7 Useful Websites for Students

The world has changed beyond our expectations in the last decade and so did the traditional education system. Writing notes and papers sitting at a library is no longer the only way to gain knowledge or education. 

In my college days, which was quite recent, it was a common sight to see students staring at their mobile phones even half an hour before the exam begins. My father who still hasn’t caught up with the latest developments looked baffled unable to comprehend why all these students are wasting their time playing with their phones right before the university exams. 

It is no news that books are mostly replaced by mobile devices. Ebooks and e-reading have taken over the world. The best part of these developments is that now there are no more limits to gaining knowledge. It’s all available right inside our palms in that tiny device only if you know where to look for it. 

Here are some of the most useful websites for students 

1. Instructables

Instructables is a community of people who likes to make things. We all have secret skills. Whether it's a special recipe for the best hot chocolate or the perfect way to drive a nail, even the simplest ideas are worth sharing. Instructables is the perfect place to do that.  It could be art, crafts, machines, or even clothes. Instructables have it all with step-by-step instructions on how each one of them has been made. 

Top authors of Instructables have been featured across major online and traditional media channels. Businesses have been born, and true callings found. Who knows what might happen when you put your creative ideas out there?

One of the best websites for students looking for inspiration!

2. Wolfram Alpha

The way we learn and access information has changed so much in the past decade. Wolfram Alpha is a revolutionary creation that changed the lives of students across the world. 

Wolfram Alpha uses natural language processing technology, part of the AI family, to provide students with an academic shortcut that is faster than a tutor, more reliable than copying off of friends, and much easier than figuring out a solution yourself. Wolfram Alpha provides users with factual information about history, economics, geography, math, astronomy, and much more. 

Have trouble with homework? You now know where to look for answers.

3. Library Genesis

Don’t let the simple look of the website fool you. If you are a book lover who cannot afford to buy all your favorite books or a student looking for books in different categories, Library Genesis is just the website you need. Whether it is, art, science, medicine, fiction, nonfiction, or even housekeeping. Library Genesis has it all. Books can be downloaded and uploaded free of cost. One of the largest e-libraries in history with millions of free scholarly journal articles and academic and general-interest books, comics, and magazines is completely free.

4. PDF Drive

PDF Drive is your search engine for PDF files. With more than 77 million free books and no download limits, PDF Drive is a blessing for all book lovers and students.

I have read many books to date in which most of which were downloaded from pdf drive. It is the only free and easiest way to download books without facing any irritating ads.

5. National Digital Library of India

Sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India, the National Digital Library of India has Educational materials available from Primary to Postgraduate levels for all subject areas like Technology, Social Science, Literature, Law, Medical, etc. Content of all languages is available. The best part is that the User interface is available in 10 widely used Indian languages. If you are only comfortable in your regional language, don’t worry National Digital Library of India to the rescue.

6. Internet Archive

Internet Archive is a non-profit library. The best part about the Internet Archive is that it not only provides us with access to millions of free books, but you can also find movies and videos including more than a million television news programs, millions of audio recordings including live concerts and music, billions of web pages, software including historic computer applications, vintage console & arcade games, and so much more.

7. Grammarly.com

Writing a school essay or a work email, I cannot count the number of times Grammarly saved my day. The free version of Grammarly helps to spot and fix misspelled words, imperfect grammar, and punctuation mistakes. Grammarly offers extensions for browsers or simply install Grammarly for Windows or Grammarly for Mac. This will allow you to access  writing suggestions directly in a wide array of native applications and websites

. 

Why are we so negative?

As any other Millennial, I spend the majority of my free time browsing through different social media platforms. As much as I find delight in all the wonders presented in front of me there is one thing I cannot seem to escape from.

“Negativity”

Why are we so negative?

Social media gave common people a platform to share their ideas and opinions without holding back. In the earlier days, mass media companies monopolized the information circulated in the world. People who had money and influence could easily manipulate what reaches the common people. Now the situation has changed and anyone with access to a mobile device and connectivity can easily reach any number of people within the blink of an eye.

Wonderful, Isn’t it?

But with such a blessing came the biggest curse in the world. Negative journalism without any credibility, false information, and cyberbullying.

People started having opinions about how others should be living, what they should have done differently about their lives, and bigots and racists found platforms to spread hatred.

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam had once asked why our media is so negative. But now it’s no longer just the media. His words resonate even more with the present world than the world he has left behind.

In “A Letter to Every Indian” Dr. APJ asks why we are embarrassed to recognize our strengths, why we refuse to acknowledge the success stories of our nation. We are so focused on complaining about what we do not have to open our eyes to how far we have come from the ruins of colonization.

It is true that the nation and the society are far from perfect. Then Kalam’s next question becomes even more relevant. What are we doing about it? What are we doing to make a change? In the era of Keyboard Warriors, the saying "The pen is mightier than the sword" has to be changed to “Keyboards are mightier than Bombs”. What we write, what we share, and what we do on the internet has more visibility and impact on society than we can imagine.

The Internet is a double-edged sword and as users, we have the power to decide what we do with it. Be kind and spread positivity or sensationalize and thrive in negativity. The choice is ours and ours only.

Take a few minutes to read “A Letter to Every Indian By Dr. A.PJ. Abdul Kalam -Ex-President of India http://www.tankara.com/vinod157.htm .