In Part Two of our series on the digital revision revolution we’re taking a more in-depth look at the range of ways you can use technology to give you an advantage during exam season.

When we say advantage, we don’t mean sending a freedom of information request like this plucky German student, but instead, these techniques, apps and little internet tricks can all help you streamline your revision and make you more efficient. So a little bit like the Germans then after all.

If you missed Part One where we looked at using Twitter to help you revise, you can check it out here.

Channel Your Creative Side

Got to learn lots of facts? Or want an easy way to visualise large amounts of data? Then it’s time to get creative and make an infographic. Why? Apart from the fact they’re awesome to look at (just check this one out for proof) they’re also a brilliant way of displaying content in a way that is visually inspiring. An added bonus is that you’ll get your creative juices flowing which might spark that break through you’ve been looking for.

You can create infographics online for free here but we like to use tools such as Adobe Illustrator when putting ours together. For inspiration check out this list of 83 infographics from Creative Bloq.

Streamline Your Note Taking

If you’re anything like us then you’re constantly taking notes then forgetting which notepad you wrote them in. And if it’s not a notepad then it’s on a million Post-It notes stuck to every imaginable surface in the flat.

Obviously this isn’t very conducive to efficient revision. Instead it’s time to embrace the beauty of Evernote. This free (there’s also a premium version available) app was initially developed as a note taker but it really excels when you use it to collate information alongside notes, references and more.

The ability to create notebooks which hold individual notes can help you break down complex topics into easy to digest chunks. For example you might have an overall notebook based on a subject area, such as media law. Within it you might have a series of notes set up like so:

1. A web clipping of a recent media law case

2. The definitions of defamation and libel based on the current NCTJ definitions

3. Notes taken during media law lectures

4. A voice recording taken during a lecture that expands on your notes

The beauty of this system is that is automatically syncs across all your devices. So if you take notes in a lecture or on the bus they’ll all be available in one place at the end of the day.

For a real in-depth look at how you can make full use of Evernote’s features then LifeHacker has you covered with this comprehensive write up.

Learn To Love Your Voice

Podcasting – the art of combining blogging with the spoken word. You don’t need fancy equipment to start podcasting and the phone in your pocket is very likely to be capable of recording voice notes.

Sit down and record yourself talking about a specific subject area and tailor it to the time of your commute, be that a ten minute walk or thirty minute train ride. This is an ideal way of getting those hard to remember subject areas stuck in your head.

Create A Playlist

Some people are visual learners and luckily for them the internet is awash with video tutorials that cover everything from how to breathe (really, we’re not joking) to civil engineering. But the key to watching the right thing is having the ability to filter out the rubbish. Thankfully, as a student at Huddersfield you get access to Lynda.com and their huge library of industry standard video tutorials.

Log in using you Athens account or through the University’s single sign on system and put together a playlist that covers topics you want to brush up on. Beats getting sidetracked by watching a baby monkey riding a pig on repeat for two days while crying into your cornflakes.

Break Out The Powerpoint

Over the years Powerpoint has garnered a pretty ugly reputation and phrases such as ‘death by Powerpoint’ have become established in many an academic institute. There’s a reason for this though and it’s because lots of people are just plain old rubbish at using it.

When used right this powerful presentation tool can help you get across difficult ideas in an easy to consume format. For inspiration head over to Slideshare and have a look at some of the amazing Powerpoints people have created. Then, create your own, upload it to Slideshare and share it with your friends.

Remember Things Easily

While that phrase is easier said than done, there are ways that you can help bolster your memory. You’ve probably come across one of the oldest methods for this in the form of revision/flash cards. Not very digital you say. Well, as always the internet has come up trumps and created a program to bring them into the 21^st century.

Anki is a program where you create decks of flash cards that are then shown to you on a regular basis using active recall testing and spaced repetition. It’s claimed that this form of learning can help strengthen your memory on certain topics and lots of people swear by them.

And Some Not So Digital Methods

While using the technology we have at hand is a great way to revise there’s still a huge number of ways to revise offline.

Get Doodling

The previously maligned hobby of doodling has been given a new lease of life through the artform known as Sketchnoting. This visual approach to learning is all about creating fun, visually appealing notes to help you learn.

Alternatively you could head down to the local DIY store and pick up some lining paper (or magic whiteboard paper if you have the cash) which you can use to cover your walls and doodle to your hearts content.

Map It Out

Yes, mind mapping is not exactly a new idea but for some people it just works. Spend £1 on a pack of felt tips from the pound shop and get stuck in with the revision booklet that your mum bought but that you haven't even cracked the spine on yet.

Do A Bucket List

Create a list of topics you want to cover before your exams and call it your bucket list. While it won’t have quite the fun side that a real bucket list does it will help you work your way through topics in a systematic way. Remember to take it everywhere you go and each time you feel you’ve covered a topic tick it off your list.

So that’s the end of our Digital Revision series. We hope you have found one or two new ways to revise and would love to see your examples of using them. Send them to us on Twitter @HuddersfieldSU and we’ll retweet our favourites.

Finally, if you are struggling with exams don’t just sit around and let the problem grow. We’ve got a great team of professional, independent advisers in the Advice Centre who are on hand to give you free, impartial advice. You can find them in the Students’ Union (Floor 5, Student Central) or alternatively you can ring for an appointment - 01484 473446 - or drop them an email.