Study Tools and Focus Tips for Online Students

Online learning offers flexibility, but it also asks students to manage a lot on their own: reading, writing, deadlines, notes, study time, and distractions. The right digital tools can make those responsibilities easier to manage, but you don’t need a different app for each part of school. A better approach is to choose a few tools that help solve your biggest challenges, then build them into a consistent study routine.

Tools for retrieval practice, note-taking, project management, focus, and grammar can help you create a study system that fits your life. That said, there is a seemingly endless number of online tools available to students, so much so that it may seem impossible to narrow down the right ones for you and your academic journey. That’s why we’ve scoured the internet to find a list of tools that can help WGU students be successful.

Study Tools That Help You Remember What You Learn

Course and Textbook Study Features

Many digital course materials include built-in tools, such as flashcards, practice quizzes, highlights, audio, or review activities. Before adding another app, look at the features already available in your course materials. Using tools that are already connected to what you are learning can reduce setup time and keep your studying focused on course objectives.

Anki

Anki is a flashcard program built around spaced repetition. Instead of reviewing every card equally, the system spaces reviews based on how well you remember the material. It can be especially useful for terminology, formulas, definitions, processes, and other information that benefits from repeated recall over time.

Note-Taking Tools for Online Learning

Good notes are less about capturing every word and more about creating something you can use later. For online students, a searchable note system can be helpful when you are moving between readings, videos, assignments, and work or family responsibilities.

OneNote

OneNote is Microsoft’s digital notebook. Students can organize notes into notebooks and sections, add images or links, and search across their content. Because WGU provides Microsoft 365 to students, it may be a natural option for learners who want to keep schoolwork within the same productivity ecosystem.

Notion

Notion combines notes, pages, databases, checklists, and templates in one workspace. It can work well for students who like to build a customized dashboard for courses, assignments, study plans, or long-term projects. The flexibility is a strength, but it can also become a distraction—start simple and add features only when they solve a real problem.

Simple Notes Can Work, Too

You do not need an elaborate system to take useful notes. A basic notes app or a well-organized set of documents can be enough. The most important features are that your notes are easy to capture, easy to find, and useful when you review them later.

Tools for Organization and Time Management

Online students often balance school with work, family, and other responsibilities. A simple task-management system can make deadlines visible and reduce the mental load of trying to remember everything at once.

Trello

Trello uses boards, lists, and cards to organize work visually. A student might create columns such as "To Do," "In Progress," and "Done," then move assignment cards across the board as work progresses. This can be especially useful for projects with several steps.

Todoist

Todoist is a task manager that lets users organize assignments and personal responsibilities into projects, priorities, and due dates. Keeping school tasks and other commitments in one trusted system can make weekly planning easier.

Calendar Blocking

A task list tells you what needs to happen; a calendar can help you decide when it will happen. Try reserving specific blocks for reading, writing, assessment preparation, and review. Even short, repeatable study blocks can be more useful than waiting for a large stretch of "free time" that may never appear.

Tools and Habits for Better Focus

A strong study platform cannot help much if notifications, social media, or open browser tabs keep interrupting your attention. Focus tools can create useful boundaries, but simple habits matter just as much.

Website and App Blockers

Tools such as SelfControl and StayFocusd can limit access to distracting websites during a study session. The exact tool matters less than the boundary: Decide what you are working on, remove the easiest distractions, and give yourself a defined period to concentrate.

Try a Short Focus Sprint

If getting started is the hardest part, set a timer for a manageable period—such as 25 or 30 minutes—and work on one specific task until the timer ends. Then take a short break and decide whether to continue. This is called the Pomodoro Technique and operates under the principle that a smaller commitment can make a large assignment easier to begin. Sites like Pomofocus can help with tracking your time and desired tasks. 

Additional Student Resources

WGU Grammarly for Education

One advantage of being a WGU student is that you’re not building your study toolkit entirely on your own. Flexibility is built into every degree program. WGU’s competency-based education model is built around demonstrated mastery, which means that your learning resources are designed to work on your schedule. 

WGU provides students with access to Grammarly for Education. The tool is designed to give writing feedback as students work, helping them identify opportunities to improve mechanics and clarity while continuing to develop their own communication skills. WGU has also integrated Grammarly writing feedback into our assessment experience, giving students an additional checkpoint before submitting written work. 

Program Mentor

Your Program Mentor is another valuable resource for WGU students. Whether you’re working toward a bachelor’s degree in one of WGU’s business programs, technology, health and nursing, or education, your program mentor can help you navigate your coursework, connect you with student support, and keep your goals on track. If you’re wondering which study strategies make the most sense for your specific program, that’s exactly the kind of conversation they’re there for. Your Course Instructors are also available on the content side, ready to help with course-specific questions and assessment preparation.

Other WGU Student Resources

WGU’s School of Education also offers WGU Study Hall, a virtual study hall where you can connect with student communities, find a study partner, and stay motivated. It’s a useful option if you miss the collaborative energy of a traditional classroom environment or if you just want a space to work alongside other students in similar coursework.

For students pursuing licensed professions like nursing, teaching, or other career paths with state requirements, WGU also provides state licensure information and resources specific to your career path. If you want to stay current on WGU’s accreditation, Title IX policies, or other institutional details, the WGU newsroom is a good resource to bookmark.

How to Choose the Right Online Student Tools

The biggest mistake is assuming you need to adopt every useful app at once. More tools can create more log-ins, more notifications, and more places to look for information. Instead, start with the problem you want to solve.

• If writing and revision are slowing you down, learn how to use your WGU-provided Grammarly for Education access effectively.
• If you forget material after reading it, add retrieval practice or spaced-repetition flashcards.
• If your notes are scattered, choose one searchable place to keep them.
• If deadlines surprise you, use one task manager and one calendar consistently.
• If distractions are the problem, test a site blocker or a short, timed focus routine.

Give a new tool enough time to become familiar before deciding whether it works for you. The goal is not to build the most sophisticated study system. The goal is to create a small, reliable set of tools and habits that helps you learn, stay organized, and make steady progress.

The student experience at WGU is built around real outcomes. Whether you’re just starting your WGU degree or you’re already deep into your coursework, building consistent study habits is one of the best investments you can make.

Ready to earn your degree online? Explore WGU’s degree programs and find one that fits your life.