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Albert S. Cook Library

Student's Guide to Tech

Navigate online learning with confidence! Explore free and freemium tools for every stage of your academic workflow, from organizing notes and writing papers to creating visuals and collaborating with classmates.

Customize Look & Feel

Built-in Accessibility Tools

Both major operating systems include powerful built-in accessibility features that can enhance your learning experience. These tools can help anyone, with or without disabilities, customize their digital environment for better focus, comfort, and productivity.

Operating System Settings
Feature Windows macOS
Change color contrast, text size, or pointer size Ease of Access Center Accessibility in System Settings
Enable magnifier or zoom Windows Magnifier Zoom
Dictation aka speech-to-text Windows Dictation Voice Control
Screen reading aka text-to-speech Narrator VoiceOver
Tip: Want an easier way to access your computer's accessibility features? Install Morphic! This free tool is already in-use on all public workstations at Cook Library.

Browser Extensions

Extend these built-in features with accessibility-focused browser extensions. Chrome, Edge, and Firefox all offer extensions for text-to-speech, reading assistance, color filtering, and navigation support. These work seamlessly across websites and can be particularly helpful for reading dense academic content online.

Learning Technologies Librarian Brittni Ballard's favorite extension? Dark Reader! This free, open source extension makes it easy to configure the brightness, contrast, sepia, and grayscale settings. You can even use Dark Reader on some mobile browsers (Android's Firefox and Edge, and iOS 15).

Relieve Eye Strain Text

Some folks, including Learning Technologies Librarian Brittni Ballard, enjoy using blue light-blocking lenses like the ones listed below to help reduce eye strain from devices and fluorescent lights. However, the science behind this technology is mixed. We recommend talking to a medical professional to explore all possible ways to reduce eye strain including the potential purchase of these options. 

Reduce Blue Light Exposure

Gamma Ray Optics blue light blocking glasses with black rectangular frames and orange-tinted lenses.

Gamma Ray Optics

Perfect starter option for students new to computer glasses. Offers basic blue light protection for everyday screen use without breaking the budget. Shop Gamma Ray Optics ($10-$30).

Stay Focused & Take Breaks

Problem: I keep getting distracted by social media, YouTube, or Reddit.

Solution: Try Cold Turkey Blocker (freemium on the web).

Block distracting websites, apps, or even your entire computer during scheduled study time. Perfect for people who need external accountability. The free plan allows you to block websites, set exceptions, schedule distraction-free blocks, implement breaks or allowances, and view web browsing statistics.


Problem: I forget to move, stretch, or even blink during long study sessions.

Solution: Try Stretchly (free and open source download for all operating systems).

Sends gentle reminders to take mini breaks (close your eyes, breathe) and long breaks (get up, stretch). By default, there is a 20 second Mini Break every 10 minutes and a 5 minute Long Break every 30 minutes. However, preferences are customizable and include showing exercise tips, postpone settings, even adjusting the length of breaks.


Problem: I work best with a rhythm or game-like structure, but I burn out if I go too long without a break.

Solution: Try Pomofocus (freemium on the web).

Uses the Pomodoro technique: 25 minutes of work, followed by a short break. Start the timer and focus on the task for 25 minutes, then take a break for 5 minutes when the alarm rings, and repeat until your task is done! Great for building momentum and staying energized over time.

Collage showcasing the Pomofocus, Stretchly, and Cold Turkey interfaces.
 Pomofocus defaults to 25:00 minutes, with options to add tasks below the start button. Stretchly's Mini Break is a 20 second invitation to close your eyes and break. Cold Turkey allows you to block websites, domains, the entire internet, and even specific YouTube channels.

Focus Apps in Action

Meet Sam, a senior biology major prepping for finals with a mix of flashcards, textbook reading, and practice quizzes.

Reading Session

Before starting, Sam opens Cold Turkey Blocker to temporarily block YouTube, TikTok, and Discord. They set it for one hour.

During the session, Stretchly gently reminds them every 20 minutes to pause, breathe, and look away from the screen. After 40 minutes, it prompts Sam to stand up and stretch before finishing her final 20 minutes of reading.

After the session, Cold Turkey confirms they stayed focused, and Sam’s eyes feel less tired thanks to the mini-breaks.

Dinner Break

Sam steps away from the computer, has a real meal, and chats with a roommate about a concert they're looking forward to.

Breaks are productive too! Your brain keeps processing even when you're resting.

Review Session

Sam switches gears and opens Pomofocus, setting up two 25-minute Pomodoro rounds with 5-minute breaks.

During each round, they review Anki flashcards. Between Pomodoros, Sam stretches, grabs water, and listens to music.

After the session, Sam checks their Pomofocus stats and feels good about staying on track—without overdoing it.

Build Healthy Habits

Habitica vs SuperBetter vs Way of Life
App Key Features Best For
Habitica (freemium for web and mobile) Have fun getting things done! Habit tracking gets gamified as you earn points for completing tasks. Earning rewards unlocks in-game features. Compete with friends or collaborate to fight accountability monsters.

Turning building habits into a game

SuperBetter ($25 for web and mobile) Brings a gameful mindset to everyday life. Players develop new skills, strengthen their whole-person resilience and track how their gameful strengths grow over time. Adopt a secret identity and achieve your epic win. Personal growth centered around narrative and resilience-building
Way of Life (freemium for mobile) Simple, color-coded habit tracker with charts and streaks. Offers reminders and a journal to take notes on what triggered a bad habit plus custom streak lengths. Gathering lots of data about your habits
Tip: Use habit trackers to support any goal, from wellness habits like sleep, hydration, and screen time, to academic ones, like reading or creative work.