Tech For School

How to take digital notes.→ Handwritten notes on GoodNotes

One of the most important parts about becoming a paperless student is starting to take notes digitally. For this, I personally use two main apps: Notion for typed notes and GoodNotes for handwritten notes. In this post, I will focus on how it is to take handwritten notes using GoodNotes (or Notability, OneNote, or any other note-taking app). Here, I will tell you some of my main tips on digital note-taking.

First of all, I want to quickly remind you of some of the pros of digital note-taking, just to motivate you a bit! As you know, taking notes digitally means that everything you write is going to be stored on the cloud or your device, which allows you to have access to your notes from literally anywhere (as long as you have an internet connection). Digital note-taking is also highly customizable and lets you create notes however you want, using endless styles and color pallets, which is something I find quite fun.

As I mentioned at the beginning, I use GoodNotes to take my handwritten notes on my iPad with my apple pencil. I really enjoy using this app, and some of the features are:

Take notes on notebooks that you create.

Import documents into your notebooks (pdfs, PowerPoints, etc)

Annotate those imported documents, right in your class notebook.

These are some of the steps I follow in order to prepare my GoodNotes app for a new school semester:

Create a notebook for each class.

Choose the type of paper (It could be blank, squared, lined, or dotted.) My personal favorite: Dotted paper.

Choose a nice cover for each notebook (In the future, this will allow you to get to the notebook you need just by looking at the cover).

After I created my notebooks, I like to play around with writing styles in order to choose a single one that I will use in all my notebooks.

Create a template for heading, subheadings, and body.

I choose a color and writing style for my headings, which will be different from the subheadings and the body (Just as you see in my picture, you can identify easily every element on the page)

Choose a couple of colors for the fonts and highlighters (I get some inspiration from color pallets on Pinterest!)

I think that finding a "note style" that is visually pleasing for you and sticking to it is very important when it comes to digital note-taking. As I mentioned before, it is highly customizable and we need to take advantage of it! It also makes it so much easier to know exactly how to put the information down on the page, which will make things much easier.

Hi Feo! You’re actually asking an important question.

I know it is not easy the transition into digital note-taking, but my main advice is to be patient and try multiple things and note-taking methods, in order to figure out what works best for you.

I personally use GoodNotes to take general notes. I have a notebook there for each of my classes and I write down everything in it. I found it very helpful to have a note-taking style that allows you to know how to put down information in a specific and consistent way ( such as specific styles of headings, subheadings, and body). This allows you to know exactly how to write down information every time, and make it easier for you. I'll post something related to my note-taking style so you can have it as a reference!

You said you miss using post-it while taking notes. I used to use them the most while taking notes in textbooks. Now I use Adobe Acrobat and the Kindle app to read my books. In both apps, you can highlight text AND write notes on certain highlighted text or pages. Those are my posts-it now! I know it can be hard to get used to using this type of note, but trust me, it gets easier with time while you get used to writing and reviewing your notes in this new format.

Mobile Applications → Main apps I use as a paperless student for note taking and reading.

When students/professors decide to start to work without using phisical paper, or they become “paperless”, it's hard to know where and how to start. Clearly, we will need a technological device, it could be a laptop or a desktop computer, a tablet or an iPad. Whatever device you already have and that you feel confortable using it. Most of the apps that we use are available for Windows, MacOS, IOS and Android, so there is no need to get a new expensive device if there is no need to. I personally use my Dell laptop from like 3 centuries ago (which thankfully still works) with Windows 10, and my handy little iPad pro 2018. Now, I will talk about the main apps I use on my devices and what I use them for.

Note taking apps.

Yep, students, professors (or literally everybody else) need to take notes. You can either type your notes or handwrite them (by using a tablet and a stylus). In my case, I take about 40% handwritten notes and 60% typed notes.

