Being a student means using all legitimate sources of knowledge to prepare for the exams and working with any tools available. In the old days, getting good grades depended on being physically present in the classroom and ready to write down anything a teacher mentions.
How to Make Online Notes
Those days are long gone, and now a lion’s share of teaching is conducted remotely over the internet. E-learning is not a new phenomenon and it’s becoming more and more mainstream with each passing year. Of course, today’s students are much more computer-savvy than older generations and they understand the digital media landscape well, but making high-quality notes is a very specific task that requires the right kind of software and some practical skills to do well.
Note-taking tools are flexible enough to support many different cognitive styles and learning strategies, but only if they are used with a clear plan. Let’s discuss how to take notes in online classes and which software to use depending on the chosen approach.
Strategies for How to Take Notes in Online Classes
Learning over the internet has many advantages, and students who are well-prepared and have a good note-taking strategy can advance really fast. There are several possible approaches that could work in this scenario, with the best one determined by the type of coursework, learner’s preferences, the structure and duration of the class, etc.
- Perhaps the simplest method is to write down only searchable keywords and internet URLs that will represent starting points for later research.
- A more advanced strategy would be to structure the note in a similar way to the source material, making each part of the lecture a separate section.
- Another possibility (best suited for recorded classes) would be to mark down the timestamps and add personal commentary alongside them.
- There are many other strategies that could be effective for particular subject matters, so students need to think carefully which apps can deliver the most optimal functions for their learning needs.
List of 8 Best Online Note-taking Apps
Evernote
Evernote Interface
If you want a note-taking app that’s been tested in the field and proven worthy time and again, Evernote is the best way to go. With this well-rounded app, students can routinely create typed or handwritten notes or create multimedia documents that include images or links. Evernote is trusted by professional content creators, but it has a low skill threshold and can be used by essentially anyone.
Key functionalities:
- One of the oldest and most popular note-taking apps in the market
- Tasks and due dates can be inserted into each note and automatically tracked
- Notes can be shared in real-time with even people who don’t use Evernote
- Very powerful search feature capable of recognizing handwritten text
Notable issues:
- Including large media files in notes can cause the app to slow down
- Spell checking tool isn’t very reliable
Pricing plans: Basic plan is free, Premium plan costs $7.99 per month
Customer feedback:
- G2: 4.4 (1975 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.4 (7730 reviews)
Notion
Notion Interface
This app is more than just a digital notebook, as it contains numerous tools that can boost productivity. Notion is a shared workspace where users can create, edit, and exchange notes with absolute ease while keeping a tight schedule. Education-oriented users will also appreciate the possibility to create wikis and categorize documents according to their content.
Key functionalities:
- Advanced, cloud-based solution for document creation and management
- Notes can be created from scratch or quickly added to existing templates
- Due dates can be added to the project workflow to control the schedule
- Multiple notes and documents can be connected to create knowledge bases
Notable issues:
- Many of the advanced functions can’t be properly utilized by individual learners
- Integrations with third-party software are not well developed
Pricing plans: Free plan is available, Plus plan costs $8 per user monthly
Customer feedback:
- G2: 4.6 (1084 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.7 (1218 reviews)
SimpleNote
Simplenote interface
Students who believe that less is more and don’t want to bother learning how to use complex software should turn their attention to SimpleNote. This is an app that practically anyone can use without training and it works just fine if you just want to write something down during an online lecture. It can be accessed from a mobile device or computer, and it syncs the notes automatically.
Key functionalities:
- Lightweight and user-friendly app for note-taking with basic productivity features
- Notes can be edited and published in the Markdown format
- Complete user history is saved, so it’s easy to go back in time and check old notes
- Notes can be tagged for easier searching and content analysis
Notable issues:
- The app is inflexible and offers very limited possibilities for customization
- There are no note templates or advanced formatting tools included
Pricing plans: 100% free for all users
Customer feedback:
- G2: 4.1 (28 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.4 (11 reviews)
Bear
Bear Software Interface
Some users prefer to trust Apple-specific apps for all tasks, and Bear can serve in that role when it comes to note taking. This program has a simple interface that’s comfortable to use even on a smartphone, and it handles writing tasks quite well. You might not want to use it to write a book, but it’s perfect for taking notes while you are listening to an online lecture or watching an instructional video.
