, assignments, projects, and to-do lists. The layout is minimal, all the tasks are neatly organized with a colored bookmark for easy identification. You can mark a task complete and remove it from the pending list.

Courses can be added easily and color-coded as well. The calendar shows any upcoming deadlines so you can prioritize accordingly. The tasks have a progress bar that you can adjust as you make progress which enables you to get a quick summary without actually opening every task.

You can also break your assignments in small chunks as subtasks that would make finishing a task much easier and the progress bar will fill automatically. It also allows you to attach media files to your assignments or projects for easy access to the important information in one place.

• Progress bar
• Deadline Reminders
• Calendar View
• No option to sync data to the cloud

Student Planner is a great app for all the students, it has all the necessary features like Deadline reminders, subtasks, progress bar, color-coded tasks, and courses. It can significantly increase your productivity when used regularly. You can get this app for free in the Play Store.

Install Student Planner- Homework Agenda ( Android )

2. Student Planner

Student Planner is another fast and simple homework management app which is wrapped by a beautiful and intuitive material designed UI. What Student Planner adds to the table is the inclusion of a schedule or time table which you can use to either store your class schedule or it might even be a study schedule for your exams.

You first start by adding your subject and the schedule then you can add an assignment or set a reminder. The due assignments are arranged as separate cards and can be swiped away once done with.

•  Simple and easy to get started with
•  Fast and small in size
•  Beautiful Minimal UI
•  Option for Schedule
• No sync/backup
• Timetable implementation not perfect

I would recommend this app to anyone who is looking for a simple homework management app with timetable support and a minimal UI.

Install Student Planner ( Android )

Egenda is simple. Open the app, add all the classes or subjects to the app, and once that is set up, you have the option of adding a new Homework, Quiz, Project, or Test and choose the respective subject deadlines. The app also arranges the due work in cards that can be swiped away when done. But what I love the most about this app is that the fact it allows you to go subject-wise and view all your upcoming tests, projects, or pending assignments which is a huge convenience for planning your schedule ahead of time instead of the previous day.

Unfortunately, the app doesn’t have a timetable option, but in its latest update, it added a  Calendar View  where you can see your whole month at a glance with your assignments, tests, and projects.

•  Subject-wise sorting
•  Calendar View
• No timetable support

Egenda provides some great tools for Homework and Test planning and I am sure anyone would find them extremely convenient and useful. But keeping its single con in mind, go for this app if you are not too keen on having a schedule or timetable.

Install  Egenda  ( Android  |  iOS )

4. ChalkBoard

The next app on our list is ChalkBoard, which I found out to be a pretty smart homework planner app. Chalkboard strikes a perfect balance between simplicity and features.

Although the setup process is a little longer than the previous three apps, as you have to feed meticulous details about the classes, teacher, and schedule. It is worth the effort.

On the home screen, you are shown upcoming classes, events tab, and upcoming tests. ChalkBoard fetches the dates for every subject from the Timetable for your future classes. Little features like these make the app stand out from the rest and give an overall great experience. You can also view classes and assignments subject wise.

• Proper Timetable
• Ability to add teachers for subjects
• View tomorrow’s classes as well as assignments/tests/quizzes
• Smart features
• Little longer to set up
• No calendar view

If you are looking for a homework planner as well as a school planner, Chalkboard is the app as it strikes a great ground with almost all the features one might need while not being too bulky.

Install ChalkBoard ( Android )

5. School Planner

School Planner is a full-fledged planning application designed for students to manage their career as a student. Along with your homework and timetables, School Planner offers you to keep track of your grades and attendance, add contacts for teachers, add recorded lectures, and even multiple planners.

The app supports backing up of all your data via Google Drive, Calendar View along with a weekly report, attaching snapshots to your assignment reminders, student accounts from ClassViva, and a lot more. In spite of so many features, the app doesn’t feel slow at all and delivers a powerful performance with its beautiful design.

• Full-fledged student companion
• Feature-packed and free
• Supports sync and backup
• Widget Support
• Tedious setup procedure
• Big in size
• Complex, not so smooth learning curve

While it is not for someone who is looking for a fast and easy way into homework management, School Planner is a great student companion app and serious students will surely get the most out of hit.

Install School Planner ( Android )

6. My Study Life

My Study Life comes with its own web app and syncs with the Android app, essentially making your data accessible from any device as long as it has a browser.

It implements a goal-centric circular tracker that shows your progress. The Calendar view combines your timetable, deadlines, and shows all your classes and assignments, projects in a single place.

• Refreshingly new UI
• Access from anywhere through its web app
• Sync and Backup
• Lengthy setup process

If you study from your computer or laptop, My Study Life makes it easy to access your homework planner on your phone from your computer, while not compromising on features and being completely free. What more can you ask for?

Install My Study Life ( Android  |  iOS )

7. iStudiez Pro

Like School Planner, iStudiez Pro includes grading and subject wise organization of tasks. iStudiez Pro takes it further with the integration of Google Calendar that allows you to directly get all your holidays, exam schedule, routine from Google Calendar itself.

It also offers separate apps on all platforms including iOS, Mac, and Windows. All the apps sync seamlessly between themselves, so studying on your computer consulting your planner won’t be an issue.

• Google Calendar Integration
• Cross-Platform
• Cumulative Price

If Google Calendar integration and cross-platform support is a must for you, iStudiez Pro is definitely the app you want.

Install iStudiez Pro ( Android   |  iOS )

So this was our roundup of the best homework planner apps for Android. We genuinely think that there is an app for every need and we hope that you found a Homework Planner that suits your need whether you are a high school student or a college senior. So which one was your favorite or did we forget to add yours? Let us know in the comments below.

Also Read:  Take a Picture of Handwriting And Convert to Text – Android Apps

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• Setups & Tech
• iOS & Mac

12+ GoodNotes Student Templates (Planners, Note-Taking & More)

There are so many great apps out there for students – but one of the crowd favorites is GoodNotes. GoodNotes provides the best of both worlds between digital and physical for your academic life: the tangibility of writing by hand (thanks to Apple Pencil) – along with the convenience and safety net of doing it all digitally.

