Site chases away studying blues
Kristy Kibler
Issue date: 1/23/09 Section: Features
Study smarter, not harder.
Thus reads the motto of studyblue.com, a note-sharing and study-aid Web site founded in 2006. The site also features flash card generators, textbook outlines, study groups and tutoring services.
Ben Jedd, chief communications officer for StudyBlue, said although many similar sites exist, such as Gradeguru.com and Notecentric.com, StudyBlue's versatility makes it stand out.
"I think the biggest differentiator we have to our competitors is the fact that we're a suite of academic tools," he said. "A lot of our competitors are just flash card sites, or just study group sites, or just note-sharing sites. Our tool collaborates all of these together in one."
Lisa Malmgren, a freshman journalism and mass communication major, said she'd take advantage of StudyBlue but not necessarily add her own notes to it.
"I'd never put anything on it because I'm too lazy," Malmgren said. "But I'd definitely use it if it was available."
Victoria Wilson, a sophomore education major, said she had never heard of StudyBlue but liked the sound of it.
"It'd help you study more and get notes that you'd missed and things like that," she said.
That attitude is exactly why StudyBlue is a valid tool, Jedd said.
"At the end of the day … if you miss a lecture, you're going to go to one of your friends and say 'hey, can I borrow your notes?' So we're just providing a forum for that," he said.
StudyBlue has tens of thousands of registered users and more than 12,000 schools represented, Jedd said. Although originally intended for just college student use, the site has recently expanded its access to include high school students as well.
"We had so many requests from high school students who wanted to come on and use our flash card tool, or share notes for class or create study groups, that we really, just based on response and request, just had to meet their needs," Jedd said.
Although the site is popular among students, professors may take longer to warm up to it. Carol Fischer, professor of accounting, said she would have some reservations about encouraging her students to use the site.
Thus reads the motto of studyblue.com, a note-sharing and study-aid Web site founded in 2006. The site also features flash card generators, textbook outlines, study groups and tutoring services.
Ben Jedd, chief communications officer for StudyBlue, said although many similar sites exist, such as Gradeguru.com and Notecentric.com, StudyBlue's versatility makes it stand out.
"I think the biggest differentiator we have to our competitors is the fact that we're a suite of academic tools," he said. "A lot of our competitors are just flash card sites, or just study group sites, or just note-sharing sites. Our tool collaborates all of these together in one."
Lisa Malmgren, a freshman journalism and mass communication major, said she'd take advantage of StudyBlue but not necessarily add her own notes to it.
"I'd never put anything on it because I'm too lazy," Malmgren said. "But I'd definitely use it if it was available."
Victoria Wilson, a sophomore education major, said she had never heard of StudyBlue but liked the sound of it.
"It'd help you study more and get notes that you'd missed and things like that," she said.
That attitude is exactly why StudyBlue is a valid tool, Jedd said.
"At the end of the day … if you miss a lecture, you're going to go to one of your friends and say 'hey, can I borrow your notes?' So we're just providing a forum for that," he said.
StudyBlue has tens of thousands of registered users and more than 12,000 schools represented, Jedd said. Although originally intended for just college student use, the site has recently expanded its access to include high school students as well.
"We had so many requests from high school students who wanted to come on and use our flash card tool, or share notes for class or create study groups, that we really, just based on response and request, just had to meet their needs," Jedd said.
Although the site is popular among students, professors may take longer to warm up to it. Carol Fischer, professor of accounting, said she would have some reservations about encouraging her students to use the site.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Alex
posted 2/05/09 @ 9:29 AM EST
Another similar website that offers free notes and cash rewards is www.isleptthroughclass.com
Post a Comment