Ways to become the Model of Efficiency with Your Smartphone

Hey, you. Tetris master! Champion of virtual poker! Those games are fun, but are playing games really how you want to spend your precious time? When you think about it, it’s actually kind of a shame to be such a busy person and be wasting all that time playing games on your Smartphone.
Why don’t you try using your Smartphone to do something smart? Pardon the pun, and consider the advice. Whether you’re already in an online program or thinking about going back to school, you can stop using your Smartphone to kill time, and start using it as a tool to help you get ahead, no matter where you are. Here are a few ideas to get you started. You won’t believe how productive you can be.

• Sharpen Your Skills:- After suggesting that you give up your game habit, the first recommendation is…to play games. Those are educational games, of course. Many well-designed games are available to help you brush up on your academic skills in all subjects. Math is one of the academic skills to focus on when you are going back to school, and math games on your Smartphone can be a lot more fun than the math drills you may remember from grade school. To review a foreign language or learn a new one, you need to practice. Language apps let you practice vocabulary and grammar over and over without seeming redundant. Vocabulary apps can boost your scores on college entrance exams.
• Read: Use your Smartphone for reading electronic materials. You can access a much wider variety of e-books and e-textbooks from online sources than if you had to go to the library each time you wanted a book. You can work toward completing your reading assignments whenever you have a few spare moments. Online journal databases connect you to academic journals so you can conduct research for your papers. Best of all, e-books and e-textbooks are weightless so you don’t have to lug them with you throughout the day.
• Catch up on Correspondence: No, I’m not talking about text messaging your buddies, sending out Tweets or “liking” your friends’ latest Facebook photos. I’m talking about getting caught up on your academic communications so that you don’t have to do it later when you are planning to work on your class work. If you’re in online courses, read through any emails that the professors have sent out. Glance at your assignments, and use your Smartphone to email your professors if you need them to answer any questions. Use this time to check on the status of any collaborative assignments that you may have.
• Don’t Forget the Accessories: A few extra devices can really help you maximize your Smartphone. You can read your notes and other information into a voice recorder while you are at home with your course materials. You’ll also need headphones so you can later listen to the files on your Smartphone. This lets you study when you are out and about. Listening is a complementary approach to learning that can reinforce the information better than just reading it.

You can’t avoid waiting in lines, for appointments, for your children and at the bus stop, but you can choose to do something productive with your time. Instead of playing random games on your Smartphone, use your Smartphone to help you succeed in school and work. It can be your classroom, study-buddy and secretary if you put a few educational apps on it.

About the author: Lindsey Harper Mac is a professional writer living in the Indianapolis area. She specializes in writing educational guest posts on behalf of Colorado Technical University. Currently, Lindsey is completing work on her master’s degree.