From planners, to assignment trackers, calendars, and more – here are some of the most popular GoodNotes student templates!

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• First Name First

GoodNotes Student Digital Planner Templates

If you succeed at planning, you plan to succeed. With these GoodNotes planner templates specifically designed for students, get your daily, weekly, and monthly planning on lock, and never miss a deliverable or lecture again.

Looking for more templates like these? Check out our full round-up on GoodNotes planner templates .

Green Aesthetic Undated Student GoodNotes Planner

Template Available Here

Minimalist Boho Aesthetic Digital GoodNotes Planner for Students

The Ultimate GoodNotes Student Digital Planner

Pastel, Neutral, Pink & White Undated Student Digital Planner

All-in-One GoodNotes Student Template –  Notebook & Assignment Tracker

Cat & Dog Back to School Digital Planner Template

Neutral Aesthetic Student Planner for GoodNotes

Academic Digital Planner with Exam & Project Prep

Soft Beige Digital Student Planner Template

GoodNotes ADHD Planner for Students, Adults & More

Pink Aesthetic Undated Academic Digital Planner

GoodNotes Note-Taking & Notebook Templates

From Cornell note-taking layouts, to blank graph and lined paper – there are a ton of GoodNotes note-taking and notebook templates out there specifically for students. Here are some of the best to start with! Don’t forget to add GoodNotes stickers and notebook covers to your shiny new digital notebook.

Cute & Kawaii Digital Notebook Bundle for GoodNotes

Minimal Digital Student Notebook Template

The Ultimate Student Notepad – GoodNotes Digital Hyperlinked Notebook

Colorful Digital Note Paper Templates for GoodNotes

GoodNotes Digital Cornell Notebook & Journal Templates

Digital Notebook & Study Planner for College Students

Kawaii Digital Notepaper Templates for GoodNotes

Digital Cream Notebook for GoodNotes

Cute Beige Digital Notebook for GoodNotes

Retro Pastel GoodNotes Digital Notebook Template

Which GoodNotes student templates do you see yourself using for the school? Any ones we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments below!

Gridfiti is supported by its audience – when you buy something using the retail links in our posts, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.  Read more  about our affiliate disclaimer.

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The Best Planners for Students {for the 2024-2025 School Year!}

by Sharon Rowley Leave a Comment

If we want our kids to be organized in school, it is essential that they have a system in place for keeping track of assignments, upcoming tests, and quizzes as well as anything with a deadline. Using the right student planner makes this process simple- and helps your child to juggle their school work and social life without feeling overwhelmed. These are the 10 best planners for students for the 2024-2025 school year!

Quick Links to the Info in This Post!

Top Picks for the Best Planners for Students:

What type of planner will work best for your student, the best planner for elementary school students:, best planner for middle and high school students:, best planners for college students- dated, best planner for college students- undated, the best bullet journal for college students, the best planner app for students, looking for the best family calendars, planners, & to-do lists.

The first thing to take into consideration when purchasing a student planner- is the grade level of student who will be using it. Some planners are designed specifically with elementary school-aged kids in mind, while others are more appropriate for middle school, high school, or college students.

For elementary schoolers, you want a simple planner that gives them a defined place to record assignments for each main subject area.

But when we are shopping for students in middle or high school, or in college, there are three main types of planners that I recommend:

• Dated planners – The monthly and weekly page layouts are already labeled- and in some planners, you'll find prompts or titled sections to get you to think and reflect on your goals for the coming year.
• Undated planners – You can pick up one of these planners any time and just get started because all of the monthly and weekly sections are undated. There are still places to write reflections and goals, but they are more open-ended and often appear at the beginning or the end of the planner.
• Bullet Journals – These are completely unstructured notebooks that allow you to design how you would like to track notes and assignments and organize and plan for the future. Often a bullet journal is just a blank notebook with dotted grids, or sometimes they are lined.

Scroll through the list of my favorite planners of each type below- where I highlight the best features of each one!

My kids used this Global Datebook Elementary School Planner This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. for years. They loved the list-style format of the planner pages- with sections for each of the four main subject areas in school (math, science, social studies, and language arts) with plenty of additional space for other subject areas if needed.

If your kids would prefer a “block style” layout rather than the list layout above- this version of the Global Datebooks planner This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. uses a block layout.

I appreciated the vinyl cover and spiral binding which made it easy for kids to fold over the cover to work on a particular day. This planner comes with a bookmark/ruler that clips into the spiral binding, marking their place in the planner.

Beyond just daily information, this planner also includes resource pages by subject area- multiplication tables, measuring equivalencies, common grammar explanations, and so forth which are pretty helpful. (size 8.5″ x11″)

Runners Up Planner for Elementary School Students:

Our favorite planner company Class Tracker has launched this new elementary school planner This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. which is best suited for kids in 3rd grade on up. Designed in partnership with teachers, parents, and students, it features a unique layout that goes beyond asking kids to write down the day's homework- it inspires them to think about what's happening during and after school, and offers them a place to reflect on bright spots of the day as well as on their friendships (which is so important at this age!) (size 8.5″ x11″)

This year we have a new high school planner that we think is perfect for middle and high schoolers- the Class Tracker This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. !

We love the separate sections for each day that outline: Things to remember/ Quizzes, exams, papers, projects / Assignments- making it easy for kids to see what is the most important thing to tackle at homework time.

There's room to note activities and a place to keep a running to-do list for the week. And I love that you can track the number of weeks until… winter break, spring break, last day of school? What kid doesn't love a countdown? (A separate page marker is available).

Runners Up Planners for Middle and High School Students:

This is the planner This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. that my high school sons have used for the past several years. Pages are laid out in a weekly block calendar format with daily lined sections to jot down assignments and due dates.

I especially like the column to check off completed work!

Or you can get the version where the days of the week appear in a list format This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. .

This open format works better for kids who may not have the same class schedule every day. This planner comes with a bookmark/ruler to hold your place inside, and several resource pages with helpful information on math and grammar. (size 5.5″ x 8.5″)

This hardcover planner from Global printed products This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. makes our list of best planners for students for several reasons.

