Staying focused while studying can be challenging, especially when distractions compete for your attention. The following tools and strategies may help you stay organized, manage your time, and maintain focus while completing coursework.

Time Management & Organization

• Todoist – A task management app that helps you organize assignments, create to-do lists, set reminders, and break large projects into manageable steps.
•  Trello - A visual task management tool that helps organize assignments, projects, and deadlines using customizable boards and checklists.
• Microsoft To Do - Stay organized by creating to-do lists, tracking assignments, and setting reminders so you never miss a deadline.

Focus & Productivity

• Pomodoro Technique – A time-management strategy that alternates focused work sessions with short breaks to improve concentration and reduce mental fatigue.
• Forest – Encourages focused study sessions using the Pomodoro Technique by rewarding uninterrupted work time with a growing virtual forest.

Reducing Digital Distractions

• Freedom – Blocks distracting websites and apps across your devices during scheduled study sessions to help you stay focused.

Some students are approved to audio record lectures as an accommodation through the interactive process with their CAS Access Specialist.

If you are approved for this accommodation, your smartphone may already include a built-in voice recording app.

Additional recording and transcription tools include:

• Genio– Uses AI to record lectures, organize notes, and generate summaries to support studying and review.
• Otter.ai – Records lectures and automatically creates searchable transcripts, summaries, and notes.
• Google Recorder (Android) – Records audio while generating live transcripts on supported Android devices.
• Microsoft OneNote – Allows you to record audio directly within your notes so recordings stay connected to your written notes.
• Tactiq – Captures transcripts and meeting notes from Microsoft Teams and Google Meet.

These tools can help improve comprehension, reinforce learning, and prepare for quizzes and exams.

• Grammarly – Improve grammar, spelling, punctuation, and writing clarity while drafting papers and assignments.
• Quizlet – Create flashcards, practice quizzes, and interactive study activities.
• Kahoot! – Review course material through interactive quizzes and self-assessment activities.
• SimpleMind – Create visual mind maps to organize ideas and understand relationships between concepts.
• Zotero – A free citation management tool that helps organize research sources, annotate PDFs, and automatically generate citations and bibliographies in APA, MLA, Chicago, and other citation styles.

Read&Write is literacy support software that helps students read, write, study, and complete academic work more independently. Its accessibility features can support reading comprehension, writing, research, and organization across a variety of digital course materials.

Read&Write includes tools such as:

• Text-to-speech – Listen to digital text read aloud from websites, PDFs, library articles, and electronic documents.
• Speech-to-text (dictation) – Use your voice to create papers, notes, and other written work.
• Reading and study tools – Highlight key information, organize notes, and create study guides from highlighted text.
• Writing support – Assist with spelling, vocabulary, and proofreading.
• Research tools – Collect references and create bibliographies for academic writing.
• Additional accessibility features – Create audio notes, translate text, simplify webpage layouts, and customize the reading experience.

Read&Write is available for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Windows, macOS, and select mobile devices. Students interested in learning more about Read&Write should discuss this resource with their CAS Access Specialist.

Text-to-speech (also called reading support software) reads digital text aloud to help improve reading comprehension, reduce visual fatigue, and increase access to electronic course materials.

Built-in Accessibility Features

• Microsoft  Word Read Aloud – A built-in Microsoft 365 feature that reads Word documents aloud to support reading comprehension, proofreading, and editing. Learn how to use Read Aloud in Microsoft Word.
• Microsoft Edge Immersive Reader – Simplifies webpages while providing customizable text-to-speech and reading supports.
• macOS Spoken Content – Built-in text-to-speech available on Mac computers.

Dedicated Reading Software

• Speechify – Reads digital documents, PDFs, webpages, and other text using natural-sounding voices.
• NaturalReader – Converts digital text into spoken audio to support reading comprehension.
• Voice Dream Reader (iOS/Android) – Mobile reading app with customizable voices and accessibility features.
• Balabolka (Windows) – Free text-to-speech software that reads many document formats aloud.

Reading Pens

• C-Pen ReaderPen – A handheld scanning pen that reads printed text aloud, making it helpful for textbooks and other printed materials.