Using Electronic notes

[Dr Dazzle]

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Hi guys,

I'm thinking about switching to electronic notes, after a year of studying using printed lecture handouts and meticulously organizing in binders. I hate to waste paper, and think that electronic notes will make studying faster and more portable.

Therefore, I'm looking for tips/advice on how to do this. Best method I know now is to save ppt lectures and annotate them during lecture in the ppt program. Then use online storage for long term saving if I need to refer back.

Other things I know of are onenote and Evernote, but have never used these myself. Is one better than the other? Any other ideas?

My goal is to just have an efficient way to type notes on computer ppt lectures and be able to access these quickly for exam preparation. I'm also planning to use Word to type some additional notes.

Really appreciate the help!

 

[syma]

I use notability. Pretty happy with it. I use an ipad and a stylus. The only notes not done on here is anatomy because I use a colouring book.

 

[LiamNeesons]

I type up the objectives for each lecture during class and then make flash cards on my computer after class. I do all of the cards on the weekends and before exams. It's pretty efficient and guarantees a pass while leaving plenty of time for board prep or going the extra mile to honor.

Google drive is great for typing objectives because it has lots of shortcuts for bullets and indenting--all of which are crucial for organizing tons of information that is mixed up throughout the slides. You can then copy and paste into a flash card program with ease. I use brainscape. I make a deck for each lecture. I can quiz myself over individual lectures, am entire exam's material, or multiple exams before finals. Brainscape uses weighted confidence so it will keep giving you cards you're terrible at until you learn them. Every time you view a card, you tell the program how well you know the card. Each deck (lecture) is then color coded by how well you know it.

 

[Dr Dazzle]

I use notability. Pretty happy with it. I use an ipad and a stylus. The only notes not done on here is anatomy because I use a colouring book.

Unfortunately, I tried this, but had trouble syncing and organizing my notes. Plus I would rather type out notes quickly, rather than writing slowly via notability.
I'm also not an ipad person.

 

[Dr Dazzle]

I type up the objectives for each lecture during class and then make flash cards on my computer after class. I do all of the cards on the weekends and before exams. It's pretty efficient and guarantees a pass while leaving plenty of time for board prep or going the extra mile to honor.

Google drive is great for typing objectives because it has lots of shortcuts for bullets and indenting--all of which are crucial for organizing tons of information that is mixed up throughout the slides. You can then copy and paste into a flash card program with ease. I use brainscape. I make a deck for each lecture. I can quiz myself over individual lectures, am entire exam's material, or multiple exams before finals. Brainscape uses weighted confidence so it will keep giving you cards you're terrible at until you learn them. Every time you view a card, you tell the program how well you know the card. Each deck (lecture) is then color coded by how well you know it.

I'm planning to do something similar using Anki. Basically, take my lecture notes and written objectives and come up with flashcards for those for review till the exam.

 

[PL198]

Use adobe reader to type on your .pdfs for notes, and then write outlines in word, save them all to a dropbox, have dropbox installed on your computer(s), phone and ipad, and you have access to all your ****.

 

[Dr Dazzle]

Use adobe reader to type on your .pdfs for notes, and then write outlines in word, save them all to a dropbox, have dropbox installed on your computer(s), phone and ipad, and you have access to all your ****.

I'm trying out onenote, and am impressed with the ability to add annotations and organize material.

There will be massive amounts of info, so the ability to organize is important. Not sure if Adobe would provide that.

Anyone used onenote and liked it?

 

[McNCheese]

I have been using Onenote. I just import the powerpoint into Onenote, and then annotate wherever I want on the page. Being able to click anywhere on the page and add text without messing everything up is my favorite thing about Onenote. That, and it's a nice setup for organizing sets of notes.

 

[Dr Dazzle]

I have been using Onenote. I just import the powerpoint into Onenote, and then annotate wherever I want on the page. Being able to click anywhere on the page and add text without messing everything up is my favorite thing about Onenote. That, and it's a nice setup for organizing sets of notes.

Any insight on how it compares with Evernote? Or which is better? Also, how do you organize classes, and daily lecture notes in onenote?