First of all- the cover is about as thick as a nickel- which will protect the planner as it is being carried back and forth to school in a backpack. It comes with a snap-in bookmark to hold your place.

And I love the fact that this planner comes with planning stickers and sticky notes to help students personalize their pages. (size 5.5 x 8.5″).

Then be sure to check out these lists of my favorite Closet Organizing Tools This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. and Bathroom Organizing Tools This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. over on my Amazon influencer page This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. !

The Erin Condren Academic Planner This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. is my absolute favorite planner for students!

I love the layout which includes a great 2-page monthly spread, and 2-page spreads for each week, followed by 4 notes pages after each month, so there is plenty of space to take notes on assignments, and plan for upcoming activities.

I also love that there are detailed pages to use for notes for projects & exams, and the use of inspirational quotes throughout the planner. It comes with a flexible laminated cover (size 7″ x 9″).

Runners Up Planners for College Students:

My college students love the simplicity and design of the college edition of the Class Tracker This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. . There are dated and undated versions of this college planner, and you can purchase a page marker separately.

The Bloom Daily Planner This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. is the perfect combination of academic planning calendar and goal setting workbook (which is really what a traditional planner is all about!)

2-page monthly overview spreads are followed by weekly views.

This planner includes a personal mission statement prompt and a yearly goal setting page, weekly scheduling templates, major holidays list, notes pages, contacts/address book pages, inspirational quotes, monthly reflection questions, and more! (size 6″ x 8.25″)

The Clever Fox Planner This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. handles all of your academic needs- with a 2-page layout for each week, undated, so you can begin using this planner any time of the year!

But what makes this planner so unique is that it is designed to help you set goals for the year, and then helps you to focus your energy on just a few goals at a time, making you far more effective in your efforts!

You can track habits that you'd like to cultivate, incorporate gratitude and affirmation techniques, create a vision board and more!

Bullet journaling has become very popular in the last few years- because it provides the perfect freestyle tool to keep your academic calendar, plan your week, create lists, as well as to write down thoughts, track your progress, and reflect on your life.

It's a beautiful combination of calendar and life planner all in one! You can learn how to keep a bullet journal here .

This Leuchttrum 1917 This is an affiliate link: MomOf6 earns a commission if you purchase, at no additional cost to you. is the dotted notebook that started the whole bullet journal craze! This beautiful hardcover notebook has dotted pages, it lays flat when in use- but what sets this bullet journal apart is its pre-formatted table of contents section.

In today's tech-connected world, some students may prefer to forgo the paper planner route, and instead use an app for tracking assignments and homework. The MyHomework App is the perfect app for that!

It's easy for students to track assignments, projects, tests, and upcoming events. They can load their class schedule into the app as well. And set up due date reminders for future assignments.

I love that you can sort your homework based on class, priority, or type- or of course, see everything at once. MyHomework app syncs between devices- so you can record entires on your phone and then see them on your laptop as well- perfect for college students

The app is free, and an ads-free premium version is available.

• Best Family Calendars  – whether you prefer electronic, paper, or wall calendar- these are the best ones of the year!
• Best Planners for Moms  – a family calendar can help you organize your schedule and your time- but a planner can help to make sure that you are giving your life purpose!
• 15 Perfect Paper to Do Lists for Busy Moms- pretty paper lists to guide you as you get it all done!

I would love to hear which of these planners your student decided to use this year!

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College Info Geek

How to Easily Stay Organized and Productive in College

C.I.G. is supported in part by its readers. If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read more here.

I used to be a terribly disorganized person.

Even as late as high school, my backpack was a mess of crumpled papers, broken pens, and cracker crumbs. It didn’t hurt my academic performance, but it certainly hurt my sanity.

When I got to college, however, I had the good fortune of discovering this website. This led me to become more serious about organization, particularly when it came to my calendar and digital materials. I’m still no Marie Kondo, but these days I would consider myself “more organized than average.”

In this guide, I’m going to take you through the entire process of getting yourself organized in college. As you’ll see, getting organized is the easy part, so I’ll also address the thing that really matters: how to stay organized throughout the semester.

So open up your favorite calendar app , pull out your notebooks, and let’s get organized!

Why You MUST Stay Organized in College (It’s Not Why You Might Think)

“Your brain is for having ideas, not storing them.” — David Allen, Getting Things Done

I knew a lot of really smart people in college who barely got any sleep , mainlined caffeine , and seemed to exist in a constant state of low-grade panic.

You might assume this is because they were taking a heavy course load and were just overcommitted. While that was part of the problem in some cases, more often than not the reason for these people’s hectic lifestyle was that they were severely disorganized .

They were still able to perform well because they were smart, paid attention in class, and could study effectively when they needed to. But their overall quality of life was less than it could have been.

This is the number one reason to get organized: it will drastically reduce your stress levels .

And when you’re less stressed, you’ll feel better and perform better on assignments. You’ll also have more time for the things you enjoy doing, and you’ll just be a more pleasant person to be around.

Note that getting organized will not automatically improve your GPA . You still have to study the material, go to class, take good notes , do the homework assignments, and get help from a professor or tutor when necessary.

But if you’re organized, you’ll also have more time to do the above things…instead of operating in panic mode and feeling like you never have the extra time to study difficult concepts.

P.S. – This guide is really detailed and will definitely get you up and running. However, if you want to see  exactly  how to set up each system we’re about to cover, you might want to take our founder Thomas’ productivity masterclass:

With a proper productivity system, nothing ever slips through the cracks. In just one hour, you'll learn how to set up your to-do list, calendar, note-taking system, file management, and more — the smart way.

How to Get Organized: 5 Key Areas of Focus

Okay, so now that you understand the value of organization, let’s take a look at the key areas that every student needs to organize. If you can get the following aspects of your life organized, then you’ll be off to a strong start for the semester.

And even if you’re reading this halfway through the semester, this advice will still apply — it just may require a bit more work to implement since you’re in the midst of your classes.

1. Your Calendar

If I had to give just one piece of productivity advice for everyone to implement, it would be “use a calendar.” It’s quite shocking to me how disorganized many professionals are, and the issue generally stems from not using (and maintaining) a calendar.

