Notetaking with OneNote: A crucial part of the learning process
OneNote is a cloud-connected infinite canvas for notetaking and shared learning. Think of OneNote as a digital three-ring binder that holds everything in one place.
OneNote offers a wide range of features that make it a powerful educational tool. OneNote also has different versions for personal and classroom uses.
Google's Keep and Apple's Notes are also notetaking tools. But OneNote surpasses these tools because of its ability to embed content and the accessibility features. The OneNote experience is unparalleled amongst notetaking applications.
OneNote uses a system of tabs that mimic plastic dividers in a traditional notebook or binder. These tabs denote separate sections inside the OneNote notebook.
Select a specific section to see pages in that section that replicate pages in a traditional notebook. Users add a new section or page to OneNote by using the +Section or +Page button. Notebooks aren't limited to a specific number of sections or pages because – as mentioned earlier – OneNote is an infinite canvas!
The Home Ribbon of the Notebook includes a link to tags, which, when added to a page, help prioritize and categorize notes. If tags are associated with typed or handwritten notes, users search an entire Notebook for a particular tag, which is a very effective notetaking feature. Tags are used to highlight important information, emphasize questions users need to return to, or set items as "to do" items for checklists.
Another key feature in the Home Ribbon is the Dictate feature. When users select the Dictate icon, they speak and OneNote types what they're saying. Using dictation is a quick and easy way to create notes, capture thoughts, and make comments.
Dictation settings, found under the gear icon, provide users the ability to select many languages, making Dictate an excellent accessibility tool for users with a different primary language.
One of the most useful features of OneNote is the ability to embed audio, videos, Forms, and many other types of content. Embedded content brings learning to life, allowing for interaction between many different resource types beyond just notes on a page. Embedded audio content gives voice to feedback, which is an effective instructional strategy for educators and learners.
Embed content in OneNote (microsoft.com)
Another timesaving OneNote feature is the ability to Print to OneNote.
Anything normally printed to a printer prints to OneNote. The printed file becomes an image on the OneNote page that learners can annotate and highlight.
To print to OneNote, users select the Send to OneNote as a printer option. OneNote then prompts the user to select the section or page into which the printed image will land. Printing to OneNote saves time, money, and valuable resources such as ink and paper.
OneNote also supports digital inking with the Draw ribbon. Users with a digital stylus and a touch screen find that this feature most resembles taking notes with traditional pencil and paper; however, this feature also works with a mouse or trackpad.
All these features combine to make using OneNote an unprecedented learning experience.