Study Skills for Neurodivergent Students

Focus on visual organisation: Use mind maps, concept maps, and colour-coding to organise research notes and create connections between ideas. Utilise tools like Miro, Coggle, or Notion.

Break down tasks: Chunk large research projects into smaller, manageable steps with clear deadlines. Use timers and checklists to stay on track.

Integrate movement: Briefly stand up, stretch, or do star jumps between research sessions to combat restlessness and refocus your mind.

Use audiobooks and text-to-speech tools: Listen to research articles or readings aloud to engage auditory learners and reduce eye fatigue. Apps like NaturalReader or Read&Write can help.

Collaborate with others: Work with a study buddy to share research findings, discuss ideas, and hold each other accountable.

Many of the tools and apps below are available free from DSA.

Reference Management:

• Mendeley: Free reference management software with automatic bibliography generation, note-taking capabilities, and social networking features for collaboration.
• Zotero: Open-source reference manager with browser plugins for easy reference collection, note-taking tools, and various output styles.
• EndNote: Powerful reference management software with advanced features like group collaboration and document formatting, but requires a paid subscription.

Organisation & Search:

• Evernote: Organise research notes, articles, and PDFs with tags and folders, ensuring easy retrieval and reference management.
• Notion: Create databases for categorising research materials, notes, and references, offering structure and accessibility.
• Trello: Use boards and cards to visualise research questions, sources, and key findings, promoting organisation and clarity.

Accessibility & Reading Support:

• NaturalReader: Text-to-speech tool for reading research papers aloud and adjusting reading speed/voice settings, aiding comprehension and information processing.
• Read&Write: Integrates with various platforms, offering text-to-speech, grammar checking, and dyslexia-friendly fonts, improving reading comprehension and accessibility.
• Immersive Reader: Built-in tool in Microsoft Edge and OneNote, providing dyslexia-friendly reading features and focus options, supporting easier access to research materials.

Citation Assistance:

• Cite Them Right - Comprehensive guidance for multiple citation styles, including official UoD Harvard style
• Grammarly: Offers basic citation formatting suggestions within the free version, with advanced features available in the paid version.
• ProWritingAid: Provides citation formatting checks alongside other writing feedback, ensuring accurate and consistent references.

Note-Taking & Summarising:

• Livescribe Echo Pen: Records lectures while you take handwritten notes, allowing you to revisit audio later and link it to specific notes, ideal for capturing key information during research presentations.
• Otter.ai: Real-time transcription tool for capturing research interviews or discussions, organizing them with timestamps and speaker identification, aiding efficient information capture.
• Notability: iPad note-taking app with handwriting recognition, annotation tools, and various templates, facilitating efficient note-taking and summarising of research findings.