What does it really mean for a student to succeed in higher education? While graduation rates have long been the industry’s north Star, we know the true story of success is far more nuanced. It is a journey that shapes not just an academic record, but a student’s confidence, self-efficacy, and professional future.
For student support professionals, the challenge is no longer just about meeting compliance, it’s about fostering a holistic environment where every learner has the tools and skills to thrive.
How can study tools boost student success?
With the rise of AI and other developments in technology, we’re witnessing a revolution in how modern technology supports the student experience. We've come so far in the development of study tools that students now have access to more support than ever before to develop their skills and confidence.
This shift is transforming the classroom from a place of passive listening into a hub of active engagement, allowing students to leave lectures feeling more accomplished and positively challenged. Study tools don't just help students "get through" college; they help them master it.
So, where can study tools be seamlessly integrated into students' daily academic routines? The range of study tools and apps available means the options for integrating into student success are broad, covering areas such as:
- Note taking
- Presentation skills
- Wellbeing
- Organization and task management
- Research skills
Ultimately, creating a ‘toolkit’ of study tools completes the full circle of academic success. It bridges the gap between being active in the lecture, studying effectively from the notes, and finally being able to master and present that knowledge with confidence, along with building skills that are used well beyond graduation.
AI study tools to improve student engagement
A barrier to success for many students isn't a lack of ability or knowledge; it’s the executive function challenges that create unproductive friction. Overwhelming assignments, "time blindness," and the weight of a complex paper can lead to a cycle of procrastination that halts learning before it even begins.
The key to effective AI integration is balance. These tools should not take away the productive friction essential for deep learning, the struggle of synthesizing ideas and critical thinking.
Instead, they should remove the administrative and executive hurdles that prevent students from ever reaching those deeper levels of cognition. By automating the mechanical tasks, we free up the student's cognitive load for the high-level analysis that college level study requires:
- Task breakdown: Tools like Goblin Tools use AI to take an overwhelming task, like "Plan the structure for a 3,000 word paper on the link between social media and mental health", and break it into actionable steps. This removes the often paralyzing friction of starting, allowing the student to get to the actual work of writing.
- Deep research: Platforms like NotebookLM act as virtual research assistants. By working within a closed universe of a student’s own documents and links, it ensures academic integrity while helping them navigate the friction of organizing vast amounts of source material.
- Focus and wellness: Tools such as Brain.fm uses AI composed music to support brainwave activity associated with deep focus. It helps remove the environmental friction of distractions, keeping students in a state of flow for longer, which is especially beneficial for students with ADHD.
Note taking study tools
For many students, particularly those with learning differences or anxiety, the classroom can be an intimidating space. The pressure to record every word a professor says often comes at the expense of actually participating in the discussion.
Traditional note taking accommodations have often relied on peer note-takers, and while they certainly still have their place, it's a model that can be slow, costly, and ultimately keeps the student in a passive role. To truly drive success, we must move toward active engagement.
Tools like Genio Notes represent a shift in how we approach inclusive learning:
- Active learning vs. passive consumption: Instead of focusing on writing word for word what a professor has said, students become active participants. They can use quick labels to mark "important" moments or "questions for later" without losing the thread of the lecture. It gives the confidence to look up, listen, and contribute to class discussions in real-time.
- Reducing academic stress: Independent research has shown that students using Genio Notes report significantly higher levels of note taking confidence and lower dropout intentions. By removing the fear of missing something, we allow students to emotionally engage with the subject matter.
- Active retrieval: Features like Quiz Me in Genio Notes leverage learning science, specifically retrieval practice, to identify knowledge gaps and solidify memory.
For the institution, this means better student success rates. For the student, it means the confidence of knowing they aren't just attending class, but mastering the material.
Using presentation tools to improve student confidence
One of the most underrated indicators of student success is the development of soft skills, particularly communication and the ability to present confidently. For many students, presentation anxiety is a significant barrier to engagement.
While presentation skills are essential for career readiness, many colleges find that budget and staffing constraints make it impossible to offer dedicated, 1-1 support sessions for every student. Consequently, support for those facing barriers to presenting often defaults to 'alternative assessments.'
While this meets immediate accessibility needs, it misses a crucial opportunity for growth. By providing a tool like Genio Present at scale, institutions can bridge this skills gap, moving away from simply bypassing the challenge and toward empowering students to conquer it.
Genio Present, is designed to reduce this anxiety. By providing a low-stakes environment for students to practice and refine their communication, we help them build a snowball effect of confidence. This isn't just about passing a specific module; it’s about equipping the learners with the transferable skills needed to thrive beyond graduation.
Improving student outcomes
Improving student outcomes is a sustained, iterative process. It requires a shift from being reactive (intervening only when a student is at risk) to being proactive (providing the tools for success from day one).
When institutions strategically deploy these study tools, the benefits are two-fold:
- For the student: By removing unproductive friction, students build self-advocacy and self-efficacy. They move from feeling overwhelmed to feeling empowered, which is a key indicator of long-term persistence and retention.
- For the institution: Providing standardized, study tools reduces the administrative and financial burden of traditional accommodations. It allows student support teams to focus on high-level coaching rather than micro-managing student schedules.