Calendars free up so much space in your head. Instead of having to remember appointments, classes, or due dates using post-it notes or scraps of paper in your wallet, you can have everything organized in a convenient, visual format. And if you use a digital calendar, you can automatically get reminders of important events before they sneak up on you.

What you use for your calendar doesn’t matter. We’re big fans of Google Calendar here at College Info Geek, but you can also use any number of other calendar apps. You can even go old-school with a paper planner, as long as you look at it regularly enough.

Once you’ve chosen a calendar, the next step is to make a big brain dump of every important event for the semester. Here are some key things to include:

• Your class times
• Important due dates from your syllabi (exams, term papers, etc.)
• Exercise times (you do have a workout schedule , right?)
• Meetings with professors/tutors
• Club/extracurricular meeting times
• Dorm/apartment move-in/move-out dates
• Your work schedule (if you have a part-time job )
• Payment due dates (credit card, rent, any other important expenses)

An Example from My Real College Calendar

Once you have a list of all this stuff, it’s time to put it on your calendar.

Here’s an example of a typical week from my calendar during my senior year of college:

As you can see, I have all my classes blocked out. Not only did this make sure that I would never forget a class, but it also ensured that I would never schedule a meeting or other event during class time.

Note: If you’re using a digital calendar, I highly recommend you set your classes to repeat. This way, you’ll never forget when a class happens. Here’s how to create recurring events in Google Calendar.

You’ll also notice I have meetings, rehearsals, time for freelance work, and plenty of blank spots. I didn’t schedule my study time, as I was pretty good about getting that work done, but you could also include study blocks for particular classes if you want.

Of course, your calendar is just part of the equation.

How do you keep track of all the things you need to do on a daily basis?

How do you keep track of homework, tasks around your living space, and other goals you want to accomplish?

For this, you need a to-do list…

2. Your To-Do List/Task Manager

While having a calendar is the bare minimum for being organized, having a to-do list will really take things to the next level.

At first, you might wonder if a to-do list is even necessary at all. After all, can’t you just put all the things you have to do on your calendar?

While this method can work, it tends to fall apart if you have more than a couple things to do each day.

Plus, mixing your calendar and to-do list ignores the fact that each tool is better for different organizational tasks:

• Your calendar is for keeping track of events . That is, things that occur at a specific day and/or time that generally require you to physically be somewhere.
• Your to-do list, on the other hand, is for keeping track of tasks . Tasks are things you need to accomplish (sometimes on a specific day), but they generally don’t require you to be in a specific place or keep an appointment of some kind.

I realize the difference between events and tasks can sometimes be murky, so here are a few examples:

• A meeting with a professor
• A class you have to attend
• A music ensemble rehearsal
• Drafting an essay to bring to a meeting with a professor
• Completing a problem set for a class
• Learning how to play a piece of music for a rehearsal

How to Set Up a To-Do List

Now that you understand the difference, how do you actually set up a to-do list?

Again, you have a variety of options, and what you choose will depend if you want to use a digital or physical system.

On the digital side, we recommend Todoist . It’s free, intuitive, and easy to set up.

If you want a physical method, the bullet journal system is a great option. You can even create a hybrid digital-physical system, as Thomas discusses in this video:

But ultimately, it doesn’t matter what system you use. You could use a whiteboard or a blank notebook if you want. What matters is that you keep an updated list of the tasks you need to accomplish, as well as, you know, actually doing said tasks.

To make your to-do list, you should first create a brain dump of everything that you need to do on a regular basis. Here are some tasks that most college students need to do:

• Homework assignments
• Cleaning your dorm/apartment
• Preparing meals
• Club tasks (particularly if you’re an officer)
• Anything you’re learning outside of class

Next, you’ll need to put all of these tasks into your to-do list system. If you’re using a digital system, you can set certain tasks to recur (think “take out the trash” or “complete calculus problems for the day”). And then, as you think of new tasks, you can add them to your system.

Here’s an example of what my to-do list looked like in college:

3. Your Notes

Taking good notes is key for comprehending and retaining any lectures or presentations that your professors give.

But taking notes on its own isn’t enough — to get the most value out of your notes, you need to keep them organized.

For some people, this could be as simple as having a different notebook for each class and referring back to it when you need to study for an exam.

While this can work, it’s not ideal. This is particularly true when you’re studying for a midterm or final and need to refer to weeks of notes.

To keep your notes extra organized, we recommend using a digital system such as Evernote . With Evernote, you can create a different digital “Notebook” for each class and type your notes there.

If you prefer to take notes by hand (which some studies indicate can help you better process information ), then you can also digitize your notes afterwards. To make this simple, just do it after all your classes are done for the day, before you start your homework.

When you use this system, you’ll be able to review material much more easily. You can even search for key terms and Evernote will help you find them in your notes, saving you the trouble of flipping back through a physical notebook.

4. Your Class Materials and Files (Digital and Physical)

In addition to your notes, each of your classes will likely have a syllabus, handouts, and presentations that you need to keep track of. You’ll also likely have assignments that the professor (or their grader) has returned to you, which can be valuable materials to review when you’re studying for an exam.

It’s key to keep all of these materials organized. Sure, you can probably get the syllabus, handouts, and PowerPoint presentations online. But that’s one extra step you have to go through when it comes time to study. Plus, you never know when the internet or school website might be down.

To be safe, I recommend you keep all of your class materials organized either in a physical three-ring binder or in some kind of digital system.

You could put all of the material in Evernote along with your notes, or you could have dedicated Google Drive folders for each class (other cloud sync apps like Dropbox and OneDrive work here as well, but Drive offers the best value for students unless you specifically need Microsoft Office).

Here’s an example of the Google Drive file system I used for my classes during the first semester of my junior year:

For extra redundancy, you could also keep folders on your computer with these materials in case the internet is down and you can’t access them.

Want more info on how to keep your files organized? Check out this guide Thomas created .

5. Your Backpack

We couldn’t talk about organization in college without discussing something that almost every student has: a backpack .

Even with an increasingly digital world, you still need to carry around your computer. And many classes will still have physical textbooks that you need to bring, as well as assignments that you have to complete on paper.

