From apps that manage finances and credit scores to those that find scholarships for all education levels, and from apps that better organize collaborative projects to those that allow for unprecedented organization of scholarly articles, these higher education apps have major potential for the 2017-2018 term.
Used any of the apps listed? Have some suggestions of your own? Be sure to leave your comments in the comment section below.
[Listed in alphabetical order]
1. CamScanner
This app allows users to turn their mobile devices into a portable scanner. Simply take a photo of the page you wish to digitize, and the app will give you the option to convert it into a PDF/JPEG file, store in the cloud, and even print or fax the document. Smart cropping and auto enhancing make the texts and graphics look clear and sharp; easily share documents in PDF or JPEG format with others via social media, email attachment or sending the doc link; instantly print out docs in CamScanner with nearby printer via AirPrint; directly fax docs to over 30 countries from the app; and extract the scanned text (Optical Character Recognition) and make PDF files searchable. Price: Free, but $4.99/month to unlock all the capabilities. iOS, Android
2. Due
A good option for both professors and students, this app alerts the user of deadlines without the need for an internet connection. With Due, users can set reusable countdown reminders and implement both daily and weekly reminders that capitalize on nearly 60 alert tones. Also, reminders sync across all devices and automatically shift across time zones. Other features include keeping track of outstanding tasks with Smart Badges; iOS Reminders integration (auto import reminders created with Siri); an undo and redo option; full VoiceOver support; full dynamic Type support (for smaller and large text sizes); and localized for 17 languages. Price: $4.99. iOS
3. EdCast
From its “10 minute insight series” to its mini-MOOC movement, EdCast has become the place for students and professionals alike to grab quick tidbits from some of the world’s leading experts. EdCast’s app allows users to discover their most relevant learning opportunities, including those from co-workers, internal experts, formal and informal courses, external experts, MOOCs, and the internet. Users also receive a real-time micro-learning feed to their phone, curated, personalized, and constantly calibrated just for them. Instantly create and share learning and knowledge with followers and teams, and instantly stream live video from your phone, share with your team, and/or save for future viewing. Price: Free. iOS, Android
4. Gradeproof
A personal editor for improving writing, one sentence at a time. GradeProof’s AI offers concrete ways to improve your style, check for originality, as well as identify complex grammatical issues that other word processors often miss. Users can easily add written work, with options to import email attachments or use cloud storage services like DropBox. GradeProof will even increase and decrease word count on demand, all in a matter of seconds. Price: Free, but $10/month to unlock full capabilities. iOS, Desktop
5. LinkedIn
This app is nothing new, but it’s importance will only continue to grow as more students and higher education professional rely on networking for growing their career and partnership opportunities. Premium options include the use of exclusive tools and insights to find a job, grow a business, find sales leads, or hire talent. General price: Free. For Job Seekers: $29.99 monthly. For Business Professionals: $59.99 monthly. For Sales Professionals: $79.99 monthly. For Talent Professionals: $119.95 monthly. iOS, Android
(Next page: Higher education apps for 2017-2018 term, numbers 6-10)
6. Mendeley
Finally! An app that lets users annotate an search across PDFs, often in the form of Journal articles needed for class. The app is a free reference manager and PDF reader designed for researchers and students, allowing them to create their own fully-searchable library in seconds, read and annotate PDFs, and collaborate with others in private groups. Users can sync their library across all devices including Mendeley Desktop, where they can easily cite research as they write in Microsoft Word or LibreOffice. Other features include reading, highlighting and annotating PDFs from anywhere; saving PDFs to the Mendeley library from other apps or web browser; searching the library for keywords in the Title, Authors, Publication or Abstract; editing document details; and much more. Price: Free. iOS, Android
7. Mint
Never has there been a better time for this app (think: student loans) than now. Created by the developers of Intuit, the makers of TurboTax, QuickBooks, and Mint Bills, Mint allows users to manage all of their money in one place. Users can view all of their accounts—checking, savings, credit cards—and automatically add and categorize transactions, all within the app. Users can also check their credit score for free while learning how to improve it. Price: Free. iOS, Android
8. Scholly
Shark Tank winner Christopher Gray developed this app so that high school, college and graduate students could easily access more ways to pay for college. With a free Scholly account, gain immediate access to Scholly’s scholarship-winning essays, tips and advice. Create a paid account for $2.99 and unlock access to Scholly’s award-winning, personalized scholarship matching and application tracking platform. Price: Free, but $2.99 to unlock the best capabilities. iOS, Android
9. Slack
A favorite of Silicon Valley, this team communication app has hit campuses nationwide. At Stanford, the student entrepreneurship association, Bases, relies on Slack for work management. Every team in the organization has a channel, and when a special event arises, administrators create a new channel. Slack also aims to help eliminate emails and increase transparency across the group. Price: Free. iOS, Android
10. Trello
This app provides a more organized approach to studying and collaborating with your peers and colleagues. Trello aims to help users cut down on the meetings for group projects and manage tasks. Users can organize the entire project from the beginning stages all the way to the final product. Other features include customizing workflows for different projects; adding checklists of “To-Dos” on cards; assigning tasks to yourself and coworkers; commenting on items with your friends or colleagues; uploading photos and videos; attaching files; and more. Price: Free, with options to upgrade to Gold for more functionality. iOS, Android
- 25 education trends for 2018 - January 1, 2018
- IT #1: 6 essential technologies on the higher ed horizon - December 27, 2017
- #3: 3 big ways today’s college students are different from just a decade ago - December 27, 2017