9 Ways Alexa Can Help You Study Better
Studying can be a tedious task at the best of times, and the thought of staring at a book or screen for hours can put some people off entirely. Thankfully, Amazon Alexa has come to the rescue. By making use of Alexa’s hands-free nature, studying can become a relatively pain-free task.
In this article, we’ll show you some of the most effective ways that you can use Alexa to become a better student and how to set them up within minutes.
1. The Flashcard Blueprint
The Flashcard Blueprint makes an excellent alternative for the stack of cards many students use. The blueprint lets you create a customized skill to help master any topic for an upcoming exam. If you’re looking to use the skill for multiple modules, creating different skills for each subject is advisable.
To use the Flashcard Blueprint:
To use the skill, say, “Alexa, open [name of Flashcard skill].”.
2. The Quiz Blueprint
Like the Flashcard Blueprint, you can teach Alexa to ask questions about anything you like. The critical difference is that while the Flashcard skill will test you on terms and definitions, the Quiz skill will ask open-ended questions, such as “Who invented the telescope?”. Once you create the skill, you can play with up to four people—perfect for lighthearted group study sessions.
How to set up the Quiz Blueprint:
Just say, “Alexa, open [name of Quiz skill]" to use the skill.
3. Ask for Definitions, Spellings, and Synonyms
A handy feature Alexa offers is asking for definitions, spellings, and synonyms—nothird-party Alexa skillsare required. If you’re ever struggling with writing, use the built-in dictionary and thesaurus.
You can say things like:
4. Reading From Wikipedia
Need a bit more information about a topic but don’t want to interrupt your flow? Just ask Alexa to read from the Wikipedia page.
To read from Wikipedia:
Alexa will read the first paragraph from the article, then ask you if you’d like to hear more. If you say “Yes,” Alexa will read the next paragraph, then repeat the question. Say “Alexa, stop” when you’ve heard enough.
5. Reading From Audible
If you have an Audible account, Alexa can play any audiobook in your library easily. This is an excellent feature if you’re studying a particular book, as Alexa recognizes chapters and can quickly stop, start, rewind or fast-forward at any point.
6. Playing Ambient Noises
Background noise boosts our ability to effectively make decisions and find different perspectives. It’s no surprise then that many students find ambient noises help them study.
One of the best Alexa skills for background noise isAmbient Sounds by Sleep Jar. The skill offers more 100 different sounds, from rainstorms to white noise, to the chorus of seagulls.
To use the Ambient Sounds skill:
7. Set Alarms and Timers
Setting regular timers and alarms is essential for any good study practice. Luckily, Alexa has built-in alarms and timers for you to use at your disposal.
To set an alarm:
To set a timer:
you could also go into the Alexa app, tapMore, thenAlarms & Timers. Here, you can set new alarms/timers, delete old ones and review all of your existing alarms/timers.
8. Set Reminders
If there’s one universal grumble of all students, it’s the number of deadlines and commitments to keep track of. Alexa can relieve the pressure by acting as your personal planner. While the reminder will play on the Alexa device you set it on, you’ll also receive a notification via the Alexa app, so don’t worry if you’re out of the house.
To set a reminder via voice:
To set a reminder via the Alexa app:
9. Add Items to Your To-Do List
Finally, Alexa can also keep track of your to-do list. Similar to its ability to add reminders, Alexa can log all of your academic obligations without needing a pen and paper. It’s easy to retrieve your to-do list: just ask Alexa, or check in the Alexa app.
To add, retrieve and delete items to your to-do list via voice:
To add, retrieve and delete items to your to-do list via the Alexa app:
Practicing With Alexa Can Lead to Positive Results
Now that you know precisely how Alexa can assist when you’re burning the midnight oil, it’s time to put these methods into practice. Take action and start by setting up your very own Flashcard skill, and see what difference it makes to your study practice.
Ultimately, Alexa is a wonderful smart assistant, so make sure that you take the initiative to help you get those straight A’s and succeed in your academic ambitions.
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