GoodNotes is the app I use for my hand written notes. Probably not the most convenient one for everyone (because it's only available for IOS and MacOS, plus it costs money to get it). However, I really enjoy using this app for my handwritten notes. The features in the app allows the user to have a great notetaking experience. I recommend this app, but I know there are a ton of other better/cheaper options out there.

For my typed notes I use Notion, Word and Google Docs. I love those apps (specially Notion) because they are free and avaliable in all operating systems! (Windows, Android, MacOS and IOS). I use Word and Google Docs for assignments I need to hand out, and I use Notion for all those discussion boards and class stuff that I want to organize in a single file. I'll talk more about Notion on future post and how much it helps my academic and personal life

Reading Apps

What's the second thing students do the most? Lots. Of. Reading. (especially if you're an English major like me). The two apps that I use the most for reading is Kindle and Acrobat (Adobe's PDF reader). I really like both apps and I use them pretty frequently. With Kindle you can buy ebooks from Amazon, and Acrobat let's you read and highlight any PDF document. Great reading apps that I totally recommend!

Getting things done!  → The positive side of multitasking

What a busy week! I have had so many things due this week (research papers, projects, book discussions, midterms...) I’m so glad it is Wednesday night and that I submitted most of my projects for this week. What a relief! 

I love multitasking because it allows me to get things done faster and more effitiently. But hear me out, when I say multitasking I don’t mean brushing your  teeth while reading a book. No! I multitak by doing with multiple things that are connected to the same outcome. Does that make sense? 

For example, this picture was from earlier this week when I was working on my research project. As you see, there’s a lot going on here, even if it doesn’t look like it. On my main screen I have two things: My Notion app with the outline and general notes for my paper and on the right side I have the Word document of my actual paper which I’m activly tying. The little screen is my iPad with the articles and PDFs that I am referencing on the paper I am writing. See? There is a lot going on! However, everything is closely related and is meant for the same goal: Writing my research paper. 

I love this set up because it allows me to visualize everything at the same time without losing time going through tabs and programs. Everthing is just right there. Oh, I did I forget what idea I need to talk about next? look to the left and check my paper outline! Do I need to double check the article I’m quoting? look down and see the PDF. I really like being able to keep an eye on everyhting at the same time without it being over whelming. 

Remote learning  → My experience taking online classes full time

In two weeks it's going to be officially a year of remote learning for me. A year. I never saw myself taking online classes full time. However, I must say that surprisingly, this experience has been quite interesting and gratifying for me.

On March 16, 2020 I officially started remote classes, and since then, a lot has changed for me as a student. At the beginning, I was trying to see how everything was now that I wouldn't see my professors face to face for an indefinite time, which was weird, awkward and very, very frustrating. I know that was the case for most people, and I wanted to share a little bit of my personal experience navigating remote learning for a year.

As I said, the beginning of all this wasn't easy for me as student., and I can't even imagine how it was for professors to accommodate all the learning materials and content to teach it online. I tried my best to keep track of all the assignments, but it was difficult because of the change on the syllabus and new accommodations, but I think I did good overall.

The main thing I did was work on my new permanent workspace. I had to accommodate my desk and tech devices so I could have a better learning experience, and basically make things easier and more comfortable for me. I couldn't work on my laptop all day, so I decided to get a monitor, keyboard and a mouse, in order to make my workplace more comfortable. Then, I started to use my iPad to take notes and read m textbooks, which made everything easier for me during online classes because I didn't need to print the handouts and PDF that professors would give me, so it save me a lot of paper and ink!

One big change that happened to me was that I changed schools in summer 2020. I graduated from a community college and started my two last years of my bachelor's degree at a four-year school. This transition wasn't easy because I had to do everything online, starting with the application process, introduction and the actual classes. I was confused and I was upset that I couldn't just go see and talk to my advisor so I could get answers, but I'm grateful that I managed to get on top of things and transferred  successfully.

It’s Friday...yay

I hope everyone had a nice and productive week!

