Note taking method

[pineapple]

What's the best way to take notes in med school?

I'm bored, OCD about notes, and worried about how you could use a laptop at UMDNJ in the little classrooms. I didn't see power outlets but maybe they were there.

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[DOctorJay]

I used my PDA with a fold out full size keyboard, most of the lectures are given to you before hand in powerpoint format and I would upload them to my palm and just type into the powerpoint stuff they said that was important but not written down. You can also highlight, change color, bold, italicize fairly easy.

I found this to be effective and decreased lugging around my laptop, plus I could study at any time anywhere I was as long as I had my palm with me (which has turned into a treo now so it's always with me).

REGARDING THE CLASSROOM SITUATION: if you haven't been to the school since they had winter break, the first and second year classrooms have been combined (wall knocked down) and the second years now have lecture in the big auditorium on the first floor. Outlets shouldn't be a problem by the time you get here.

-J

 

[pineapple]

I used my PDA

That sounds really convenient, what type is it?

Outlets shouldn't be a problem by the time you get here.

That would be great, it's the only thing that worried me about the school. I like to use my laptop and I didn't see how all the students who wanted to would be able to plug in. Are they getting rid of those foldy chairs and putting power cords in desks, or outlets in the floor, or just a lot around the walls (don't want anyone to trip on my cord).

I heard that they were going to combine the rooms, that's cool that they did it already. The current 1st and 2nd years must be happy!

Oh and random: can you print stuff (like those ppt slides) for free at UMDNJ or do they charge per page or anything? If not, it might be nice to just put all the slides in a binder and write on them. I like notes on my computer but at the same time I feel like it's easier to study off paper.

 

[SOUNDMAN]

with the tablet pc's i just write on the power point slide themselves and the M$ ONENOTE program is very handy as well, can drag any picture, slide, text, etc into "notebook" paper, and bring it all together. I have to condense notes in order to learn the material, i just can't read it over and over and get it.

 

[pineapple]

with the tablet pc's i just write on the power point slide themselves and the M$ ONENOTE program is very handy as well, can drag any picture, slide, text, etc into "notebook" paper, and bring it all together. I have to condense notes in order to learn the material, i just can't read it over and over and get it.

I REALLY want a tablet PC. However, I just got a free laptop from Dell after freaking out at their tech support after I needed my 13th part repaired in 3 years.

Maybe I can give this new one to my sister for when she starts college and get a tablet...they sound like the best way of all to take notes! I'm just worried because I hear some complaints about the technology.

 

[cyclohexanol]

Tablet PC + OneNote 👍

 

[DragonWell]

Tablet PC + GoBinder 😉

 

[pineapple]

What type of Tablets do you folks with tablets recommend?

I just googled GoBinder, that's pretty neat looking software!

 

[DragonWell]

I've got the Acer C314, and I've been more than happy with it. Although I've never had occasion to use it, Acer has kind of a bad rep for customer service though. Most people will probably agree that Fujitsu and Lenonvo (IBM) make the best (and most expensive) convertible tablets, with Toshiba perhaps in third place.

I'd probably start by figuring out what features are most important to you - weight, screen size, optical drive, processor, etc. and then check out some models that fit the bill.

 

[pineapple]

I've got the Acer C314, and I've been more than happy with it. Although I've never had occasion to use it, Acer has kind of a bad rep for customer service though. Most people will probably agree that Fujitsu and Lenonvo (IBM) make the best (and most expensive) convertible tablets, with Toshiba perhaps in third place.

I'd probably start by figuring out what features are most important to you - weight, screen size, optical drive, processor, etc. and then check out some models that fit the bill.

After my crap Dell 5150, I just want something that won't break at least once monthly. I lost 3 hard drives and 4 motherboards withing 3 years, not to mention other problems. And their tech support is a disaster.

I just want something that won't lose my data and isn't too slow. I'll have to look into it, maybe after Vista comes out at the end of the month since that might change costs.

 

[Orthodoc40]

There's another plus for DMU - free tablet pc, free PDA, and if they don't work, free fixings!

 

[pineapple]

There's another plus for DMU - free tablet pc, free PDA, and if they don't work, free fixings!

I'm from Jersey public education my whole life. If a school went out of its way to give me stuff and help me maintain it I'd have a heart attack. Haha, not with our budgets! At my interview UMDNJ didn't even give us a free snack, but it's cool...like I said!

No, honestly, I'd rather fend for myself anyway. I figure either way that "free" computer is getting paid for with tuition. If I'm going to pay for it anyway, I'd rather customize it and do it myself. I'm really picky about what goes into my computer and having a good warranty with accident support. 😍

But that's cool, good luck at DMU 🙂

 

[Orthodoc40]

I'm from Jersey public education my whole life. If a school went out of its way to give me stuff and help me maintain it I'd have a heart attack. Haha, not with our budgets! At my interview UMDNJ didn't even give us a free snack, but it's cool...like I said!

No, honestly, I'd rather fend for myself anyway. I figure either way that "free" computer is getting paid for with tuition. If I'm going to pay for it anyway, I'd rather customize it and do it myself. I'm really picky about what goes into my computer and having a good warranty with accident support. 😍

But that's cool, good luck at DMU 🙂

That's funny!!
Ya - no snack, no lunch, no handouts about financial aid or the school - nothin'! I agree about the tuition diff - heck you could buy several laptops for that difference! And, FYI, I haven't decided b/w the 2 schools. No way would a laptop make me chose a school!! I was strictly speaking on the tablet pc level alone. Personally, I hate laptops! I can write notes much faster than I can type anything, plus my notes will never be inaccessible due to a system crash or malfunction of any kind...and if I drop my spiral notebook, it won't break!

 

[DOctorJay]

I used my Palm Tungsten E with the palm fold out full size keyboard. It was really convenient given the small size but with the tablets out now plus onenote that would definitely be a nice option.

re: notes - I believe you now get all the notes in powerpoint and note format but only digital files (no print outs). We had a certain amount of pages we could print for "free" each semester but I'm not sure what it will be for you when you get here and I know it won't be enough to print ALL the notes out.

re: chairs - currently the somatic dysfunction inducing chairs remain but there is talk of converting to more comfortable chairs and tables which would make much more sense and allow for permanent outlets to be put in.

-J

 

[Blank00]

re: chairs - currently the somatic dysfunction inducing chairs

I want to show up with a fold out camping chair. Great first impression! 😉👍

 

[Orthodoc40]

re: chairs - currently the somatic dysfunction inducing chairs remain but there is talk of converting to more comfortable chairs and tables which would make much more sense and allow for permanent outlets to be put in.

-J

LOL! I gotta tell ya - those chairs alone are making me seriously reconsider UMDNJ!! The prospect of sitting in those things all day every day is frightening!