Filed under: Features, Social Software, Education
Back to school with Facebook: 5 apps to make your classes easier
Some of you are headed back to school this week, and I want to let you know that we at Download Squad feel your pain. We've all been there at one time or another, and it's not always easy. While I'm not volunteering to do your homework (don't want to get you in trouble, you know), the least I can do is offer some helpful applications for everyone's favorite (formerly) collegiate website, Facebook. I hope these five apps make your school year a little bit easier. Good luck in the new school year, DLS readers!
Notely
Notely is a comprehensive system for to-do list, homework planning and events. The Facebook app is just one way to keep track of that: there's also a web version of Notely, and an iPhone app. It's all available with a free account at Notely.net.
Courses
Courses is a beefed-up version of a feature you might remember if you're a long-time Facebook user. It lets you list your current course list on your profile and find other people in your classes. What's more, it works as a class discussion board, video chat, place to put your weekly assignment schedule, and place to store files.
JStor Search
A lot of college students will already be familiar with JStor, but for any high schoolers or incoming freshmen, here's the skinny: JStor is a database of thousands of journal articles that make great sources and background reading for any paper you might have to write, across a broad range of subjects. This application will let you search JStor from within Facebook, and might also serve as a reminder to get to work instead of looking at last night's party photos.
Rate My Professors
Whether you're using it for information or just for entertainment, Rate My Professors is a one-stop shop for info on your instructors. Past students discuss everything from how engaging the material was to how ridiculously the professor dressed, so you can take all of this with a grain of salt and possibly use it to help you choose classes.
CiteMe
Here's one that could save you a lot of time. CiteMe lets you search for a source you want to cite, and generate proper citations for it in all of the major academic formats. If you've ever taken a selection of classes that forces you to use MLA for one paper and APA for another, you know how useful this is.
So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do.
Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game.
The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brandon said 7:34PM on 8-31-2009
I've used Notely before but I like soshiku.com better.
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Rob said 9:15PM on 8-31-2009
And to lay back n relax theres imwin.info
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Jasmine said 11:01PM on 8-31-2009
I would like to add that Pick-a-Prof is a great resource for determining which professors to select.
http://www.pickaprof.com/
The site shows grade distributions of different teachers for different classes, which alone may not be useful (what good is a teacher who gives straight As if you don't learn things your major or career require you to know?) but serves as a great complement to Rate My Professors. I try to use both together to piece together my opinions of teachers before I register for their classes.
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Jeff hates socialism said 4:55AM on 9-11-2009
more with facebook? uh no
Use a real Content Management System
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