Study Plans vs Instances
Understanding this distinction is key to using Study Sync effectively:Study Plan
The Template
- Created once, reused many times
- Contains the master list of resources
- Can be edited without affecting active instances
- Shared with multiple people
Instance
Your Active Session
- Personal copy for studying
- Tracks your individual progress
- Has its own deadline and schedule
- Independent of plan changes
Example: A professor creates a study plan for “Introduction to Computer Science” with 20 video lectures. When you start studying, you create an instance of that plan. Your classmate creates their own instance. You each track progress separately, even though you’re using the same plan.
Creating an Instance
Find a Study Plan
Browse the public plans library or access a plan shared with you. Click on the plan to view its details.
Set Your Target Date
Choose when you want to complete this study plan. Study Sync will help you pace your learning accordingly.
Choose a realistic deadline based on the total time estimate shown on the plan. You can always adjust this later.
The Instance Interface
Your instance page provides a powerful, YouTube-style learning environment:Main Player Area
- Embedded Media Player: Watch YouTube videos or view resources directly in the app
- Theater Mode: Expand the player for distraction-free learning
- Resource Information: View title, type, duration, and completion status
- Quick Actions:
- Mark as complete/incomplete
- Take notes on the current resource
- Open resource in new tab
Playlist Sidebar
The right sidebar shows your complete resource list:- Visual Progress: See which resources are complete at a glance
- Resource Sequencing: Resources numbered in order
- Time Estimates: Duration shown for each item
- Note Indicators: Yellow sticky note icon shows where you’ve taken notes
- One-Click Selection: Click any resource to start viewing it
- Default View
- Theater Mode
In the default view, the player takes up the main area with the playlist on the right side, similar to YouTube’s interface.
Progress Tracking
Track your learning journey with multiple metrics:Resource Completion
- Mark resources as complete with one click
- Completion persists across all instances (global progress)
- Visual indicators show completed items in the playlist
- Completion percentage displayed in the header
Time Tracking
Study Sync calculates:- Total Time: Complete duration of all resources
- Completed Time: Time spent on finished resources
- Remaining Time: How much content is left
- Time Percentage: Progress measured in time units
Deadline Management
- Set target completion dates for each instance
- Visual warnings as deadlines approach
- Adjust deadlines at any time
- Track multiple instances with different deadlines
Progress is Global: When you mark a resource complete in one instance, it’s marked complete everywhere. This prevents duplicate work when you’re in multiple study groups using the same resources.
Editing Instances
Instances are fully customizable to fit your learning style:Edit Mode Features
Customize Your Instance
In edit mode, you can:
- Reorder Resources: Drag handles to rearrange the sequence
- Rename Resources: Click on titles to add custom names
- Remove Resources: Delete items you want to skip
- Add Resources: Insert additional learning materials
Changes only affect this specific instance. The original study plan remains unchanged.
Adding Custom Resources
Personalize your instance by adding extra materials:- Click “Add” in edit mode
- Select resource type
- Enter the URL and any required metadata
- The resource is added to your instance only
Instance Settings
Update instance metadata:- Custom Title: Rename the instance (e.g., “Midterm Prep” vs “Final Exam Review”)
- Deadline: Adjust your target completion date
- Notes: Add general notes about this instance
Taking Notes
Built-in note-taking keeps your thoughts organized:Per-Resource Notes
- Click the sticky note icon while viewing any resource
- Type notes directly in the interface
- Auto-saved: Notes save automatically as you type
- Synced across devices: Access your notes anywhere
- Persistent: Notes remain even after marking resources complete
Note Indicators
The playlist shows a yellow sticky note icon next to resources that have notes, making it easy to find your annotations later.Managing Multiple Instances
You can create multiple instances from the same or different plans:Use Cases for Multiple Instances
- Different study groups (one instance per group)
- Multiple exam dates (separate instances for midterm vs final)
- Personal vs group study (solo instance + shared instance)
- Retaking courses (new instance for each semester)
Instance Dashboard
View all your active instances from/instances:
- Progress overview for each instance
- Time remaining and completion percentages
- Quick access to continue learning
- Delete instances you no longer need
Completion Celebration
When you complete all resources in an instance:- Confetti animation celebrates your achievement
- 100% completion badge displayed
- Completion message acknowledges your hard work
- Instance remains accessible for review
Best Practices
Set Realistic Deadlines
Consider the total time estimate when choosing your deadline:- Add buffer time for complex topics
- Account for your daily study schedule
- Remember you can adjust deadlines if needed
Use Notes Effectively
- Summarize key concepts as you learn
- Note questions to research further
- Record timestamps for important moments in videos
- Create flashcard-style notes for review
Customize Your Learning Path
Don’t hesitate to edit instances:- Skip resources you already understand
- Reorder based on difficulty or interest
- Add supplementary materials you discover
- Remove outdated or redundant content
Leverage Global Progress
Since progress is global across instances:- Create focused instances for specific topics
- Join multiple study groups without duplicate work
- Track overall mastery across all your studying
Next Steps
Resources
Learn about the types of resources you can study from
Progress Tracking
Discover advanced progress tracking features
Collaboration
Share instances and study together