Although apps are more often a distraction from studying, there are ways to turn them to the task. From time management apps to apps that connect students to their peers, the digital age has transcended the old-school cubbyhole and textbook to create a world with as many options as there are students.

One useful app for productivity is Write or Die (slogan: "Putting the 'prod' in productivity"). Users input their word count goal and a time limit; slacking incites visual and auditory punishment.

During class, take notes using a recording app such as Evernote, OneNote, or Super Note. All of these offer audio recording; OneNote offers video, too.

Another app, inClass, lets students take photo, video, audio, or text notes, schedule classes and tasks, share course materials, and more. For those who need a little extra help, OpenStudy (slogan: "Why study alone?") is a social learning app that connects students with other students who are volunteer tutors. Founded by a Georgia Tech professor, the app also enables the creation of online study groups.

For the traditionalist, Quizlet, StudyBlue, and Smartr are apps that let students create digital flash cards. Quizlet allows access to study sets that other students have created, with topics ranging from French animal names to nursing abbreviations, biology terms, and more. These apps are ideal for learning vocabulary, but students can use them as tools for other purposes, too.

Scheduling and time management programs such as iStudiez, iProcastinate, Toodledo, Things, and Checklist Wrangler can help students manage busy schedules and ensure that assignments get done.

For those who have trouble staying focused, apps such as Study Buddy graph efficiency (study time versus break time) to help optimize study periods. Simple timer or stopwatch apps can also be used for this purpose. Choose a meditation timer to set study periods which will keep you focused and relaxed, with pleasant chimes or gongs announcing breaks. Or get fancy and use the Pomodoro technique—timed, 25-minute blocks of concentration—using the Focus Booster or Pomodoro app.

The apps named above are useful for almost every subject, but it's also worth taking a look online at specialty apps for your topic of choice. From the Merriam-Webster app for English majors to the Particle Zoo app for physics majors, and metronome apps for musicians, there's an app for every area of interest. Most apps are free; some carry a minimal cost.