This is an image of the OneNote logo

The Digital Student Binder

Tired of making copies? Tired of passing out handouts? Tired of students losing their papers? Ready to bring your content on-line for students? If you said "yes" to any of these questions, then you need a ClassNotebook!

Within your Office 365 account, there is an app titled Class Notebook that can be used to create OneNote notebooks that have unique rights and sections for use in the classroom. When this app is used to CREATE the OneNote notebook, the following three subsections are automatically created for each student in the class:

This is an image of the Content Library icon in OneNote.

Content Library

○ A read-only notebook where teachers can share handouts with students.

○ Students can only read — i.e. pull from — the Content Library. They cannot edit.

○ Teachers can read and write to the Content Library.

This is an image of the Student Notebooks icon in OneNote.

Student Notebooks

○ A private notebook shared between the teacher and each individual student.

○ Teachers can read and write to all student notebooks

○ Students cannot see other private section groups outside their own.

This is an image of the Collaboration Space icon in OneNote.

Collaboration Space

○ A private notebook shared between the teacher and each individual student.

○ Teachers can read and write to all student notebooks

○ Students cannot see other private section groups outside their own.

Creating a ClassNotebook

Once you create the notebook using this App, you can open the notebook within the OneNote application and it will appear on your Notebook Bookshelf as well. Once created, the notebook works within the application.

OneNote Add-In

The OneNote Add-In will allow you to easily copy pages to individual student notebooks, create new student sections, and even check student work quickly. This add-in is available to install from within the Class Notebook app in your Office 365 account.

Managing a Class Notebook:

This video tutorial covers how to add/remove students to a class notebook, as well where to go to add/remove teachers to a class notebook. Make sure that you use the Add/Remove Students portion of the Class Notebook app to manage students. Do NOT use the File-Share option as this will not provide proper access and rights to this type of notebook.

NOTE: Students will most likely be accessing your notebook from the light version of OneNote Online (since they are not using an assigned computer where they can open within OneNote (Office Suite application). To alleviate frustration for students, you will want to add your content TO THE PAGE as text or images and NOT as attachments. Students can not interact with content easily that needs to be downloaded and opened. Simply copy and paste your content to the page so that students can see it or interact with it online. (Hint: Placing text in opposite rows of a table makes for a great interactive handout with space for students to complete).


  • You should remove students from your Class Notebook once your course is completed so that the “collaboration space” is not still accessible when it is not being for instructional purposes.


Online Teacher Scenarios for using OneNote

Getting Started with Class Notebook – Directions

OneNote Add-In User Guide

MORE TIPS FOR CLASS NOTEBOOK

This video is targeted for teachers who have some experience working with Class Notebook. The video covers the following topics:

      • Setting Printouts as Backgrounds

      • Web Links in Documents

      • Distributing Content

      • Emptying the Recycling Bin - helps speed up syncing

      • Locking/Unlocking Collaboration Space

      • Searching a Class Notebook

      • PDFs in Class Notebook

      • Web Clipper Add-On/Extension

TIPS FOR SYNCING ISSUES

If you experience syncing issues with your OneNote (installed version), here are a few tips to try:

    • Is there anything in the OneNote Recycle Bin? (History – Empty Recycle Bin) If your notebook is shared with others, content in the recycle bin can cause issues.

    • Check to make sure that you are still connected to “Connected Services” in File – Account. You should see OneDrive – CCPS. If you want, you can always select sign out and sign back in. This will reset your connection if there was a problem.

    • If you have a corrupt section, another option is to right click on the section title and make another copy of the section and delete the original copy.

    • When you right click on the name of the notebook on your Notebook Shelf and check the “sync status,” there is usually a message that provides insight as to the area of the notebook that is causing the syncing issue.

    • Remember that when you change your password in Active Directory, it takes about 24 hours for that to sync with your Office 365 account. During that time, you will see Red Xs on your Notebook Shelf.

    • Do not open the same notebook in the Office 365 OneNote online version AND the installed version of OneNote at the same time. Microsoft thinks that two different users are editing the page at the same time and this can cause “Page Conflicts” that will prevent syncing.