Key functionalities:
- Solid note-taking app for iOS and MacOS with a minimalistic look and feel
- Notes can be mutually cross-linked or referenced in other notes
- Great security features, including the possibility to password-protect individual notes
- Notes can be exported in multiple formats, including PDF, DOCX, and JPG
Notable issues:
- Notes are not accessible through a web browser
- Lack of collaborative or group learning features
Pricing plans: Free trial is available (7 days), full subscription costs $1.49 per month
Customer feedback:
- G2: 4.5 (42 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5 (4 reviews)
Standard Notes
Free Roam Research Alternative – Standard Notes
This is a well-known open-source app that works on different OS platforms and allows for effortless creation of notes regardless of location or context. As opposed to many tools that try to keep the user within a ‘walled garden’, this app is designed to give him a maximum of freedom and independence. With Standard Notes you can collect information online without giving away your own personal data.
Key functionalities:
- Open-source application for note taking with a fiercely independent attitude
- End-to-end encryption, two-factor identification, and robust data privacy policies are in place
- Several notes types can be created, including Plain text, Rich text, Markdown text, spreadsheet, to-do list, code, etc.
- Notes can be pinned to the screen, archived, and are backed up to the cloud every night
Notable issues:
- The app works slowly on older machines
- Only barebones functionalities are available free of charge
Pricing plans: Standard package is free, Productivity package costs $90 per year
Customer feedback:
- G2: 3.9 (12 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.8 (10 reviews)
Notability
Notability Interface
Both teachers and students can productively use Notability and its whiteboard and task management tools to modernize the education process. Any learner curious how to take notes from online lectures should invest some time and master all the nuances of this high-end app. In addition to creating notes, it can also excel at several other crucial functions, including voice recording.
Key functionalities:
- Modern and easy-to-use note creation and annotation software
- Online lessons can be conveniently captured as audio and added to the notes
- Importing images or drawing handwritten graphs within notes is very simple
- Great for presentations, with the possibility of using a hidden note as a source
Notable issues:
- Editing imported images can be tricky for beginners
- File synchronization and backup don’t always work properly
Pricing plans: Basic plan is free, Premium subscription costs $14.99 per year
Customer feedback:
- G2: 4.6 (38 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.6 (27 reviews)
GoodNotes
GoodNotes Interface
You will find all the essential note-taking features within this app, but you won’t have to deal with too many distractions or search for important commands. With GoodNotes you can jump straight into action and start writing down details of an online class immediately. It doesn’t matter whether you type or scribble by hand – the app will instantly save all your ideas so you can review them later.
Key functionalities:
- Very flexible and highly customizable digital notebook solution
- Notes can be organized into folders and subfolders, or saved in the cloud
- This app allows handwritten annotation of PDF or Power Point files
- Text and graphics can be directly dragged and dropped from one note to another
Notable issues:
- Handwriting recognition works only in English
- It’s not possible to delete multiple pages at once
Pricing plans: First 3 notebooks are free, unlimited access is unlocked with one-time $8.99 payment
Customer feedback:
- G2: 4.7 (27 reviews)
- Capterra: 4.5 (32 reviews)
NoteLedge
Noteledge Interface
The main purpose of this smartly designed app is to help users save time while exploring a certain topic or learning about a complex problem. It lets you import various elements from anywhere on the web, edit them in a variety of ways, and combine them into documents meaningful to you. If you are a visual thinker, this tool will impress you with a plethora of powerful tools at your disposal.
Key functionalities:
- Simple and reliable note-taking app made for creative workers that runs on every major OS
- Great multimedia capturing tools enable collecting elements for notes from anywhere
- The app allows users to map out their ideas and projects with mood boards
- Notes can be readily converted into PDFs or included in slide-show presentations
Notable issues:
Pricing plans: Basic plan is free, the Pro plan costs $2.49 monthly, Creative 365 plan costs $4.99 monthly. Students and teachers have a 50% discount.
Customer feedback:
- G2: 4.7 (10 reviews)
- Capterra: 5.0 (1 review)
Final Words
It doesn’t take long to learn how to take notes in online classes and retain as much relevant information as possible. A critical factor is having the right software app that doesn’t overwhelm you with functions that you can’t really use within the context of online education and allows you to quickly add details or explanations. Picking a well-established note-taking app that fits your learning style is a smart first step, but then you also need to formulate a good strategy for properly utilizing its features. With the right mindset and the appropriate software to support it, a student can take his academic work to an entirely different level and start building a name for himself.