Your backpack (or briefcase or purse or whatever you use) is key for keeping all of these materials organized and at the ready.

Organizing your backpack isn’t hard — the key step is to remember to fill your backpack with the things you need for the day.

After all, there’s nothing worse than showing up in class, only to get that sinking feeling in your stomach as you realize that you don’t have the book or paper you need.

In some cases, not having the right materials could even hurt your participation grade, so organizing your backpack is something you must not overlook.

To make sure you bring everything to class, pack your bag the night before . This was the advice my mom gave me when I was in elementary school, and it still applied in college.

Packing the night before ensures that you don’t forget anything due to being in a hurry. And it also allows you a night of sleep to recall something you forgot.

If you’re really having trouble remembering to bring everything you need to class, you can add a task to your to-do list that says something like “Pack bag for [day of the week] classes.” Under this task, write a list of the things that you need to bring. This way, you can check off the items as you’re packing.

Here’s an example of what this would look like in Todoist:

Curious what should be in your backpack for college? Check out this list .

How to Stay Organized with Weekly Productivity Planning and Reviews

If you went through all the steps in the previous section, you should now have a system for keeping all aspects of your life organized. However, creating the organizational system is actually the easy part.

The challenge comes from keeping things organized. So in this section, I’ll show you two crucial habits that will help you maintain your organizational system:

• Weekly planning
• Weekly review

These two habits are complementary, and they take 30 minutes a week at most. Yet they can have a massive effect on whether or not you actually stay organized:

1. Review Your Previous Week

So you put your organizational system into place, and you now feel more motivated than ever.

However, what you’ll quickly realize is that real life isn’t as neat and precise as your beautiful to-do list and calendar.

Inevitably, unexpected things will come up that will prevent you from completing certain tasks or even attending certain events.

It’s tempting to get frustrated when things don’t go as planned, but it’s more effective to accept that this will happen and correct your system accordingly.

One of the best ways for dealing with unexpected changes or challenges to your organization is to create a weekly productivity review habit.

This 3-step process only takes a few minutes:

1. Compare what you planned to accomplish with what you actually accomplished.

We start each week with the best intentions, but then life happens.

You planned to spend an hour each day practicing integral calculus, but you only did that 3 days out of the week.

You signed up for a Thursday evening yoga class, but then you ended up having too much homework to attend.

You get the idea. The point is to look at the gap between what you planned and what actually happened.

2. Use this information to make changes to your system.

Recognizing the gap between your plans and accomplishments means nothing if you don’t use that information to inform your future plans.

Once you’ve identified what you didn’t accomplish, you need to examine why. Then, you can adjust what you plan for the coming week.

For instance, if you didn’t get in your hour of integral calculus practice each day, what prevented you?

You might realize that it was because you were studying in the student center and kept getting distracted by friends passing by. Recognizing this, you could plan to do your studying in the library basement, a place with no distractions except some dusty geological survey maps.

As you make this process a habit , you’ll get better about planning realistic goals and schedules. Which brings us to the next habit…

2. Plan Your Upcoming Week

Once you’ve reviewed the previous week, it’s time to plan for the week to come.

If you’re adjusting what you do based on the previous week, then you’re already on the right track. But in addition to reviewing the previous week, I recommend the following weekly planning steps:

1. Clean up your task management system and calendar.

During the course of the week, there will be tasks on your to-do list that you either forget to check off or just don’t do. Your calendar may also end up with stray events that are no longer relevant, or with things that you need to reschedule for the coming week.

When you’re planning the week to come, first make sure to clean out all the existing junk in your organizational systems.

Find new, realistic due dates for tasks you didn’t get to last week, and make note of any rescheduled events on your calendar. This could also extend to organizing any binders you have for class, securing loose papers, and digitizing any notes you haven’t gotten around to.

2. Plan for the week to come.

Once you’ve cleaned out everything from the previous week, you can turn your attention to the upcoming week.

To start, make a list of any upcoming tasks you can think of. I recommend looking at the syllabus for each of your classes, as well as any online systems that your professors use to post assignments. Then, transfer your tasks into your to-do list system.

Next, take a look at your calendar. See what events are coming for the week, and add anything that isn’t currently on your calendar. Check your syllabus for impending due dates, and review your work schedule to make sure it’s accurate.

Finally, make sure that your backpack is organized and packed for the following day. This will help you avoid forgetting an assignment or book you need to bring to class.

This weekly review and planning process may sound time-consuming when you read through it, but in reality, it should take no more than thirty minutes.

And if you do it every week, you’ll find that it takes you less and less time as you become more organized . To make sure that you go through the process each week, block off time for it on your calendar (man that just got meta).

Staying Organized Sets You Up for Success

This ended up being a massive guide, so here are the key takeaways for easy reference:

• Use Google Calendar (or another calendar app) to keep your events organized.
• Organize your task with a to-do list system such as Todoist .
• Digitize your notes for easier review.
• Keep your physical and digital class materials organized using a three-ring binder and Google Drive .
• Keep your backpack clean and stocked with the materials you need to bring to class.
• Take 30 minutes each week to review the previous week and plan the week to come.

And above all, don’t let your organizational system get in the way of what really matters: accomplishing the things you want to do .

The right organizational system will help you do the things you want without getting too stressed. But at the end of the day, you still have to sit down and do the work.

So go out there this semester and do something epic!

Need help staying organized while taking online classes? Check out this guide .

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15 Top Tips to an Organized College Binder

Maintaining an organized college binder is one of the best-kept secrets to student success. There are countless benefits to keeping an efficient system including finding information quickly, staying up to date with deadlines, archiving information for later reference, ease in reviewing notes, and so much more. In fact, once I finally organized my classwork into a binder, I found that I was spending less time searching for information or handouts, and more time enjoying the college experience! So, how do you create an organized college binder? What are the best tips for maintaining this new system? Just keep reading!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my  disclosure policy  for more information.

First, let’s go over what supplies I tend to use. These are things that I use today to keep my binder organized and notes looking fun and colorful!

