The Learning Centre
Tools to Limit Distractibility
Students today are exposed to a wide variety of devices that distract them from their learning. Internet blockers can help students to block internet distractions such as Facebook, Twitter, among other distractors. Examples of internet blockers include:
· Leechblock is a free Firefox add-on in which users specify which sites to they wish to be blocked and the time period in which the sites are to be blocked.
· Website Blocker is available from the Google Play store. It blocks specified distractors for a specific period of time. Very similar to Leechblock but for Google Chrome.
· Freedom – students can get a free trial version for either a PC or Mac. Once the free trial period ends students can purchase the app for a fee.
Tools to Reduce Distractors on a Webpage
· iReader allows the user to view news stories and other articles in a single clutter-free page. It strips out the ads and extraneous layout and displays the article in a very easy to read, scrollable display. Available as a Firefox or Google Chrome add-on.
· Evernote Clearly articles and webpages clean and easy to read by stripping the ads and other distractor from the page. The user can then save the clutter free article to their Evernote account to read the article anywhere. Available as a Firefox or Google Chrome add-on.
Break Time When Studying
Scheduling a regular mental break into your study time is critical to retaining what you are studying. However, limiting breaks to a specific time is also helpful in promoting a productive study session. Timers are an excellent way to help you do both. There are tonnes of online timers available, some examples
include:
· http://timer.onlineclock.net/
· http://e.ggtimer.com/
· http://www.online-stopwatch.com/
· http://www.fungie.info/bell/#
Students today are exposed to a wide variety of devices that distract them from their learning. Internet blockers can help students to block internet distractions such as Facebook, Twitter, among other distractors. Examples of internet blockers include:
· Leechblock is a free Firefox add-on in which users specify which sites to they wish to be blocked and the time period in which the sites are to be blocked.
· Website Blocker is available from the Google Play store. It blocks specified distractors for a specific period of time. Very similar to Leechblock but for Google Chrome.
· Freedom – students can get a free trial version for either a PC or Mac. Once the free trial period ends students can purchase the app for a fee.
Tools to Reduce Distractors on a Webpage
· iReader allows the user to view news stories and other articles in a single clutter-free page. It strips out the ads and extraneous layout and displays the article in a very easy to read, scrollable display. Available as a Firefox or Google Chrome add-on.
· Evernote Clearly articles and webpages clean and easy to read by stripping the ads and other distractor from the page. The user can then save the clutter free article to their Evernote account to read the article anywhere. Available as a Firefox or Google Chrome add-on.
Break Time When Studying
Scheduling a regular mental break into your study time is critical to retaining what you are studying. However, limiting breaks to a specific time is also helpful in promoting a productive study session. Timers are an excellent way to help you do both. There are tonnes of online timers available, some examples
include:
· http://timer.onlineclock.net/
· http://e.ggtimer.com/
· http://www.online-stopwatch.com/
· http://www.fungie.info/bell/#