TOUCH TABLET and CELL PHONE

It just plain makes sense that students who dig incorporating technology into their academic pursuits would likely make mobile computing via tablets and smartphones an integral life component. Taking advantage of everything these applications have to offer streamlines the largely autonomous process behind enrolling in an online course. Some, of course, prove a little more useful than others, but the following offer a nice enough start!

1. Dropbox:

   With one Dropbox account, students enjoy access to their files while on the go, so they never accidentally miss a deadline again … because of computer issues, anyway.
   

2. Bento:

   Available on iDevices (because of course), Bento makes organizing solo and group projects much, much easier by providing users with their own personal databases for storing contacts, drawing up calendars, and taking notes.
   

3. Blackboard Mobile:

   Because so many online courses rely on Blackboard for distributing the necessary materials and conducting the necessary assessments, downloading the app should be essential for remote students.
   

4. TED:

   While classes themselves might not use TED as a supplement to lessons, students (both online and off) undoubtedly benefit from tuning into what the experts are saying about the latest ideas and innovations.
   

5. Evernote:

   Never forget an important project point with Evernote, an amazing scrapbook application for keeping everything organized and on hand, no matter the medium.
   

6. Instapaper:

   Perfect for online students who just can’t recall the websites consulted for research purposes, this resource saves pages so they can read them anywhere and everywhere.
   

7. Wikipedia:

   Because everyone uses Wikipedia, even if they aren’t supposed to admit it in an academic setting. Don’t cite it in a bibliography, but definitely check out the sources used and start researching from there.
   

8. Wolfram Alpha:

   Forget Google. Wolfram Alpha works as an amazing search and computational engine specifically for scholastic pursuits, bringing back returns regarding pretty much everything students need to know about their desired subjects.
   

9. Google:

   We lied about forgetting Google. Don’t forget Google. Especially since its mobile app allows for voice searching.
   

10. Wi-Fi Finder:

    Obviously, online students should probably know where to look for wireless Internet in their areas — especially if their connections at home go all kablooie.
    

11. Quickoffice:

    Create and edit Microsoft Office documents from anywhere and, most conveniently, see them saved across all linked devices when paired with a cloud application.
    

12. StudyBlue:

    Create, store, and share notes and flashcards online and via a mobile application perfect for studying from pretty much anywhere.
    

13. Dictionary.com:

    An indispensable resource for online students needing both a dictionary and a thesaurus. There’s even some fun little word games available as a welcome distraction!
    

14. myHomework:

    Even though an online education grants more autonomy than the traditional classroom structure, students still need to stay organized and on top of their homework assignments.
    

15. Cliqset:

    Social media forms a major component of many online classes, and Cliqset makes it super duper easy to update and keep track of them all in one convenient spot.
    

16. Kindle:

    Download and read books and textbooks teachers may require for the class, conduct research, or receive a little extra help on the side.
    

17. Dragon Dictation:

    This speech-to-text program helps students take verbal notes, send e-mails, and work on projects on the go without wearing down their thumbprints.
    

18. GPA-mE!:

    As one can probably glean from the name there, online students can use this application to calculate their grade point averages as they go along rather than waiting on their teachers.
    

19. Howcast:

    Learn how to do pretty much anything thanks to detailed step-by-step videos; they offer up information on multiple educational topics, meaning students will likely pick up some interesting tidbits here.
    

20. Astrid:

    One of the most popular productivity apps available acts as a veritable personal assistant, with to-do lists, reminders, and organized collaboration.
    

21. Zwoor:

    If a research project or a class requires any sort of polling, Zwoor makes collecting the data from friends, family, and total strangers a breeze.
    

22. Pulse:

    Stay on top of relevant blogs and other online reading resources needed for projects through simply organized lists on iDevices and Androids.
    

23. Study Tracker:

    Presented by McGraw-Hill, Study Tracker makes it cake for students to keep track of their grades and time spent on assignments and create comparisons for better academic management.
    

24. Mint:

    Online and offline students alike definitely need to keep track of their personal finances, especially if they’re taking classes requiring tuition.
    

25. CourseSmart:

    Another popular option for students who prefer purchasing and reading textbooks digitally rather than lugging one around.
    

26. Documents To Go:

    This full Microsoft Office suite allows for creating and editing files while out and about without requiring a cloud to sync everything up.
    

27. SimpleMind+:

    Online students in possession of an iDevice use SimpleMind when mapping out papers and projects before getting started.
    

28. iAnnotate:

    iAnnotate provides iDevice users a painless, easy method of marking up and taking notes on PDF files needed for classwork.
    

29. Cash4Books:

    Use the iPhone or Android’s barcode scanner and learn how much those textbooks and other reads will fetch when sent over for other students to buy and use.
    

30. Quora:

    When stuck on a critical research question, some students (and even professors!) head to Quora and directly ask experts about their fields.
    

31. Chegg:

    Rent the necessary textbooks from the comfort of the iPhone (sorry, Android and Blackberry users!) through this popular money-saving service.
    

32. Open Culture:

    Who said online students have to enroll in formal classes to learn something? Open Culture provides one of the Internet’s largest repositories for free educational materials – especially open source courses!