• Staples Better Binder : I prefer this 1.5-inch binder with D-rings, incredibly durable and stops the paper from curling in the back.
• The Olden Chapters Student Printable Planner : This is a printable student planner that includes over 50 incredibly useful planning pages, including monthly and weekly calendars, study plans, budget sheets, assignment trackers and so much more. It is perfect to add the front of your binder!
• Five-Star Reinforced College-Ruled Paper : This is incredibly nerdy but I swear by this paper. Very little bleed-through, it is 8.5×11 inches (surprisingly hard to find) and has reinforced holes so you don’t tear your pages!
• Avery 5-Tab Dividers : I do put  washi tape  over my dividers, but these are the ones I use.
• AmazonBasics Page Protectors : Page protectors are a great way to make sure any of your important handouts or assignments don’t get damaged. I will always have my syllabi and various important handouts protected in these (like the periodic table, geologic time scale, formula sheets, etc.).
• Portable three-hole punch : These punches are AMAZING! You can use these right in class to pop in any handouts! Plus they are super cheap and double as a ruler.
• Daytimer Hot Lists : These are hands down my favorite sticky-notes… you need them in your life!
• Colored Post-In Notes : Various other colored sticky-notes are always super handy as well. I will usually stick quite a few sticky-notes into the front cover or on the cover page of my binder to quickly jot down any note, idea, or task!
• Binder Clips : Just as the name implies, binder clips are perfect to clip in any loose material into your binder! And how fun are these colorful clips ?!
• Brother P-Touch Label Maker : Again, I am a huge nerd so I use a label maker for my dividers as well…
• Pilot Juice Up Colored Pens : I have been loving these 0.4 point gel pens! They are incredible. If you’re super serious about pens, they even have a  22 pack .
• Staedtler Triplus Fineliner Pens : This is another great pen pack, these are felt tip and perfect for anyone looking to up their pen game!
• Zebra Mildliner Highlighters : My all-time favorite highlighters. I’ll never use a different highlighter again. They have two tips (regular sized tip and fine tip) and come in beautiful mild colors.
• Moleskine Extra Large Notebooks : When I don’t take notes in my binder, I use these nicer notebooks. I have found investing a bit more in your notebooks will allow them to last much longer, which actually ends up being incredibly useful later in your college career when you keep having to reference old class material.

Related: The Ultimate College Packing List – Everything You’ll Need at College!

Tips for an organized college binder:.

Personally, I have always found organization much easier with inspiration. So, I have come up with ten different unique tips that I personally use to keep my binder organized in a way that helps with my studies. So, without further ado…

[click_to_tweet tweet=”Creating an organized college binder is a great way to help boost your productivity!” quote=”Creating an organized college binder is a great way to help boost your productivity!” theme=”style2″]

1. Create Seasonal Binder Covers

I love using the Staples Better Binder  for its durability and D-shaped rings. These binders also allow for a completely customized cover. Here, I love creating different seasonal cover pages to slip into the plastic window. I’ll sometimes use scrapbook paper or create a collection of photos I have recently taken on hikes that currently inspire me. You could also create a vision board or a list of quotes. Whichever you choose, be sure that it will motivate you each time you look at it and to switch it out often!

Related: The Ultimate Finals Week Survival Guide: 55 Secrets for Success

2. Utilize the Inside Front Pocket

The inside front pocket of your binder can play an incredibly important role in your organizational method. One great way to do this is to be sure this is only used as an incoming and outgoing folder. This means that whatever papers you choose to store in this pocket must be moved somewhere else. Think of it as a physical to-do list. If the paperwork does not meet this description, DO NOT STORE IT HERE.

3. Create a Seasonal Inside Cover Page

It is always a good idea to create a cover page in your binder to protect your materials. A great way to do this is to add another seasonal dashboard, some of your favorite photos, or even some extra scrapbook paper to a durable page protector . This vintage seasonal Tim Holtz scrapbook paper pad or this cute designer pad is perfect for interchangeable covers!

Related: A Colege List of FREE College Resources (59+ Included!)

4. Create a Sticky-Note Dashboard

5. Create a Planning Section

Behind your cover page is also a great place to create your own school planning section. A printable planner is perfect for this section! Check out my student printable planner , it is fantastic and works for any student! It includes over 50 great worksheets, planning pages, check lists, tips, and more. Check it out HERE !

Related: Organize Your Life with the Only Student Printable Planner You’ll Ever Need in School

6. Create a Reference Section & Use Free Printables

Right after your planning section, be sure to have a reference section as well. This is a great place to store free printables (like my free study planner printable below), and useful equation sheets, vocabulary, and other useful bits of information you might use for multiple classes. Here is a list of examples you might need:

• The Periodic Table
• The Unit Circle
• A Master Calculus or Physics Equation Sheet
• The Geologic Time Scale (I have a copy of this everywhere…)
• Common Foreign Language Words or Alphabets
• Common Medical Terminology
• Unit Conversions

You can even purchase useful laminated reference pages by subject. I have quite a few of these and actually use them! They come in all different subjects including:  Statistics , Spanish , Medicine , Finance , Algebra , Chemistry , Biology , and so much more!

7. Section off Each Class

8. Color Code your Classes

Speaking of each of your classes, go one step further and assign one color per class. This will help to keep your notes, deadlines, assignments, and everything else organized. You can use these colors to label deadlines on a calendar, keep your study materials easily categorized and much more! I will usually change my divider tab colors by simply putting a bit of washi tape over each one.

9. Sub-divide your Class Material Using Mini-Dividers

With having each class divided by large divider, we need a way to subdivide each class. You can do this one of two ways. First, you could use page protectors with tabs, like how the amazingly organized Classtimecouture does it! You could also purchase dividers that are smaller in size.

Sections you can use to sub-divide each class may include (depending on the class):

• Class Information
• Exams/Quizzes
• Assignments
• Class Projects
• Reference Material

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Writing an A+ College Paper

10. create colorful notes.

Create colorful or nice looking notes that you will want to review later. This will help you to work hard on your notes (which will help you retain information) and encourage you to reference later (because they look pretty). I go over my entire note-taking system in THIS post if you’re interested in taking better-looking notes!

