Abundant apps can make college life easier

Previously, students asked for a laptop to prepare for college. The latest and greatest pieces of technology for students are tablets and smartphones.

Now, students have a number of apps to choose from that will help them better navigate through the classroom and the college.
This fall, TCC has transitioned from CampusCruiser to Blackboard and myTCC. The good thing about Blackboard is that it has an app, so students can easily access their classes on the go. Students can receive announcements, look at grades, review and turn in assignments and view the class syllabus on their phone.

A major cost for college students is textbooks, which can easily cost more than tuition. Many students compare prices online for both renting and buying textbooks. Apps like Bigwords.com and Cheap-Textbook did the dirty work of comparing prices of new, used and rental textbooks. Cheap-Textbook also finds free versions of books at libraries and has a barcode scanner for an even easier search. Amazon and CourseSmart apps can download e-books for a fraction of the cost of a traditional textbook.
Other apps available for students include StudyBlue Flashcards, where students can create their own flashcards in their device.

Scientific calculators can easily be downloaded in different price ranges, many less than $5. Students should be aware that these devices will not be allowed during testing, but math labs allow students to borrow a calculator in exchange for the student’s ID.

To help keep track of assignments, class schedules and tasks, students can download a planner or organizer. Many of these apps allow students to rate assignments according to importance and label whether it is a quiz, reading, test, final, midterm and so on.

This fall, TCC even rolled out a mobile app with links to services such as myTCC, calendar, maps, library, courses and programs, student services and Career Coach. This provides important payment dates and deadlines for registration, applications and graduation. The app can be found by typing “Tarrant County College” in the app search bar.

Students can find an app for almost anything, many for free, to help them make A’s.

-Elaine Bonilla/reporter