Best note-taking software for college?

[Young Spade]

For all document writing, I used Microsoft Word '11. To move files and documents between various machines (netbook or MacBook) I used either Dropbox or typed everything up in the cloud using Google Docs.

Now if you're doing actual writing, there are some great programs that are minimalistic in design and will be great for doing that; Ommwriter is a great program (version 1 is free, 2 is like, 5 bucks I think) and those are great for letting your mind go. WriteRoom is great as well.

Now if you're thinking about organization, what I did was just use a basic foldier heirarchy and name everything accordingly.

eg. School -> Spring 2011 / Biology 2 Lecture / Biology Lecture Notes Chapter X (document)

Organizing in a tree and giving each document a set "name" with specified parts to it allows you to search and find any document relatively fast with finder. It's great when I walk into lecture, hit command space and type biology 2 notes 34 and can find the Biology 2 Lecture Notes Chapter 34 file; of course you can just click around but if you're doing a lot and someone tells you to bring the notes up quickly for something, it's only a few keystrokes away.

You can also use tags; something I never need because of the way I organize my document names.

 

[jahala]

It'd be difficult to type equations in LaTeX in real time (I've never seen anyone try it), but you can try if you'd like.

I have a friend who can type LaTeX equations in real time to take notes in math class. And he does it on a super tiny laptop. This was a few years ago and I am still impressed. Most of us cannot do it, though.

 

[malman89]

I don't think legal pad and pen can be emphasized enough.

I tried doing the "I'll take notes in MS Office, maybe slip a Command+Tab to read some post and back to take some more notes" now and then in class, it's not worth it.

Negatives against using a laptop directly for notes:
- Distractions, distractions, distractions
- Have to carry in addition to books, folder (?), and perhaps still a notebook/legal pad
- If you have a long day or didn't start at 100%, will need an outlet, which are very limited in most rooms (outside of huge science lecture rooms)
- Have to worry about theft. Big during finals (sadly) at most campuses (at least more so than during year), public transit if in major city
- Taking notes on a laptop in certain subjects just make you look like a tool. Multiply by 20x if taking notes on an iPad.

You know where a laptop could be great? Going home and typing your days' notes. It's been a proven in studies that writing down facts leaves a more lasting impression, and while re-writing them by hand would be more ideal, at least by typing out your notes, you're somewhat engaging your mind in the process.

A laptop was only truly useful when it came to paper outlines or essay exam outlines, then printing those off and studying off those. Usefulness of technology is vastly overrated in so many areas.

 

[DaMan05]

So I was just about to make a new thread about this but decided to do the right thing and search first

I just got my MacBook and am looking to set up my note-taking strategies before school starts. Personally, I've always preferred pen and paper because there's less distraction and that theory that actually writing makes you remember better.

But now I think I'll try using a laptop, especially since all my classes are slide based and I often forget to print out the slides.

So! Questions:

1) for general note taking, I'll probably be using Word or Pages. Anyone tried that recording feature in Word?

2) What's the best way to take notes on .ppt files? I can't say I really like the little notes box on the bottom. And adding a text box where you want to write I think takes too long.

3) Best way to take notes on .pdf files?

Ideally, for the .ppt and .pdf files, I'd like to have it set up so that I can single click anywhere on a slide and immediately start typing

thanks guys!

 

[And1ss]

Word 2011 for me.

 

[spacepower7]

I'd like to see a study about student performance on tests in relation to their note taking strategies. I've done both, but feel that for me, hand written notes then retyping them, reinforces the content. It also depends on the subject.

Interestingly, in grad school, I had two types of professors. One type assumed if you had your laptop open, then you were on Facebook, then you would be called on? More frequently? The other type encouraged you to look up info on Wikipedia and elsewhere to pose questions to the prof.

Later I realized the profs that hated students using laptops also taught larger undergrad lectures where most students attended but did not participate.

 

[DaMan05]

I'd like to see a study about student performance on tests in relation to their note taking strategies. I've done both, but feel that for me, hand written notes then retyping them, reinforces the content. It also depends on the subject.

Interestingly, in grad school, I had two types of professors. One type assumed if you had your laptop open, then you were on Facebook, then you would be called on? More frequently? The other type encouraged you to look up info on Wikipedia and elsewhere to pose questions to the prof.

Later I realized the profs that hated students using laptops also taught larger undergrad lectures where most students attended but did not participate.

I definitely agree with the level of distraction and how most undergrads with laptops aren't actually paying attention.

If I notice that my laptop is distracting me, I will certainly stop using it.

... Or at least turn off the wifi

 

[palpatine]

pencil/pen and paper is the way to go (in my opinion).

it is undoubtedly more efficient to type notes directly into slides or pdf files. and, i am sure recording lectures (something like livescribe) is another layer of data that can't hurt to have. i've done that before.

but, like spacepower7 said, i don't think it contributes to your learning. i have done things many ways over the course of my academic career (10 years and counting!), and i keep coming back to handwriting, because i learn so much better.

and, as spacepower said, i internalize it by typing the notes up later. again, i don't doubt that my method is less efficient, but i think it works better to reach the goal (learning). of course, as i said earlier in this thread, i scan everything into pdf form and upload it to evernote. i definitely don't advocate generating piles of paper--paperless is the way to go, but the process is as important as the final note "product" that you produce.