The 10 Best Tools and Resources for Learning and Working From Home

Gotta keep those brains going.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced many of us into isolation. Universities have shut across Australia, resulting in students having to take online classes, and schools are also moving towards learning from home. As well as that, thousands of workers have had their hours reduced, or they’ve completely lost their jobs due to COVID-19.

Yeah, it’s a lot.

If you’re working or studying from home, you’ll suddenly be facing a bunch of new challenges. You might also be wondering: how do I stay productive?

It can be tough when there are so many distractions. In fact, it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of binge-watching your favourite show every day and getting absolutely nothing done. But it’s important to keep your brain switched on and focused, especially considering we’ll eventually get back to some sort of normality.

So, here are 10 tools and resources to help you work/study from home effectively.

1. Udemy’s "Work From Home" Course

If you’ve found yourself working/studying at home due to the coronavirus pandemic, it’s going to feel pretty odd. Not seeing your colleagues or classmates every day can be tough. Although, working remotely has its benefits.

To find out how to thrive while working/studying from home, you might want to consider taking a short course in building an effective remote working environment. That way, you’ll be able to reduce distractions and increase your productivity.

One course to consider is Udemy’s "Work From Home”, created by Michael Gross. Available at an affordable price, it includes a one-hour video on how to best design your working from home life.

2. Coding with Khan Academy or Code.org

There’s still time to upskill while working from home. Coding is an ability that’s in high demand, and if you know even the basics, you’re going to stand out from the crowd. Not only that, but it’ll help you develop your critical thinking skills.

Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, who also taught himself how to code, recommends checking out Khan Academy and Code.org, which both have hundreds of free videos and classes on coding.

3. Student Edge Learning

With COVID-19 disrupting the way we work and interact with others, it’s essential to keep building your life skills while you work remotely. Fortunately, Student Edge Learning has courses to help you navigate all areas of life, whether it’s managing your finances or preparing for your first job.

You could try out our Job Readiness course, which teaches you how to create your first resume, and explains how to smash your interview as well. We’re offering it to schools for free in Term 2 (so tell your teacher).

4. Evernote

Scrambling to organise all your notes at home? Look no further than Evernote, a cross-platform app that serves multiple purposes. It’s like a digital file cabinet, and it’s the perfect way to store any information you need to keep handy while you’re working remotely.

If you need further convincing: it’s totally free of change.

5. Microsoft Teams

You might not video call your colleagues or classmates too often when you’re at school, uni or work, but when you’re working from home, Microsoft Teams is the ideal tool for catching up with people. Whether you need to have a team meeting, check-in with your study group, or you just need some face-to-face interaction, Teams has you sorted.

It also allows you to record meetings, so you can listen to them back later if need be. That’ll help you out big time if you’re prepping for an assessment. 

If you're a student, you can either sign your school up for free or get it for free through our deal. 

6. Slack

Want to make a group or team chat, but don’t want to use Facebook? Slack is the way to go. The app enables you to create channels for particular projects, and you can also share files, start voice or video calls, and search your team’s conversation history.

There’s a free version of Slack that’s available on both iPhone and Android, and you can also download it to your desktop.

7. LinkedIn Learning

If you’re not on LinkedIn, you’re going to want to make that your highest priority. Not only is LinkedIn a great way to connect with other professionals and students, but it offers helpful advice and short courses through LinkedIn Learning.

You might want to check out these videos on setting yourself up for success, becoming a successful remote worker, and how to manage your time while working from home. 

8. Quizlet

Life might feel a little strange right now, but that doesn't mean you won't still have to prepare for assessments and exams. Let's face it: studying is never that fun. On the other hand, it can be at least a little bit more entertaining with Quizlet. 

Available on both iOS and Android, Quizlet lets you create your own study materials and share them with your mates as well. 

9. WeTransfer

One thing we often don't think about when working remotely is sending big files. A lot of the time, video or audio files can be too large to attach in an email. That's where WeTransfer comes in. 

It's free way to send files up to 2GB to your team or study group. All you have to do is upload the file, enter the recipient's email and send it off. It's as simple as that! 

10. Headspace App

Finally, it's crucial you take care of your mental health while working/studying from home. When you're not around people as much, it's only natural to feel isolated. You should consider practicing mindfulness or doing some meditation in your spare time. 

Available on iOS, Android and Google Play, the Headspace app has you covered with guided meditation and videos to make you feel healthier and happier. That way, you'll work and study better from home. 

Remember: just because you're working/studying from home doesn't mean you can't get assistance when you need it. Make sure to reach out to your manager or teacher if you're feeling overwhelmed. 

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