Using an iPad to Study for PA school: Tips & Recommended Apps
As an incoming PA student, you're embarking on an exciting journey that requires dedication, perseverance, and effective study methods. Incorporating an iPad can help augment the way you learn medicine.
We will explore the benefits of using an iPad for studying medicine in PA school and provide you with invaluable tips on how to leverage its features to optimize your learning experience
I. Select your iPad Model and Accessories
a) Apple Education Discount
When visiting the Apple Store (in-person or online), be sure to take advantage of any education discounts available to University students, which may include savings and a Gift Card when you purchase.
b) Select an iPad Model
Choosing the right iPad model depends on your specific needs, preferences, and budget. Consider factors like display size, performance, accessories compatibility, and budget when making your decision.
Here is a breakdown of the differences between the iPad models:
Display: Offers the largest and most advanced displays. It comes in 2 sizes: 11 inches and 12.9 inches.
Performance: with the most powerful processor of all the different iPad models which allows for excellent performance such as multitasking, graphic intensive applications and professional workloads.
Affordability: The most expensive model.
11-inch display: From $1029 CAD
12.9 inch display: From $1359 CAD
Display: Slightly smaller than the iPad Pro measuring 10.9 inches.
Performance: Processor is fast, and efficiency which is good for multitasking, productivity apps and moderate graphic-intensive tasks
Affordability: From $729 CAD
Display: This is the standard iPad that comes with a 10.2 inch display.
Performance: Processor delivers good performance for everyday tasks, productivity apps, and light multitasking.
Affordability: From $559 CAD
Display: The iPad Mini has a smaller form factor with a 7.9-inch Retina display, offering a compact and portable option.
Performance: The processor delivers solid performance for everyday tasks, note-taking, and content consumption.
Affordability: From: $609
If you require powerful performance for demanding tasks or prefer a larger display, the iPad Pro or iPad Air would be suitable choices. If you're looking for a more affordable option with decent performance, the standard iPad is a good choice. For those who prioritize portability, the iPad Mini offers a compact and lightweight option.
c) Select your iPad Accessories
From the Apple Store:
Magic Keyboard: This is a companion for the iPad Pro and iPad Air which creates a laptop/desktop-like experience with a full keyboard and trackpad that includes multitouch, scrolling and swipe gestures. It also doubles as a protective case. From $399 CAD.
Apple Pencil: The Apple Pencil is a versatile stylus that provides a seamless writing and drawing experience on your iPad. It's especially useful for note-taking, annotating PDFs, and creating diagrams or illustrations. From $115 CAD.
AirPods: Apple earbuds that wirelessly connect to your devices. Features include automatic pairing, touch controls and integraiton with Siri. It’s a hassle-free listening experience for music, calls, lectures and more. From $179 CAD.
Smart Folio: A protective cover specifically made for iPad models. It attaches magnetically to the iPad, providing front and back protection. The Smart Folio can be folded into different positions, serving as a stand for various viewing angles, making it convenient for watching movies, typing, or using the iPad in different orientations. No keyboards included. From $99 CAD.
Magic Keyboard Folio: A keyboard accessory and protective case designed for the iPad. It combines a full-sized keyboard with a trackpad, offering a laptop-like typing and navigation experience. The Magic Keyboard Folio attaches magnetically to the iPad Pro, providing front and back protection while also providing a versatile stand for different viewing angles. From $299 CAD.
From Amazon:
Screen Protectors: A thin, transparent film or tempered glass layer that adheres to the screen of an iPad. Its primary purpose is to provide an additional layer of protection against scratches, smudges, and fingerprints. Screen protectors are designed to maintain the clarity and touch sensitivity of the iPad screen while safeguarding it from daily wear and tear.
iPad Sleeve: a form-fitting and lightweight protective cover designed to encase and safeguard your iPad during transportation or storage. These sleeves are usually made from soft and padded materials like neoprene or microfiber to provide cushioning against scratches and minor impacts. They often feature a secure closure, such as a zipper or flap, to keep your iPad securely in place while offering easy access when needed.
iPad Case: A protective cover specifically designed for various iPad models and sold on the Amazon platform. These cases come in a variety of materials, styles, and designs, offering protection against scratches, bumps, and minor drops.
iPad Stand
iPad Keyboards: These keyboards connect to the iPad wirelessly via Bluetooth, providing a physical keyboard for a more comfortable typing experience compared to the on-screen keyboard. They often feature a slim and lightweight design, compatibility with various iPad models, and some may include additional features like backlit keys or adjustable viewing angles.
Wireless Mouse: With a wireless mouse, you can have precise cursor control and easily perform tasks such as selecting text, navigating menus, and interacting with applications. This can be particularly helpful when using productivity apps, editing documents, or working on tasks that require precise pointing and clicking.
II. Essential iPad Apps for PA School
a) Best Note-taking Apps for iPad
Notability: Notability is a versatile note-taking app that allows users to create and organize digital notes. It offers features such as handwriting recognition, the ability to annotate PDFs and documents, audio recording sync with notes, and seamless integration with cloud storage. With its intuitive interface and powerful tools, Notability is a popular choice for comprehensive note-taking.
