For my online learning course I was able to learn, use, and test out different online technologies that helped me in my studies. Throughout my years of study I have use d different technologies that help me stay on task. Every year there is always another form of technology that comes out that improves our way of learning and organization. With all this new technology coming out it can make it difficult to sift through which one you should use and whether it would be the most helpful. Below I will discuss the technologies I have used and how I decided the best technology that fit for me.
Trello
One of the first technologies that I used for this course was Trello.com. This site allows you to organize your tasks into panels designed to help you complete your to do list. I found this to be the technology that truly fit my style 
and my way of organization. The advantage that Trello has to offer is the freedom they give to anyone who uses it. There is no strict lay out that is difficult to use. Instead, they allow you to design your study board in any way you choose. I like that you can add pictures and motivational quotes to your board. I also like that the website links to an app on my phone which I can access anytime. Using this technology made me feel very productive. The disadvantage to this however, is that it does take a lot of time to create your board. It isn’t like apps where you quickly put in a reminder for due dates. It takes time and thoughtfulness to create your boards. I was able to work around this by carving out time every Sunday to make my boards and plan my week, which has been instrumental in my organization.
Forest App
I love using the Forest app! It is very helpful with eliminating distractions while you are studying. I tend to be very distracted by my phone while trying to study and the Forest app is great for managing this. On the app you plant a tree over a certain time and if you check your phone during this time the tree will die. For example, I can set the timer for 60mins so that I can stay off my phone for an hour. The tree will be growing during this time period. If I check my phone within this hour, my tree will d
ie. This app is a fun way to keep from distraction and be more efficient during study time. I love using it and will continue to use it throughout the semester. Below is a video that explains more about the app and why it is so great!
OneNote
I have been using OneNote since last semester. It is helpful because it allows you to keep all of your notes in one place. You can download powerpoints into OneNote and follow along in lecture, while adding your own notes to the slides. I also like how there is an option to record a voice memo for the lecture right into the app. The only downside to this is that the voice memos do not come out sounding very clear. I also found myself to be better at taking handwritten no
tes in class, so I would not recommend this app to those who prefer handwriting notes. Although this is a very useful app, I didn’t find it to be the most helpful for me and have not used it much this semester.
We all have our preferences in organization style that help us be the most efficient we can in work and in school. Through trial and error, it is possible to find what works best for you!