Creating a New Class in Minutes: Scan, Audio, PDF, or YouTube with Better Student

Nov 20, 2024

Creating a New Class in Minutes: Scan, Audio, PDF, or YouTube with Better Student


Introduction

Time is a precious commodity for students. Between classes, extracurricular activities, and personal obligations, finding efficient ways to organize and study your course material is essential. Better Student offers a streamlined process for creating new classes—and all it takes is a few minutes. By allowing you to scan handwritten notes, record audio, upload PDFs, or even use YouTube links, Better Student ensures you spend less time on setup and more time actually learning. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to quickly create a new class and lesson within the Better Student app.

The Importance of Organized Coursework


Effective study habits begin with organization. A cluttered workspace (digital or otherwise) can waste valuable time and undermine your learning efforts. Better Student helps eliminate this frustration by centralizing all your study material in one convenient location. By grouping materials into classes, you not only save time but also keep track of everything you need to excel in your coursework.

Step-by-Step: Creating a Class with a Scan


1. Initiate the “New Class” Setup

Open the Better Student app and navigate to the “New Class” option. Provide a title or subject name, then hit Next.


2. Use Your Camera to Scan

The app will prompt you to scan your handwritten notes or textbook pages. Using your phone’s camera, hold it over the document. Better Student’s built-in scanning feature will capture clear images of your notes, even if they’re not perfectly aligned.


3. Automatic OCR and Summaries

Once scanned, Better Student applies Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to convert images into text. The app can then summarize your content automatically, making it easier to review essential information. You can also generate quizzes or flashcards from this new class in just a few taps.


4. Adjust Settings

Before finalizing, customize how the app processes your scan. You can highlight sections, add tags, or even upload additional pages to complete your class content.

Step-by-Step: Creating a Class with an Audio Recording


1. Record Your Lecture

Whether you’re in class or listening to an online webinar, tap on the “Record Audio” option in the Better Student app. Make sure your phone’s microphone is clear of obstructions to capture the best sound quality.


2. Automatic Transcription

After you stop recording, Better Student processes the audio into a written transcript. This feature is particularly useful if you prefer reading over listening—or if you want to reference specific quotes or data points from the lecture.


3. Summaries and Quizzes

With the transcript in place, Better Student can summarize the lecture in bullet points or concise paragraphs. You can also generate quizzes to test your understanding of key points. This step is invaluable for reinforcing what you just heard.


4. Save and Organize

Assign a class name to your audio recording, add relevant tags, and save it. You can combine multiple recordings to create an all-encompassing resource for a subject.

Step-by-Step: Creating a Class with a PDF


1. Upload Your PDF

Navigate to the “New Class” option and select “Upload PDF.” Locate the file on your device or from your cloud storage and upload it.


2. Automatic Summaries

Once the PDF is uploaded, Better Student’s AI algorithm can summarize each section. This comes in handy for lengthy textbooks, research papers, or study guides, giving you a quick snapshot of essential information.


3. Highlight and Tag

Take advantage of highlighting tools to mark important passages. The app’s tagging feature lets you categorize sections by topic, making future reviews more targeted.


4. Generate Quizzes and Flashcards

Finally, create quizzes or flashcards to test your knowledge. By quizzing yourself on the PDF’s key points, you’ll better retain what you’ve read.

Step-by-Step: Creating a Class with a YouTube Link


1. Copy the Video URL

Find the lecture or tutorial on YouTube and copy its URL. Better Student supports educational videos from all sorts of channels, ensuring you can capture diverse learning materials.


2. Paste the URL in Better Student

Open the “New Class” setup, choose the YouTube option, and paste the URL. The app will fetch the video for processing.


3. Automatic Transcription and Summaries

Better Student will then generate a transcript of the video and produce a summary. This process saves you from taking manual notes while watching. It’s particularly beneficial for complicated topics that require rewatching or note-taking.


4. Interactive Quizzes

Similar to the other methods, you can generate quizzes from the transcription to help cement your understanding of the video’s content.

Balancing These Methods for Maximum Benefit


One of the greatest advantages of Better Student is its versatility. You can combine scanning, audio recording, PDF uploads, and YouTube links within the same class. For instance, you might have a combination of handwritten lecture notes, supplemental PDFs, and recorded lectures for a single subject. This holistic approach helps you gain a comprehensive view of what you need to learn without scattering materials across multiple apps and folders.

The Role of the AI Coach


Once your classes are set up, the AI coach in Better Student steps in to keep you on track. It can suggest which sections you should review first, prompt you for quizzes, or recommend flashcards for tricky concepts. By analyzing your performance data, the AI coach personalizes your study roadmap, ensuring maximum efficiency.

Why This Matters for Students

Time savings: Traditional note-taking and organization can eat up hours each week. Better Student drastically cuts down that time, giving you more opportunity to deeply engage with the material.

Better focus: Having all your resources in one place reduces mental clutter, letting you focus on actually learning rather than wrestling with logistics.

Improved performance: With quick quizzes, automatic summaries, and transcriptions, you’ll consistently reinforce your knowledge.


Ready to streamline your study routine? Download Better Student from the App Store today, and see how easy it can be to keep your classes organized!

Conclusion


In today’s fast-paced academic environment, efficiency is key. By offering multiple ways to upload course materials—scans, audio, PDFs, and YouTube links—Better Student ensures you’re always just a few taps away from a well-structured study session. Don’t let disorganized notes or scattered resources hold you back. Embrace Better Student to create classes in minutes and dedicate your time to what truly matters: mastering the material and excelling in your studies.