Con: Some users may find the app's interface slightly overwhelming due to the abundance of features, and it requires a one-time purchase cost.
Good Notes: GoodNotes is known for its excellent handwriting recognition capabilities and offers a smooth and realistic handwriting experience. It provides features like shape recognition, text conversion, and the ability to import PDFs and annotate them. GoodNotes also supports organization with folders, tags, and a powerful search function, making it suitable for users who prefer a highly customizable note-taking experience.
Con: The app is only available for iOS devices, limiting cross-platform compatibility for users who work on multiple devices or operating systems.
EverNote: Evernote is a versatile note-taking app that allows users to create and organize notes in various formats, including text, images, audio recordings, and attachments. It offers features like cross-device syncing, powerful search functionality, and the ability to clip web content.
Con: The free version has limitations on storage space and some advanced features, while the paid subscription can be considered relatively expensive for some users.
Notion: Notion is a comprehensive productivity app that offers note-taking features along with project management, task tracking, and collaboration capabilities. It allows users to create rich media notes with a combination of text, images, videos, and embedded content. Notion's versatility makes it suitable for users who want a note-taking app that can be expanded into a broader productivity tool.
Con: The learning curve for utilizing the full potential of Notion's extensive features can be steep for new users, and the free version has limitations on certain functionalities.
Microsoft OneNote: It offers a wide range of note-taking options, including handwriting, typing, drawing, and audio recording. OneNote allows users to organize their notes into notebooks, sections, and pages, making it easy to structure and navigate through content. It also supports collaboration and syncing across devices.
Con: The app's synchronization across devices can occasionally be slower or inconsistent, and the user interface may feel cluttered for some users.
Google Drive: While not solely a note-taking app, Google Drive provides cloud storage and collaborative features that make it suitable for note-taking. With Google Docs, users can create and edit notes, share them with others, and access them across devices. The real-time collaboration features of Google Drive make it convenient for group projects and team-based note-taking.
Con: The note-taking features in Google Docs are relatively basic compared to dedicated note-taking apps, and the organization and search capabilities may not be as robust as in other specialized note-taking apps.
a) Best Flashcard Apps for iPad
AnkiApp Flashcards: A digital flashcard app that utilizes spaced repetition learning to help users effectively memorize and retain information. It allows users to create custom flashcards, review them with adaptive algorithms, and track their progress over time.
b) Best Podcast Apps for iPad
Apple Podcasts: a built-in app on iOS devices that provides access to a vast library of podcasts.
Spotify: Spotify is a popular music and podcast streaming platform that offers a wide range of audio content. With Spotify, users can access a vast collection of songs, podcasts, and curated playlists, creating a personalized listening experience (medical podcasts and study music)
c) Best Productivity Apps for iPad
ToDoist: A task management app that helps users stay organized and productive. It allows users to create and manage tasks, set due dates and reminders, collaborate with others, and track their progress.
Asana: Asana is a powerful project management and collaboration tool. It allows teams to create, assign, and track tasks, set deadlines, communicate, and share files. With its robust features and intuitive interface, Asana helps users streamline their workflow and improve team productivity.
Trello: Trello is a project management tool that utilizes a visual board and card system to help individuals and teams organize and track tasks. It allows users to create boards for different projects, add cards for specific tasks, and move them through different stages of completion.
Pomodoro Apps: Pomodoro is a time management technique that divides work into focused intervals followed by short breaks.
III. Effective Study Methods Using your iPad
Now that you have the essential apps on your iPad, let's explore effective study methods that will maximize your learning potential in PA school:
a) Note-Taking Strategies
You can effectively use your iPad to create comprehensive study notes for PA school. Remember to tailor your note-taking approach to your individual learning style and adapt as needed to optimize your studying experience.
Choose a Note-Taking App: Select a note-taking app that suits your needs and preferences. Popular options include Notability, GoodNotes, or Apple Notes. Install the app from the App Store and familiarize yourself with its features.
Create Notebooks or Categories: Organize your study notes by creating notebooks or categories within the note-taking app. This helps maintain a structured approach and makes it easier to locate specific topics or subjects.
Handwritten or Typed Notes: Decide whether you prefer to handwrite your notes using a stylus or type them using the on-screen keyboard. Experiment with both methods to determine which one works best for you. Handwriting can enhance retention, while typing can be faster and more efficient for extensive note-taking.
Use Formatting Tools: Utilize formatting tools such as bold, italics, headings, or bullet points to highlight key information and create visual hierarchy within your notes. These formatting options can make your notes more organized and easier to review.
Incorporate Visual Elements: Enhance your study notes by incorporating visual elements like diagrams, charts, or images. The iPad allows you to draw or import images directly into your notes, helping you better visualize complex concepts and improve comprehension.
Annotate Lecture Slides or PDFs: If your instructors provide lecture slides or PDFs, import them into your note-taking app and annotate them during class or while reviewing. Annotating allows you to highlight important points, add comments, and make connections between different pieces of information.
Add Audio Recordings: Some note-taking apps allow you to record audio while taking notes. Consider using this feature during lectures or study groups to capture additional context or explanations. Syncing audio recordings with your notes can enhance understanding and reinforce important concepts.
