If you are a student with access to a computer or tablet, this blog is for you! Going through our academic careers today has so many advantages. With the move towards digital educational materials, we no longer have to lug around multiple heavy textbooks and notebooks. But how can we continue and improve our organization to optimize our study habits and, ultimately, our grades? The past year, I made the switch to digital note taking with the Microsoft application OneNote; students with a school email can download it for free on any device. These tricks have helped keep my notes creative and organized when planning for my classes or studying for that big test!

Use ‘Tags’ to locate critical words quickly when studying.

Tags are the OneNote equivalent of sticky tabs or bookmarks. They allow you to flag certain words, sentences, or entire sections under a specific category. Some of the tags available include Important, Question, Definition, Remember for Later, and To-do. OneNote also allows you to create your tag label for quick note organization. You can later search up the tag, and a list of all the items you have applied that tag to will appear.

Microsoft OneNote with a Microsoft 365 subscription is the latest version of OneNote. Previous versions include OneNote 2016, OneNote 2013, and OneNote 2010. Microsoft OneNote The digital note-taking app for your devices. Microsoft's OneNote is an app to consider if you regularly use Microsoft Office apps such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; the app is fully integrated with them. Type, write, and draw using the freeform pen, and use powerful organization tools like pinning to easily find what you're looking for later.

Now, taking manual meeting notes in Teams has been around for a while. You just go into Settings, then click Take Notes. And this is a great capability to associate written notes with a meeting that everyone in the meeting can get to later. And, of course, you can type whatever you want to here. Microsoft OneNote The digital note-taking app for your devices. OneNote, digital note taking app - Office. Microsoft OneNote has your digital notebook needs covered. With OneNote 2016 we've made.

Tags in OneNote

Use the Math feature to write and solve math problems quickly.

The Math feature is my favorite. The Math button, located under the ‘Insert’ and ‘Draw’ tabs, not only allows you to convert ink math equations to text, but it solves the problems, too! It also has the option to view a step-by-step solution to the math problem. This feature is my favorite because I do a lot of math in my area of study, and it helps that I can quickly do some calculations in my notes without reaching for my calculator or opening a separate app. A bonus is that it works with both handwritten ink and typed text.

Microsoft Note Taking App

Math feature in OneNote

Insert printouts to your notebook.

This feature is my most used, especially since we’ve begun distance learning. My professors provide most of our study material through printouts, but this feature makes it so that I don’t have to worry about actually printing it out. I can simply print the document straight into OneNote or download it to my computer and upload it into my notebook. From there, I can highlight and annotate it as necessary.

Microsoft Note Taking Apps Touchscreen

Printout in OneNote

Choose ruled lines option for page structure.

Microsoft Onenote

When making the switch from physical notebooks to OneNote, the endless pages on the app can seem overwhelming. One feature that allows me the familiarity of loose-leaf paper is the ‘Ruled Lines’ option. This feature will enable you to add ruled or grid lines of different widths and sizes to keep your notes aligned and organized. There is also the option to have all your notebooks automatically ruled to your preference.

Digital notes have been proven an essential tool in the future of education. There is so much it has to offer, which all leads to the remarkable convenience. OneNote is one of the many apps and programs out there to help you stay organized in a digital world. These features are just a few of the many more it has, to continue and improve our organization to optimize our study habits.

Natural note taking for the modern worker.

We have more options for note taking today than ever before – stickies, notebooks, voice memos – but increased options doesn’t automatically lead to greater innovations. By employing the right note taking habits, we can capture our best ideas while also boosting retention, creativity, and collaboration.

In The innovator’s guide to modern note taking, discover how modern techniques encourage seamless note taking and sharing with a natural approach to the digital medium.

In this eBook, readers learn how:

Microsoft Note Taking Software

• Doodling can actually improve productivity
• To stop feeding the stress monster
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• Sharing notes via the cloud can lead to innovative breakthroughs

Microsoft Note Taking Software

Declutter your mind, and your workspace, by adopting a natural approach to modern note taking. Download The innovator’s guide to modern note taking to learn how.