Note-Taking

As you search for information, you may start to see some trends or patterns, eg. the possibility of meaningful comparison, similarities and differences, causes and effects, criterion for evaluation or ranking, a spacial approach to organizing information, pros and cons, etc. Depending on those trends or patterns, you might want to organize your information in a way that makes them easier to see and understand. Some people find it easier to record information in a hierachical framework such as notes with headings and sub-headings, while others may prefer to create a simple or complex outline, and still others might want be more visual in their organizing and thinking about the information they discover.

And, whether you take notes on paper, file cards, or in electronic documents there are a number of strategies you might want to consider using. Here you'll find a variety of note-taking methods, links to online tools that would help you use that method, as well as links to any associated charts or diagrams that you can save to your UGCloud acccount.

Click on the icon to see an example of how to use that particular method.

Method

Online Tools

Note Cards

NoodleTools has a "notecards" feature. These are virtual file-cards that you can organize in sets or stacks to help you see connections within your research.

Click here to access information about account set-up--NOTE: you must sign into your UGCloud account to access this file. OR, See Mr. Feick for account set-up details.

4R Method

A GoogleDocs text file can help you with this: just set the page orientation to "landscape", set the margins to zero, and create a table that is 4 columns wide by 2 rows. The first row is for your column header text.

4-column template

Split Page Notes

A GoogleDocs text file can help you with this: just set the page orientation to "landscape", set the margins to zero, and create a table that is 2 columns wide by 2 rows. The first row is for your column header text.

2-column template

Sticky Notes

Create a virtual sticky-note board using Padlet. Choose the "Log in with Google" option, follow the onscreen prompts and you will get a free account that allows you to create sticky notes. You can also invite others to add notes to your wall by giving them the URL for your padlet wall. You can make multiple walls on different topics.

Click here for an example

Highlighting

GoogleRead&Write allows you to highlight online documents and then gather your highlights into a GoogleDoc. When logged into your UGCloud account in GoogleChrome, look for the green Read & Write symbol in the extension tray to the right of the URL bar at the top of the browser.

Visualizing

MindMeister is a great tool for creating mind-maps. It's easy to use, can be worked on simultaneously by several users, and can include pictures and other diagrams. Click here to add MindMeister to your Google account.

NOTE: the free version of MindMeister allow for only 3 mindmaps per account.

Click here for an example mind-map

Another online tool you might to add to your GoogleDrive is called Lucidchart. It allows you to make free-flowing flowchart-style diagrams. Click to add Lucidchart to your Drive

Click here for an example flow-chart

SQR4 Method

A GoogleDocs text file can help you with this