Review and Revise: Regularly review your study notes to reinforce your understanding and identify areas that require further clarification. Consider revising your notes periodically, condensing information, and summarizing complex topics to create concise study guides.
Sync and Backup: Ensure that your study notes are regularly synced and backed up to cloud storage or other platforms like iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox. This protects your notes from loss or damage and allows you to access them across multiple devices.
iPad’s build in Dictation Feature: If you prefer speaking over typing, take advantage of the iPad's built-in dictation feature. Use this feature to dictate your notes, summaries, or even responses to practice questions. This can save you time and help you stay engaged with the material.
b) Read & Annotate PDF Textbooks and Papers
You can efficiently read and annotate PDF textbooks and medical papers using your iPad. Experiment with different annotation techniques and find the method that works best for your studying style and preference.
Follow these steps:
Choose a PDF Reader App: Select a PDF reader app that offers robust annotation features. Some popular options include Adobe Acrobat Reader, GoodNotes, Notability, or LiquidText. Install the app from the App Store and familiarize yourself with its features.
Import PDFs: Import your PDF textbooks or medical papers into the PDF reader app. You can do this by opening the app and either tapping on the "+" or "Import" button to select the PDF from your iPad's storage or by using the "Open in" feature if you have the PDF stored in another app.
Annotation Tools: Explore the annotation tools available in the app. Most PDF reader apps provide options for highlighting text, underlining, adding comments, drawing shapes, and even inserting sticky notes or bookmarks. Familiarize yourself with these tools to make effective annotations.
Highlighting and Underlining: Use the highlight and underline tools to mark important passages or key information in the PDF.
Adding Comments and Notes: Use the comment or note features to add your thoughts, explanations, or questions to specific sections of the PDF. This is helpful for recording your understanding, making connections, or raising queries for further exploration.
Drawing and Diagrams: If you need to annotate diagrams, charts, or images within the PDF, use the drawing tools provided by the app. You can draw freehand, add arrows or shapes, or even label specific parts of the visual content.
Syncing and Exporting: Some PDF reader apps offer syncing capabilities that allow you to access your annotated PDFs across multiple devices. Additionally, you can usually export your annotated PDFs, either as a PDF with the annotations preserved or as a separate document containing only your annotations.
Organizing and Managing: Organize your annotated PDFs within the app by creating folders or using tags or labels. This helps you keep your PDFs categorized and easily accessible when reviewing or studying.
c) Test Preparation
Practice Question Apps: Install practice question apps like UWorld, BoardVitals, or Exam Master on your iPad. These apps offer a vast repository of practice questions that simulate real exam scenarios. Use them to test your knowledge, identify areas of weakness, and track your progress over time.
Reviewing Notes and Flashcards: During downtime or breaks, make use of apps like Anki or Notability to review your lecture notes and flashcards. This allows you to reinforce important concepts and improve retention, even in short study sessions.
Create Test Study Schedules: Utilize productivity apps like Trello or Todoist to create study schedules and set goals. Break down your study sessions into manageable blocks and allocate specific time slots for each subject or topic. This helps you stay organized, ensures comprehensive coverage of the material, and reduces the likelihood of cramming.
d) Use iPad’s Drawing feature
The drawing feature on the iPad can be a valuable tool for studying in PA school, especially when it comes to visualizing complex concepts, creating diagrams, and illustrating medical structures.
Here are some ways you can effectively use the drawing feature to enhance your studying while note taking:
Anatomy Diagrams: Use the drawing feature to create detailed anatomical diagrams. You can sketch organ systems, label structures, and annotate different anatomical regions
Pathophysiology Concepts: Visualize pathophysiological processes by drawing flowcharts or diagrams that depict the progression of diseases or physiological mechanisms. This can aid in understanding the sequence of events and how different factors interrelate.
Medical Procedures and Physical Exam: Use the drawing feature to illustrate step-by-step procedures, such as suturing techniques, venipuncture, or physical examination maneuvers.
Pharmacology: Create drug classification tables or drug interaction diagrams using the drawing feature. Visualizing the relationships between different medications and their effects can help you grasp pharmacological concepts more effectively.
Concept Maps: Draw concept maps to connect related topics, theories, or disease processes. Concept mapping is a visual tool that helps you see the big picture and understand the relationships between different concepts.
Mind Maps: Utilize the drawing feature to create mind maps for brainstorming or organizing your thoughts on a particular topic. Mind maps can help you make connections between concepts, generate new ideas, and enhance critical thinking.
Clinical Presentations: Draw patient cases or clinical scenarios to practice diagnostic reasoning and problem-solving skills. Visualizing symptoms, physical findings, and laboratory results can help you develop a holistic approach to patient assessment.
Final notes
You now have a comprehensive understanding of how to make the most of your iPad for PA school. By leveraging essential apps, implementing effective study methods, optimizing your iPad for productivity, and utilizing it for test preparation, you can enhance your learning experience and excel in your medical education!
Remember, each student has unique learning preferences, so feel free to experiment and adapt these strategies to fit your individual needs.
