Digitized Notes, a Way to Keep Up With Technology in School
by Zoe Liong, Reporter
Technology
The COVID-19 pandemic has created and stolen opportunities for students. In order to become a successful student during distance learning, one must take responsibility for their education through diligence and organization. Since assignments and lessons are already streamlined online, why not take the opportunity to digitize notes for improved organization?
The biggest benefit of digitizing notes is the accessibility it creates for yourself and others. Notes are stored in the Cloud most of the time and accessible through a synced device. No more worrying about that lost paper! Digitizing notes also reduces the carbon footprint one leaves. It is not difficult to use one less worksheet, especially if the work can be done online. Notes are as customizable, even more so than handwritten ones. You can upload pictures, audio files, and other resources to reduce time and fit your learning style. Plus, if your teacher gives you a worksheet, you can mark it up and upload it without having the hassle of the extra step of printing and taking a picture.
A downfall of the online note-taking system is its unpopularity with non tech-savvy instructors. Teachers inexperienced with tech may only allow notes and assignments on paper, which makes it repetitive to also complete online. Another obstacle is that not every student has access to the latest technologies, such as a tablet or another device. Even with another device, services may not allow cross-platform accessibility. For example, digital handwritten notes can be a hassle to upload on the computer if the application used is not available on that device or is an application exclusive to iOS users.
At first, the adjustment from handwritten to online note-taking may be uncomfortable. However, digital notes will quickly become a part of the daily class routine. Personally, I am fortunate enough to have a secondary device, an iPad, along with an Apple pencil. This year, I have made an effort to digitize every possible aspect of school. The hardest part of going digital is adapting to the various systems. However, switching to a more tailored platform or app ensures an easier experience. Personally, I utilized Word and its drawing feature. I had decided to relocate all my work to Microsoft because the school provided an account and because it is the most accessible and convenient application that is compatible with Schoology. Google Docs does not have a handwriting setting, making it harder to upload work that requires proof. Google Keep has a handwriting element, but it creates an extra step of uploading and achieving that function. If an assignment requires submission through Google, I screenshot my work either on the computer or my iPad and then upload it to a Google Doc as an image.
Below are several examples of my notes.
Resources vary on note style. For math and science subjects, I prefer to handwrite my notes. This method is more of an upfront investment, since a secondary device, such as a stylus, a computer, or a tablet might need to be purchased. Several free applications compatible with handwriting on an iOS or Android tablet are OneNote, Google Keep, and Evernotes. Such services and applications are accessed on a computer, making uploading documents onto Schoology more efficient. iOS apps with useful functions are Notability, Goodnotes, Note Writer, and Justwrite. Notability and Goodnotes must be purchased but have an additional feature that allows users to record audio. Note Writer is the free version of Notability but with fewer functions (since it is not the full version). Justwrite is able to import, export, and annotate PDF files. This feature is useful in English and history class, as typing your notes is the most elementary way to gather the information needed to review for future reference. Although it is not proven to be the superior way to retain information for an extended amount of time, typing out information quickly to review notes is helpful for such content-heavy classes.
Clearly, digitizing notes is an asset to students, especially with the rapidly expanding use of technology in schools. Students need to create documents with efficiency in mind. Traditional notes are limited by format and time. With the adapting world, this system is ineffective in most cases. Digital notes are perfectly customizable to suit the user's practical, creative, and modern needs.
DISCLAIMER: The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by the various authors in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of Kamiak High School or The Gauntlet.