StudyRails.com - A Scheduling Service for Students

Are you a student overwhelmed with all of the tasks you have to do? Do you not know where to start on all of the projects you have stacked up? Are you a parent with a child who needs frequent reminders to do homework and to stay on task? If any of these are true for you, StudyRails may be the best possible solution. It’s an online scheduling system which monitors your workload and creates an agenda for your studying. There’s a reminder tool in place that you can sync up to your mobile and email inbox to keep you on track and a lock-out system which will keep you off of all the other distracting websites (i.e. YouTube, Facebook). You can sign up for only 10 dollars a month and StudyRails offers a two-week trial membership so that you can see the benefits for free.

"StudyRails? helps students overcome procrastination, control online distractions (e.g.: YouTube, Facebook, Instant Messaging), and stay on track with homework assignments. StudyRails? creates a step-by-step, personalized study plan, sends email and cell phone reminders when it’s time to study, and blocks distracting websites, software and games during study time to keep students focused on their schoolwork."

Anything that encourages education and the retention of students staying in school is a positive thing in my book. There are many factors set up to keep students focused and to encourage better study habits. However, I question the relevance of StudyRails for people can also keep personal agendas and not have to pay a penny to do so. It’s an interesting concept but I wonder if it will really be used.

users really be influenced to pay the registration fee? What other ideas can StudyRails incorporate to further encourage good study habits? How can parents monitor what their children are doing online while they should be studying?