Accessibility Resource Center

Research Tools and Study Skills

The following free or low cost assistive technology software programs are available for anyone to use. The following programs, software, websites and apps focus on different forms of research tools and study skills. 

Software Programs

Research Tools

  • Son of Citation Machine
    link to son of citation machine
    • Use this tool to create citations, works cited, and bibliographies
    • Formatting options for MLA, APA, Chicago and Turabian
    • Fill in the web form with the information from your resource and click “Make Citation”
    • Citation will show up on your screen to copy into you document
    • More Information: http://citationmachine.net/index2.php
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: Online Resource
  • Scrible
    link to scrible
    • Annotate, highlight and type right into your web browser
    • Capture thoughts and share your comments in the web page
    • Share your annotation with others via email or social media
    • Bookmark and save your webpages in the cloud for access from anywhere
    • More Information: http://www.scrible.com/
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: Online Resource, iOS: iPad 
  • Evernote Web Clipper
    link to evernote web clipper
    • With a single click, clip part of any webpage including images, text, or links
    • Clippings get saved to your Evernote account for access later
    • Collect research or items of interest in one place for easy organized information collection
    • Read and access your research from any computer or device
    • More Information: http://evernote.com/webclipper/
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: Web add-on for Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, and Opera
  • Sweet Search
    link to sweet search
    • Search engine for students
    • Provides trustworthy site search results from the most relevant, pre-evaluated and approved sites on the internet
    • Find better information, faster from credible sources, such as primary sources while avoiding spam and marginal information sites
    • More Information: http://www.sweetsearch.com/
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: Online Resource
  • EasyBib
    link to easy bib
    • Free, Online Bibliography and Citation Generator
    • Provides MLA, APA, and Chicago/Turabian citations for virtually any research source
    • Manually input publication information for non-electronic sources or copy URL address into the website to create your citation
    • More Information: http://www.easybib.com/
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: Online Resource
  • BibMe
    link to bib me
    • Online automatic bibliography maker on the web
    • Search for the citation information or manually enter it into the site
    • Add citations to your works cited list
    • When your research is over, download your bibliography in one of four formats: MLA, APA, Chicago, or Turbian
    • More Information: http://www.bibme.org/
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: Online Resource
  • Pocket
    link to pocket
    • Save articles, videos, webpages, photos or anything you find online to read later using this app
    • Content syncs across all devices for easy access, anywhere, anytime
    • Simple, easy-to-use interface for great viewing
    • Share your clippings with others
    • More Information: https://getpocket.com/
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: Mac; iOS: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch; Android; Kobo; Extension for Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari; Windows Mobile; Kindle Fire
  • Pearltrees
    link to pearltrees
    • Organize, explore and share resources using this app
    • Add files, web pages, photos and organize them according to project, assignment or collection
    • Sync across computer, tablet and mobile device
    • More Information: http://www.pearltrees.com/
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: iOS: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch; Android; Extension for Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari
  • Note Anywhere
    link to note anywhere
    • Add post-it notes to any of your web pages while researching
    • Post-Its are saved so the next time you open the webpage, the post its will be there 
    • More Information: http://goo.gl/VDzeTS
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: Chrome Extension

Study Skills

  • Study Blue
    link to study blue
    • Study virtually any topic with this on-the-go flashcard study aid
    • Create your own flash cards or use one of the over 150 million notes and cards already created by other uses
    • Test yourself and get your score of how many right and wrong, with the option to focus more on the items you don’t know
    • Study on the go using your mobile device
    • More Information: http://www.studyblue.com/
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: Web, iOS: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch; Android
  • Evernote Skitch
    link to evernote skitch
    • Using annotation and markup tools, make your point more easily with shapes, arrows and quick sketches
    • Use on your desktop, tablet or phone
    • Share your ideas and get your point across more clearly with ability to annotate
    • Use annotation tools to collaborate and better study course materials
    • More Information: https://evernote.com/skitch/
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: Windows; Mac; iOS: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch; Android
  • Quizlet
    link to quizlet
    • Online resource of study tools and game of virtually any educational subject
    • 7 modes including traditional flash cards allow students to study in varied ways to help master material
    • Generate your own content or use content other users have created
    • More Information: http://quizlet.com/
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: Online Resource; iOS: iPad, iPhone, iPod touch; Android
  • Shahi Visual Dictionary
    link to shahi visual dictionary
    • Online picture dictionary great for anyone, or those with a visual learning preference or English Language Learners
    • Dictionary finds pictures from Flickr, Google and Yahoo
    • Hyperlinked words in definition are easily able to be defined with pictures
    • More Information: http://blachan.com/shahi/
    • Cost: Free
    • Compatibility: Online Resource
  • iAnnotate
    link to iAnnotate
    • Annotate PDF, Word Doc, PowerPoint, and image files with this app
    • Use the typewriter, pen, highlighter, stamp, note, underline, photo, voice and other tools to annotate your document
    • Import PDFs or compress and export for secured sharing with others
    • More Information: http://www.branchfire.com/iannotate/
    • Cost: Free – Android; $9.99 – iOS
    • Compatibility: iOS: iPad; Android