Related: How to Take College Notes You’ll Actually Use

11. utilize binder clips.

Binder Clips ( these are my favorite to use because they offer an assortment of sizes) are perfect for collecting all of your loose material! One great way to do this is to clip your current flashcards into your front cover.

12. Create a DIY Pen Loop

13. Create Removable Bookmarks

14. Use a Portable Hole Punch

Every time you receive a new handout, lab, assignment, etc. if there is not a task associated with it (making it so you would place it in your front cover folder), be sure to immediately punch it with a portable hole punch and place it in the correct place. This will help you maintain organization!

15. Maintain your Organized College Binder

In addition to using a portable hole punch, be sure to take some time to clean out your binder each week. I prefer to do this each time I thoroughly read through my notes, but you can do this any time. Just be sure it is done! When doing this, be sure to go through all of your tasks in your inside cover folder, toss any unwanted pages or scratch papers, and to take note of any upcoming deadlines!

Related: Discover 17 Surprising Ways to Avoid College Burnout

Become Inspired to Organize your own Binder!

Here are some of my favorite sources of binder inspiration:

• Organized Binder Setup by Classtimecouture on YouTube (who initially inspired my first organized binder!)
• DIY Binder Organization for School by Study With Jess on YouTube
• Organized Binder Setup by Mariana’s Study Corner on YouTube
• 25 Clever DIY Ways to Organize with Binders by DIY & Crafts
• The Ultimate Guide to Organizing an Entire Semester by The Young Hopeful
• 20 Freebies for College Students by Chase the Write Dream

So there you have it! My top tips, tricks, and ideas for an organized college binder! I truly hope these tips have helped and inspired you to organize your binder. They have saved me a ton of time in the long run and I am sure will for you as well! Happy organizing!

Looking for more college organizational tips? Check out my ultimate guide to college note taking !

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The Best Note-Taking Methods for College Students & Serious Note-takers

Which is the best note-taking method for you?

There are hundreds of different ways you can take notes — but not all are created equal.

The most effective note-taking methods will help you not only understand the concepts you’re learning better, but help you easily revisit and revise the material easily when exams roll around.

But the best one for you can depend on your subject/topic, learning style, and even how your lecturer teaches.

So, here’s an overview of the best note-taking methods for college students, how to apply each, and when you should (or shouldn’t) use each one!

Note-taking method #1: The Outline method

The Outline Method is one of the most structured note-taking methods, and visually looks very organized.

Add your main points as bullet points, and elaborate on them underneath. For any piece of supporting information, create a nested bullet point below it. Remember to keep your points brief, preferably around one sentence per point.

The finished note should look similar to an outline.

When to use this note-taking method

The outline method is ideal for when you need to jot down information quickly, like during lectures or meetings.

With its clear structure, you can easily see the hierarchy of information, and what ideas correlate to which point.

• Highlights key points of the topic
• Allows you to group related points together
• Highly structured and visually organized, making it revision friendly
• Not great for subjects that require many diagrams, charts, or visuals

Note-taking method #2: The Cornell Method

The Cornell note-taking method is one of the most popular and renowned note-taking techniques, created by Prof. Walter Pauk of Cornell University in the 1950s. It’s designed to make you actively think about your notes as you go along, rather than mindlessly jotting things down.

• All notes from the class go into the main note-taking column.
• The smaller column on the left side is for comments, questions or hints about the actual notes.
• After the lecture, you should take a moment to summarize the main ideas of the page in the section at the bottom which will speed up your reviewing and studying process immensely. The best part is that many people already remember and digest the information while they write a summary like this.

Cornell notes are especially effective for studying, because of how easy it is to revise from afterwards.

• Helps you extract the main ideas
• Writing the summary gives you a better level of understanding on the topic
• Your notes are already logically organized and easy to skim when it comes time to revise
• Takes a bit more effort when taking notes
• Requires some time to set up the page

(To help you get you started, try this free Cornell notes template .)

Note-taking method #3: The Boxing Method

The Boxing Method is a highly visual note-taking method. It gives you an at-a-glance overview of your topic.

Each section or subtopic of your notes will live in its own labeled box

This method was originally coined by a Goodnotes user, ipadstudying. Note-taking apps like Goodnotes are especially helpful for this method, because you can draw boxes and straight lines without the help of a ruler .

We recommend using this for revision. Each page or set of notes will be for one course or topic. In each of the boxes, summarize the key points from each individual lecture (or subtopic). Label the boxes accordingly.

At the end, you have one summary page of all the key points for that course.

• Helpful to create during revision
• Gives you a summary of each lecture, chapter, or subtopic at a glance
• Not a suitable method for lecture or meeting notes, when you have to be able to jot things down quickly
• Can be a hassle if you’re drawing boxes freehand (as opposed to using a note-taking app)

Note-taking method #4: The Charting Method

The charting method is a great way to organize different items or concepts that all share several properties.

For example, if you were studying up on chemical elements, each row would be a different element, and columns would list out their properties, such as atomic mass, melting point, color, etc.

Here is a summary of this article in a note written with the charting note-taking method:

Charts are useful when comparing items across a certain set of characteristics.

• Great for comparison
• Summarize a series of items in a systematic way
• Not effective for more linear note-taking or notes that follow a story/progression of information

Note-taking method #5: The Mapping Method

Another visual note-taking style is the Mapping Method.

It allows you to organize your notes by dividing them into branches, enabling you to establish relationships between the topics.

Start with writing the main topic at the top of the map. Keep dividing it into subtopics on the left and right as you go down. You can also try a mind map format, where you start in the middle and branch outward.

When to use this note-taking method:

This method is perfect for when individual points require a lot of explanation. It also works for when your notes follow a linear progression or a story.

• Easy to create and follow ideas
• Easily demonstrate relationships between information
• Elaborate on points without cluttering your page
• You may run out of space on the page if you have many branches of information

Goodnotes Tip : If you run out of space while writing in Goodnotes, just switch to a larger paper template, or lasso tool all your writing and shrink it.

Note-taking Method #6: The Zettelkasten Method

Ever wanted to create your own personal wiki? 