It was a good week for me but I wish I could’ve got more stuff done (as always ha!).

I worked on projects for my classes that are due next week and read a lot. Today I’m just continuing reading Les Miserables and taking notes for my Literature class. Have you read it before?

Paperless Student→ What exactly does it mean to be a paperless student?

I have been familiar with the term "paperless student" for a few years now. However, I realized it might be a bit confusing for some people (just as it was for me when I was introduced to it), and that is the reason why I wanted to explain the term in more detail.

What does it mean? Well, "going paperless as a student means cutting down the amount of paper you use and replacing it with digital technology, such as an iPad or your laptop". This means paperless students do not use physical notebooks, textbooks, pens and markers, etc. I know, you might be thinking "why? Buying and using school supplies is the most fun part of being a student!" and I agree! However, once you see the convenience and practicality of being a paperless student, you will not miss those pretty notebooks and gel pens (I mean, you can still have all that fun stuff, but it a digital way).

I’ve been a paperless student for about a year now, and let me tell you: It wasn't easy! I used to study the traditional way (using paper and pens) my entire life before that. So the transition was not easy nor fast. At all. But you can do it, little by little, and you will notice how convenient it is. And also, helping the planet by reducing the worldwide use of paper by a little, feels good!

So what are the actual pros of being a paperless student? For me is the fact that I'm not accumulating in my closet piles of books, notebooks, binders and more. It's amazing! Another reason why I became a paperless student is because I got tired of caring heavy textbooks around campus (well, this does not really matter right now with remote learning, but you get the point). Also it is amazing to know that I can access my notes and textbooks literally from anywhere I need it. I can just take my little iPad anywhere and have access to all my notes, textbooks! So no excuses for procrastination.

Another pro of being a paperless student is the financial side. We all know that electronic versions of textbooks or books in general are way cheaper that physical copies, so each semester I save a lot of money on ebooks. Also, the obvious fact that I don't need to buy any supplies at all is amazing. Plus with remote learning, all the materials we get for classes are on PDF format, and printing is not a great option (more work and more paper = no bueno)

TIP: One option to stay focus, productive and find motivation

Trust me, I know staying focused on what we need to do and being productive is not always easy. It hard to stay still and just get things done, and that's the reason we procrastinate. Which is not too bad if you end up getting your work done and meeting the deadline. But wouldn't it be nice if we could work more efficiently?

It can be very hard to find motivation in the middle of quarantine, where you can't even meet with classmates or friends to study together and motivate each other. However, I discovered a few months ago "Study with me" videos on YouTube, where students just like us record themselves studying. I like putting one of these videos in the background whenever I can. It makes me feel like I'm not studying alone, and helps me to focus, just like the person on the video.

Happy snow day!

Yep, the northeastern coast is getting another snowstorm all day today and part of tomorrow...I already lost count of how many snowstorms we’ve got this winter!

iPad Pro 2018.

This is what I call money well spent.

Almost 2 years ago I bought myself an iPad. My the main purpose of this purchase was so I could have a device easy to carry and that would allow me to work from anywhere. I bought it a nice little keyboard that made it even better to use. 

Best invesment ever!

I literally use my iPad for everything related to school. I’m a 95% paperless student since we started fully remote classes about a year ago. I do everything digitally now (exept for my planner). I have all my textbooks in my ipad, I take notes in my ipad using Word, Notion, and even handwritten notes with the help of the apple pencil and using GoodNotes, a well known notetaking app.

The best part of being a paperless or a digital student is that I can carry my ipad everywhere and I will imediatly have acess to all my notes, my books and anything I need for school. It’s amazing! Becoming a paperless student was not easy, I must say. We are all used to having notebooks and phisical books that we can read and take notes anywhere on the page. However, little by little, I’ve got used to doing the same, but on a screen. Like I said, it’s not easy, but it’s not impossible either!

On this blog, I’ll be posting more of my favorite apps that I use for school and how to get the most of them.