RescueTime is an application that, once installed on your computer, will track how and where you spend your time. With a two-week free trial of the “pro” version (perfect for this last stretch of finals!), RescueTime can alert you if you are procrastinating too much, block distracting applications and websites, and give you positive feedback when you’re productive.

RescueTime, used over long periods of time, can truly help you “rescue” your time by telling you exactly how much of your day goes to Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, eBay, and various other distractions, and encouraging you to be more productive.

To learn more about RescueTime, visit OIRT’s Tools for Teaching and Learning page.

The answer comes in the form of LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a social networking website where users create professional profiles where they can display their achievements and goals, and connect with potential employers, co-workers, and other colleagues.

Having a LinkedIn profile is an excellent way for students, faculty, and everyone in between to connect with one another in a professional manner, and is a great way to explore career opportunities and network with people that you would not have been able to connect to otherwise.

To learn more about LinkedIn, visit OIRT’s Tools for Teaching and Learning page.

Jing is a screen-casting application that lives on your desktop and is always easily accessible at the click of a button. It’ll allow you to record your computer’s screen for up to 5 minutes for free, and then give you the ability to share it instantly via a link, email, and/or social media.

Jing makes for a great way to make quick instructional videos, tutorials, or to quickly show someone else a problem you are having. For example, instructors can demonstrate how to accomplish a certain task to show their students. Additionally, there are countless other uses for the tool.

To learn more about Jing, visit OIRT’s Tools for Teaching and Learning page.

In addition to simply backing up your files online, Dropbox allows you to access your stored files from anywhere with internet access, including mobile devices. You are never without your Dropbox. And if you choose to share a set of files or folders with others, doing so is as simple as a click of a button.

When you download Dropbox to your computer, anything you put into the special Dropbox folder it creates is automatically uploaded to the cloud without any hassle. In the same respect, if you are in a shared folder with multiple people, any files they upload are automatically synchronized and downloaded for you.

Now, when it comes time to present to your colleagues your work, you will never again have to worry about forgetting your flash drive. When all is said and done, Dropbox ultimately offers peace of mind.

To learn more about Dropbox, visit OIRT’s Tools for Teaching and Learning page.

GroupMe is a free, mobile-based group messaging service that allows multiple people to message each other in one synchronous conversation. GroupMe is available for all major mobile platforms including iPhone and iPad, Android phones and tablets, Blackberry, Windows phones, and any computer with a web browser. GroupMe can even be used through simple text messages (SMS) for those without smartphones.

GroupMe is an indispensable tool for keeping in constant contact with a group of people, even if only for a short time like during a conference or for the duration of a project. It’s quicker to use than email, and more efficient than standard text messages. Its compatibility with nearly every platform imaginable makes it the perfect solution for any group of people who need to keep in touch easily.

To learn more about Google+, visit OIRT’s Tools for Teaching and Learning page.

In addition to simple video chatting, Hangouts allows for collaborating with the people with which you are “hanging out” with fully-integrated Google Drive functionality. This means that everyone in a Hangout can collaborate on documents, presentations, and spreadsheets created in Google Drive in real-time, all while being able to see and hear each other in one cohesive view.

As far as long-distance collaboration goes, Google+ Hangout is an indispensable tool, especially in the educational world where classrooms and projects are increasingly becoming virtual. Students and instructors alike can use Hangouts to work on projects together without having to fit physical meetings into their tight schedules.

All that’s needed to get started with Google+ Hangouts is a Google account. To learn more about Hangouts, visit Google’s Hangouts page. To learn more about Google+, visit OIRT’s Tools for Teaching and Learning page.

Evernote is one of those tools. It’s an internet-based note-taking application that offers you the ability to take notes on any Evernote-compatible device, such as a smartphone, and view them on any of your other devices, such as a personal computer or tablet. See Evernote’s website for compatible devices.

With quick access to your notes and ideas, Evernote is a great tool in an educational setting. Some students already take class notes in Evernote for ease of access. Students can even create virtual notebooks and share their notes with others, or alternatively, work collaboratively on projects. Instructors may find Evernote useful in their everyday lives, like keeping their ideas in order. To learn more about Evernote, visit OIRT’s Tools for Teaching and Learning page.

Enter Poll Everywhere.

On the surface, it’s a simple tool that allows someone (the speaker) to create a poll to which users (the audience members) can submit their answers via text message. In addition to multiple choice polls, it also supports open-ended messages that allow users to share their own thoughts and ideas. In a classroom setting, it’s a powerful tool that will engage and encourage student participation, especially because its inherent anonymity breaks the barrier of shyness that prevents some students from speaking.

The caveat is that Poll Everywhere is only free for up to 40 responses. Tiered price plans are available for larger audiences, as is detailed on their website. To learn more about Poll Everywhere, visit OIRT’s Tools for Teaching and Learning page.

Converting a file is as easy as navigating to zamzar.com, uploading the source file, selecting the output format, and entering your email address. The site will send you a link in your email to your converted file once it’s ready. It can handle all kinds of files and formats. You can convert images, videos, documents, and eBooks with a few clicks.

Some great uses for this tool would be for faculty who need to down-size large video files for their students, convert documents into PDFs, and more. Students can also utilize Zamzar if ever they need to convert documents to standardized Word files (“.doc” or “.docx”).

To learn more about Zamzar, visit OIRT’s Tools for Teaching and Learning page.