Library Guides: Tech for Learning: Organising

These tools can help you:

organise what you need to do
stay focused
use your time efficiently

Your device might already have time management tools such as alarms, timers, reminders and to-do lists.

Mind Mapping Tools

For PCs
For Phones

Ayoa

Ayoa is an all-in-one app providing online AI integrated support, whiteboards, task management and mind mapping.

The mind mapping software includes:

Ai integration to prompt thinking
Idea bank to save ideas
Templates to get started
Connect content and pictures in a visual, non-linear way
Neuro-inclusive design
Task management with reminders
Document view for long text
Presentation tools

The free version allows you to make 10 mindmaps. We hold a limited number of licences for the full version of Ayoa and we grant access by application to those who have declared a disability to us – please contact studentservices@plymouth.ac.uk for more information.

Xmind 8 Free

A free and open source Mind Mapping program for Windows, Mac and Linux. There is also a version for Windows that is able to run without installation. Xmind has a good choice of templates to get you started.
If you're familiar with other mind mapping programs such as MindView, which is on Plymouth student computers, this is very similar.
The free version has a good selection of features without the time limit of a trial version, so can be used for as long as you wish, however all the exported files will have a watermark of Xmind trial mode.

iThoughts

Designed for iPhone / iPad. One of iThoughts strengths is that it can export a mind map in a variety of formats, including Mindview, Mindmanager, XMind etc. using either iCloud Drive or DropBox. This allows you to open your mind map in other mind mapping programs on Windows and Mac too.
Requires: iOS 8.2 or later.
There is a free version, iThoughts2go, with which you can create and export your mindmaps, but cannot edit them.
A desktop version of iThoughts is also available from the Mac app store.

Xmind 8 Free

SimpleMind +

SimpleMind + is a colourful and easy to use mindmapping app for both iOS and Android.
The free version enables you to create mindmaps, change colours and add notes to your map. There is a paid for version, which adds additional functionality, such as printing, add links to documents, and the ability to insert photos into your map.
Requires: iOS 6 or later or Android 3.0 or later.
There is also a desktop version for both Windows and Mac, although these have a 30 day trial, rather than a free version.

Productivity Apps

Google Keep
Google Keep is a colourful, organisational app, based on a noticeboard layout. You can add text, photos, reminders, lists, audio and then colour code each one. Ideas and notes you wish to keep, but are no longer recent, can be archived for access later, preventing the main screen from becoming cluttered. Important notes can be pinned to the top of the board, so you always see them first. You can also set reminders. Google Keep requires a Google account to work. Find it here

Booost

Booost is a smart time management and study support app which prioritises wellbeing. You can keep track of your tasks and events across all devices, access features to help you balance wellbeing, learn new study and productivity skills, build good habits, and find further support when you need it. The app allows you to:

Capture all activities and tasks in one place and across all devices.
Link to Google, Outlook and iCloud calendars to see all events in Booost.
Customisable reminders to never miss a deadline.
Colour code tasks and events with a range of colours to help with organisation.

We hold a limited number of licences for Booost and we grant access by application to those who have declared a disability to us – please contact studentservices@plymouth.ac.uk for more information.