EdTech tools that got me through finals!

As a high school senior interested in educational technology and education policy, I thought I’d share my favorite EdTech products that got me through finals week! I’m a part of the full International Baccalaureate (IB) program in my school so my finals covered one and a ½ years of material. The following tools are the ones that have most helped me optimize my studying throughout the school year thus far. I’ve also included one bonus tool that my sister swears by, and I am committed to using in 2026!

Notebook LLM: I use Notebook LLM religiously to study for subjects like biology and environmental science. I upload slideshows from my classes, content from the IB subject guides, and my notes and study sheets to Notebook LLM, and it turns this information into podcasts and other useful summaries in various formats. These summaries allowed me to better understand the key ideas and high-level concepts: something increasingly important for IB classes. What I really love about Notebook LLM is that it only uses content from the materials I upload and does not add any extraneous information that may or may not be accurate or relevant. I also use Notebook LLM to generate practice IB-style questions, which I then practice answering to ensure that I fully retain what I have learned, I use the free version, but they have options for upgraded versions.

Quizlet: I use Quizlet to create my own flashcard decks and memorize key facts for my history classes. I particularly like using the “learn” feature, which shows me the content in three different formats: written out as a response to an open-ended question, as a flashcard, and as a multiple-choice question with answer options. This tool ensures that I have a thorough understanding of the material by repeating the concepts I struggle with the most. I particularly like the feature on Quizlet that allows me to upload my own content, whether it be a slide deck or essay, and then auto-generate flashcards. This is very useful during crunch time when there are simply not enough hours to create my own flashcards. I use the Plus version ($2.99/month), and I think it’s worth it.

Anki: This is the bonus resource that I personally have not used extensively, but my older sister in medical school frequently tells me I should be using it. She explains Anki as “a Quizlet on steroids without any of the extra B.S.” It is purely a tool for education with no cute gimmicks. The only downside, in my opinion, is that you have to take the time to create your own flashcard decks so it is not as helpful as Quizlet during crunch time. Also, the learning curve is quite large. My sister describes its best feature as the “pre-programmed spaced repetition” function, which helps you commit what you have learned to long-term memory.

Duolingo: I regularly use Duolingo to help me prepare for Spanish. I particularly like the “speaking” feature and the way it motivates me to keep practicing every day, even during the stressful times (although the constant notifications can get a little annoying). I also like that it prepares me equally for speaking, reading, listening, and writing through its multi-modal learning interface.

Photomath: I use Photomath to get deeper explanations and correct solutions after attempting math problems. Photomath allows me to view the step-by-step solution process and provides detailed walkthroughs. This is especially helpful when I’ve struggled to solve a problem, even if I got to the right answer on the first try. I find that the explanations give me a more thorough understanding of the underlying concepts. Photomath also solves problems in multiple ways, so if you don’t understand one way, you may have more luck with another. I use the free version.

I’m constantly on the lookout for new tools that can help optimize the productivity of my readers and my own academic success, so please let me know if you have any favorites or recommendations. As always, thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts on EdTech and education policy more generally!