You've got an iPad in your bag, a Surface Pro on your desk, and you're still writing your notes on loose-leaf paper? Don't be an animal. It's 2018, and it's high time for you to ditch the paper and embrace the future of note-taking, a future that lets you do so much more with every jot and scribble.

If a kid is struggling with learning school material, it's tough to know how to help. Parents try to offer guidance, saying, "Make flashcards," "Listen to some classical music," or "Ask Google." What might make the biggest impact, though, is to have them change roles.

I've been both a student and an instructor, and I totally get it. Textbooks are dry and hard to read. But if you don't have time to read the whole chapter like you're supposed to, there is actually a better solution than just glazing your eyes over the first paragraph a few times.

Studying can feel like a solitary activity - looking back at my student days, I remember sitting alone at a desk with just my textbooks, highlighters, cans of Coke and expanding self-doubt. If I didn't understand a concept, or couldn't find an answer, I'd search deeper into the pages, desperately, thinking maybe there was a clue I had missed. If it still seemed hopeless I'd sleep, rationalising that perhaps somehow the revelation would appear in my dreams. (It usually did not.)

As the 2017 academic year winds up, there are tens of thousands of students coming into the last few weeks of their high school or university studies. When I was a lad, a degree was pretty much a guaranteed ticket to, if not a life-long career, a pathway into well-paid employment. But things are changing.

For students in their last year of high school or those looking to upgrade their academic qualifications, this is a busy time of year. We're well into the pointy end of the year when it comes to preparing for exams. But it's also the time of year when universities and other learning institutions open their doors and show off what they have to offer to prospective students. So, how do you get the most from a university open day?

You'd probably think someone who talks to themselves out loud is a little "off", but they might actually be on to something. Talking to yourself is a great way to better understand what you're learning.

You've been putting off reading that book for weeks, and you're supposed to have read it all by tomorrow. Whether you're cramming for school, or trying to avoid looking like a lazy bum in your book club, don't lose hope. You can power through that tome without forgetting everything and coming away with nothing.

Learning a new language takes a lot of work, but there are some little things you can do to help yourself along. While you can't really absorb what you need to know through linguistic osmosis, passive exposure to the language you're studying is beneficial.

There's no point in reading something if you don't take some of it with you. This simple exercise, when used with diligent note taking, can help you retain more of everything you read.

Exams can drain your focus and mental energy fast, so it's best to get the tough stuff out of the way first. This super simple approach to test-taking can help reduce your stress and improve your test scores.

The Mozart Effect suggests that listening to some types of music can help with certain mental tasks. However, there's a case to be made for working or studying in silence, too. Some research shows that for certain cognitive tasks, you need quiet more than anything.

Even a small student loan can be a big shock when you have to start paying it back. When you're on a budget, it's tough to get used to having to pay a hundred bucks or so every month. To make it easier, start setting aside the money before repayment kicks in.

Video: Everyone has their methods for cramm -- I mean, studying for tests. I barely scraped by with mine (energy drinks, late nights and panic attacks), but AsapSCIENCE's science-backed study tips may help you when it's time to hit the books again. For instance, you'll absorb better by creating flashcards than highlighting the text you're reading.

If you need help jogging your memory, you might try your hand at drawing. A recent study found that we remember items better when we draw them rather than write them down.

When it's time to cram for that exam, you need a playlist that can help you stay motivated without distracting you. Today's playlist helps with a selection of classical music.

Dear Lifehacker, I am a postgraduate student working on a research project. And that means insane amounts of journal articles. My brain is incapable of processing any of the information unless I print them out to touch and highlight them. I have over one thousand research papers I need to read. What is the cheapest possible way to print these, ideally at around five cents per page?

A leaked confidential paper has revealed the government's plans to deregulate the vocational education and training sector, with TAFEs to receive the same levels of funding as private colleges. According to political economist Shirley Jackson, this would have a serious impact on large sections of the Australian labour market. Here's what she had to say.

Whether you're studying for an exam or learning on your own, you want to do more than just re-read your material to absorb it. This video offers four ways to study smarter, not just harder, and really remember what you've read.