 

[McNCheese]

I haven't used Evernote, so I can't speak to that. I'm uploading a screenshot so you can see my setup. Each of the images on the left in the black boxes is a powerpoint slide, and the green type is something I either typed in or wrote in with a stylus. Another tool that is useful in OneNote is the ability to search all of the notebooks for words and phrases (magnifying glass in the upper right corner).

 

[starstarie]

Onenote is the best. I also made the switch from paper and I found the fact that I can write very nice. I had tried to type my notes in undergrad but could never adapt. I learn much better when writing out my notes as opposed to typing. Last year, I got a new comp that has a digital stylus and writing is just like on paper and it's been perfect.

 

[Cinematographer]

Use anything that will let you ctrl + F. Evernote is very straightforward and has a really nice distraction-free look. I have not used OneNote but have a few classmates who really like using it.

 

[Dr Dazzle]

Onenote is the best. I also made the switch from paper and I found the fact that I can write very nice. I had tried to type my notes in undergrad but could never adapt. I learn much better when writing out my notes as opposed to typing. Last year, I got a new comp that has a digital stylus and writing is just like on paper and it's been perfect.

Do you have to use a specific computer for this? I just have a regular PC laptop used by my school.

 

[PL198]

I'm trying out onenote, and am impressed with the ability to add annotations and organize material.

There will be massive amounts of info, so the ability to organize is important. Not sure if Adobe would provide that.

Anyone used onenote and liked it?

What do you mean organize? Adobe lets you literally type onto the .pdf slides. Not sure how you can be more organized than that.

 

[LostinLift]

I haven't used Evernote, so I can't speak to that. I'm uploading a screenshot so you can see my setup. Each of the images on the left in the black boxes is a powerpoint slide, and the green type is something I either typed in or wrote in with a stylus. Another tool that is useful in OneNote is the ability to search all of the notebooks for words and phrases (magnifying glass in the upper right corner).

View attachment 183713

So do you do multiple passes over all the lecture slides?

I was planning on putting the slides into onenote, putting minutiae into Anki then cutting it out, cutting extraneous (if i can recognize it somehow), and condensing the rest. That way I can frontload my work a bit and start reviewing the material multiple times before the test.

 

[Dr Dazzle]

I haven't used Evernote, so I can't speak to that. I'm uploading a screenshot so you can see my setup. Each of the images on the left in the black boxes is a powerpoint slide, and the green type is something I either typed in or wrote in with a stylus. Another tool that is useful in OneNote is the ability to search all of the notebooks for words and phrases (magnifying glass in the upper right corner).

View attachment 183713

For those using onenote, how does the syncing work? Do you have to use onedrive? I noticed there is only 15gb free for that. I'm assuming that's not enough. Any way to sync onenote to other online storage sites like Dropbox etc?

 

[Dr Dazzle]

I haven't used Evernote, so I can't speak to that. I'm uploading a screenshot so you can see my setup. Each of the images on the left in the black boxes is a powerpoint slide, and the green type is something I either typed in or wrote in with a stylus. Another tool that is useful in OneNote is the ability to search all of the notebooks for words and phrases (magnifying glass in the upper right corner).

View attachment 183713

For those using onenote, how does the syncing work? Do you have to use onedrive? I noticed there is only 15gb free for that. I'm assuming that's not enough. Any way to sync onenote to other online storage sites like Dropbox etc?

 

[McNCheese]

So do you do multiple passes over all the lecture slides?

I was planning on putting the slides into onenote, putting minutiae into Anki then cutting it out, cutting extraneous (if i can recognize it somehow), and condensing the rest. That way I can frontload my work a bit and start reviewing the material multiple times before the test.

I made a somewhat condensed notes sheet with pen and paper for each lecture. I would then go through this sheet several times during the week to memorize it, but I would also go through the powerpoint slides a couple times. There will be some information that you think is extraneous, but it can very be hard to judge. There were a couple times this year that I didn't review something because I didn't think it was critical to the objectives of the lecture, and then it showed up on the quiz/exam.

Reviewing the material multiple times before the exam is a very good plan.

 

[McNCheese]

For those using onenote, how does the syncing work? Do you have to use onedrive? I noticed there is only 15gb free for that. I'm assuming that's not enough. Any way to sync onenote to other online storage sites like Dropbox etc?