The Zettelkasten method is designed to help capture and organize knowledge for long-term reference and development. You write one idea or learning onto one card (a "zettel"), and store it in a box (a "kasten"). You create connections between note cards with tags. In this way, you create a growing encyclopedia of knowledge over a certain topic.

These aren't the type of notes for recording lectures or meetings, but works well for accumulating knowledge on specific topics over time.

While you wouldn’t use the Zettelkasten note-taking method during a biology lecture, you could create a Zettelkasten at the beginning of your degree and continuously add your learnings about biology throughout the four years. 

• Great way to create a homebase for your knowledge
• Easy to review, as notes are concise
• Can take some time to set up if you want to do it digitally

Note-taking Method #7: Mind Mapping

A mind map is a visual way to show information and ideas. It starts with a central topic and uses branches and sub-branches to connect related details or ideas.

Not to be confused with the mapping method discussed earlier, mind maps are amazing for synthesizing new ideas. Without a lot of structure, you can let your ideas flow from one to the next, and see where it takes you.

Mind maps are great to use as a revision method or brainstorming aid. Simply put down everything that comes to mind, and create connections between them.

• Break down large ideas into smaller pieces
• Create and discover new connections between different ideas
• Visually presents ideas and how different elements are related
• Not the best for recording meetings or lectures in the moment

Curious about the app featured in this article?

Goodnotes is one of the most popular note-taking apps for handwritten notes on the iPad — especially amongst students. With Goodnotes you can:

• Take handwritten notes and search them afterwards
• Annotate your PDF or PowerPoint lecture slides or articles
• Easily organize your notes into notebooks, folders, and keep everything synced across your iPad, Mac, and iPhone

Get Goodnotes for free today, and start taking more effective notes !

Other download options

If you need to deploy the Class Notebook add-in broadly across multiple PCs or you are an IT Administrator, please click here for more information .

The 5 best Linux distributions for students - from middle school to college

The Endless OS desktop

Linux used to be a tool for programmers, hackers, and elite (remember, l33t?) users. Over time, that shifted, and now Linux is a viable OS for any type of user -- even students.

Linux is right at home in an educational environment. I would go so far as to say it's even better suited than either MacOS or Windows because of cost, reliability, security, and flexibility. There's just so much you can do with Linux that you can't do with the competition.

Also: The Linux file system structure explained

But what distributions are best suited for students? I've created a list covering several age ranges (from middle school to university) to help students and teachers decide on which Linux distros to try.

With that said, let's get to the list.

1. Edubuntu

Edubuntu is an official Ubuntu spin that is geared toward education. The goal of Edubuntu is to bring the freedom of the Linux desktop and the vast library of software to the classroom. The desktop environment is pretty standard Ubuntu but the included software emphasizes that this OS is all about students. 

Also:  Edubuntu: The Ubuntu-based OS that brings Linux to the classroom (and home)

Edubuntu includes software covering a wide range of subjects, such as math, science, programming, language, creativity, CAD design, geography, chemistry, genealogy, typing, and more. There's also GCompris , which is geared toward learning and entertainment for ages 2 through 10. On top of that, Edubuntu also includes the standard list of applications, such as the Firefox web browser, LibreOffice, and all the utilities you'll need, making it a great option for students of all ages and skills.

Edubuntu is free to download and install.

2. DebianEdu

DebianEdu (aka Skolelinux -- Norwegian for "school linux") is based on Debian and is great for students and teachers. DebianEdu began its life as two different projects but eventually merged in 2003 and the developers have been producing new releases ever since. You'll find hundreds of educational tools in DebianEdu, covering subjects such as astronomy, chemistry, programming, geography, language, mathematics, and more. 

Also: 10 Linux apps I can't do without - and why

Of course, like Edubuntu, DebianEdu also includes all of the traditional desktop apps required for daily usage. One thing that sets DebianEdu apart is that it includes a pre-configured terminal server which simplifies installing the OS over an entire network of computers. 

DebianEdu also features user centralization (for centralized user management), proxy caching (for internet supervision), resource sharing (to share things like printers), and the ability to use older computers without compromise.

DebianEdu can be downloaded and installed for free.

Sugar is geared toward younger students, as is obvious from its icon-based environment (the desktop is comprised of nothing but icons for ease of use). The idea behind Sugar is "cognitive and social constructivism." The developers believe children are not office workers, so they require a special desktop interface that encourages active engagement and creativity. 

Also: 7 things I never do after I install Linux (and why you shouldn't either)

The activities found on Sugar are geared toward reading, writing, counting, and other fundamental skills. Sugar can be installed on an existing Linux environment or you can use it via a special distribution, called Sugar On a Stick . You can download SOAS with a Fedora, Ubuntu,  or Debian base, so whichever you're familiar with is the one to choose.

Sugar can be downloaded and installed for free.

4. Endless OS

Endless OS is another distribution that goes a different route for the UI. Instead of the traditional panel and menu, you'll find what looks like the GNOME application overview as the default interface, along with a dock to include any apps added to the Favorites.

Also:  Endless OS vastly simplifies the Linux desktop so anyone can enjoy it

Endless OS is immutable , which means it's considerably more secure than the traditional OS. On top of that, you can use the pre-installed applications without an active internet connection. 

One important piece of software is called Endless Key, which allows you to learn from hundreds of different topics, even without an internet connection. Although you do have to have a connection to download the different "packs," once downloaded, they function fully when the system is unplugged from the network, thus making it a great option for those who want to keep their students focused on the work at hand and not the myriad distractions found on the internet.

Endless OS can be downloaded and installed for free.

5. Linux Mint

Linux Mint is not education-centric but it's still a great choice for students, especially those in high school or college. I placed this distribution on the list because it is so easy to use. Linux Mint sticks with a very traditional desktop interface, meaning almost any student will instantly be familiar with the UI. 

Also:  How to replace Windows with Linux Mint on your PC

Although Linux Mint doesn't ship with a bevy of education-focused applications, most high school students should have everything they need to hit the ground running. Couple that with the usual Linux reliability and security, and Linux Mint is a great option for those in high school, college, and beyond.

You can download and install Linux Mint for free.

Open Source

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