I'm pretty sure you can save your notebooks to folders like Dropbox, but hopefully someone else will chime in. I've been using onedrive, and I've found it to be acceptable. In my experience so far, 15 gb is plenty of space. I accumulated 262 MB of electronic information in my first year of med school.

 

[Dr Dazzle]

I'm pretty sure you can save your notebooks to folders like Dropbox, but hopefully someone else will chime in. I've been using onedrive, and I've found it to be acceptable. In my experience so far, 15 gb is plenty of space. I accumulated 262 MB of electronic information in my first year of med school.

What version of onenote are you using? I believe the free version has fewer options.

 

[McNCheese]

What version of onenote are you using? I believe the free version has fewer options.

I am using the version that comes as part of the 2013 Microsoft Office package.

 

[PL198]

For those using onenote, how does the syncing work? Do you have to use onedrive? I noticed there is only 15gb free for that. I'm assuming that's not enough. Any way to sync onenote to other online storage sites like Dropbox etc?

15 gigs is a ton. We aren't talking media files here. PDFs and word docs take up very little space. The only things that take up significant space are audio and video. So unless you want to like download lecture recordings and save them to your dropbox, you'll have plenty of storage.

 

[eefen]

Another vote for OneNote. It became an indispensible study/information storage tool over my first year. I talked a little bit about how I used it/set it up (with pictures) here.

 

[starstarie]

Do you have to use a specific computer for this? I just have a regular PC laptop used by my school.

I bought a new laptop for school that has a touchscreen and digital stylus like I said (Lenovo Helix). I love it. I think you could not be necessary have a new comp but I think it would be better to have the 2013 version of Onenote. It seems significantly better from what I've seen

 

[Cinabonchik]

For Mac/iPad users: is it worth buying the full version of OneNote for $9.99 per month or it's almost the same as the free version on app store?
Thanks

 

[SBR249]

For Mac/iPad users: is it worth buying the full version of OneNote for $9.99 per month or it's almost the same as the free version on app store?
Thanks

As far as I can tell, the biggest features that the paid subscription gives you is sharepoint integration, version history, and outlook integration. If you don't use those features then you are probably OK with free version. You should just give the free version a try, it won't cost you anything.

 

[Dr Dazzle]

Another vote for OneNote. It became an indispensible study/information storage tool over my first year. I talked a little bit about how I used it/set it up (with pictures) here.

Had a few questions about onenote for those who use it.

Can you directly annotate on the slides when they are in onenote? I guess I can type on the sides/below the slides, and then move the comment to the slide.

Is there a faster way to scroll through slides? I seem to only be able to click on a slide and can't scroll through quickly in onenote.

Any tips for organizing a class? Are you allowed to create multiple subcategories in the notebook, or is there a limitation after creating the notebook?

 

[eefen]

You can write/draw directly on the slide - just have to click wherever you want to annotate.

As far as scrolling through slides, you can either print to OneNote in such a way that each slide ends up on a separate page, or you can change the options so that they all print to one page that can be scrolled through. I use the former option - easier to organize things/find things again/mark off different sections of one lecture, IMO.

I basically organize my notebooks the same way the poster above who posted a picture did. I have more pictures in that blog post I linked to as well. Basically, I have a notebook for each class, then a section for each lecture, and a different pages within that section that contain handouts, PPT slides, etc.

 

[McNCheese]

You can write/draw directly on the slide - just have to click wherever you want to annotate.

As far as scrolling through slides, you can either print to OneNote in such a way that each slide ends up on a separate page, or you can change the options so that they all print to one page that can be scrolled through. I use the former option - easier to organize things/find things again/mark off different sections of one lecture, IMO.

I basically organize my notebooks the same way the poster above who posted a picture did. I have more pictures in that blog post I linked to as well. Basically, I have a notebook for each class, then a section for each lecture, and a different pages within that section that contain handouts, PPT slides, etc.

I like being able to scroll through the lecture, so I print to one page. It's nice to have both options!

 

[Lya]

@eefen @McNCheese

I personally did not like Evernote, so I tried Onenote and it was much more intuitive and easier for me to use. Thank you!

 

[unhappytnt]

I use Keynote on my iPad. Granted, it's not very efficient but it's good for some brief note taking