How do you take NOTES in class during Nursing Scool?

[NursingStoodent]

I am starting Nursing School in January and I am trying to figure out how to take notes once classes start. I have a windows 8 laptop and would like to do all my note taking on the laptop. During pre-nursing I used to see students taking notes on their computers and iPads and tablets all the time. I have no idea how they do it and I have never taken notes on my computer before. My typing speed is okay... not too bad. So my question to all fellow students is exactly how do you take and organize your notes using a laptop?

Is it easier to take notes on a laptop or a tablet or iPad or good 'ol pen and paper? I dont have a tablet so any advise on which kind to buy would be helpful as well!

Is there an app you download to take notes or do u just type away in a word document (which I dont think I am going to like too much)?

I like recording my lectures while I am taking notes. Is there a way to not record the clicking sounds of the keyboard while you type?

I love my paper, pen, and notebook but sometimes during lectures it get to be too much to write and since I like to type I want to give this new method a try. Plus I want to be able to share and print my notes as well.

Ideally I would like to be able to record my lecture, and type my notes while having the flexibility to draw out diagrams and insert tables within my notes.

Any advise regarding which apps I should use or how I should record my lectures or take and organize my notes would be helpful!!

[NursingStoodent]

Thank you pmabraham!

[NursingStoodent]

I take very few notes - I find that the more I write, the more I miss during the lecture. I only write down the following:

+ highly emphasized concepts

+ tables/diagrams the professor writes on the board that are not found in the textbook/powerpoints

+ any information that I don't recognize/recall from the textbook/powerpoints

+ anything that starts with "You need to know for the exam..." or "You don't need to know for the exam..."

Recording lectures is a great idea - you can listen to them while you are driving, travelling, etc.

This is actually great advise. This will aid me in studying smarter. I always miss out on the lecture because I am busy writing and utilizing your ideas can help me focus on the lecture better. Thank you.

[NursingStoodent]

Thank you EVERYONE for sharing your ideas. It will help me tremendously and others also who visit this post :)

[NRKB, MSN, RN]

Definitely Onenote! It is the best! I have Windows 8 as well. I'm not sure about what books you have online access to, but if you are reading an online textbook and there is some good information on that page, in Windows 8 you can just hit the "Share" button and it takes a picture of your screen. You can choose to share it in Onenote. The image will go right into whatever Notebook you want it in! There is also a free Onenote app for your cellphone so that you can connect to your Onenote account and read your notes anywhere! I love it. Great way to stay organized.

Another tip, if your teachers use powerpoint presentations. Take notes right into the "notes" area and save them there. That way you can quiz yourself on each slide or add extra information to clarify the topic.

Since time is short, don't bother taking extensive notes on stuff you already know. Focus on the most important information or concepts that are more difficult to understand. That way you are making the most of your oh so precious time! Good luck!

[pmabraham, BSN, RN]

Good day:

Evernote works on various operating systems, smart phones and tablets. I've been using it for close to a year now with 3.1K notes. It works rather well.

Thank you.

[NRKB, MSN, RN]

pmabraham,

Isn't there a limited about of space on Evernote? I thought I read that you have to pay for additional space.

[rosyariana]

I usually do the good old pen an paper. Or pen and powerpoints. But im going to be trying Notes on the laptop for my 2nd semester. We shall see how that works.

[Pink Magnolia, BSN, RN]

I print off the PPTs (4 slides to a page) and write notes directly on the that. When I'm reading the text at home, I write notes in a notebook. I also make flow charts in it. During lecture (I always read ahead) I open my notebook and refer to it if the professor asks a question for participation. These seemed to worked for me.

[wannabecnl]

Most of my professors would send us their lecture Powerpoints via email or post them to their Blackboard site. I would download the Powerpoint to my laptop and then just open a copy of the file. Then I could be looking at the same slide on my screen as was on the overhead projector, and I would type my notes into the Notes section on the screen, which is below the slide and has formatting, returns, regular spacing, etc. That let me keep the visual and my notes in the same place, so I could go back and study the Powerpoint.

I did this because I write very slowly and find myself getting lost in a paper notebook if I try to hand-write notes. I type quickly, about 80-90 wpm on a keyboard, so it was MUCH easier and more efficient to type notes than to write them. If you go this route, note that you may get a professor who won't let you use any electronics at all in class (yes, I just graduated in 2011 and these folks still exist!), so be prepared to take hand-written notes, too!

[loriangel14, RN]

I always used pen and paper.

[liketheairport]

Also, if you can, use Google Drive. I love that I can really have all my documents on all devices, so long as I have a web browser pretty much. This means that if I need to go to the library or over to school quickly for something, I don't need to haul my laptop or anything.

[barcode120x, RN, NP]

Initially, I started doing full notes by typing them up both in class and as I read. After this semester, I definitely changed my note-taking style that included both typing up notes as well as writing down + highlighting + colorful pens. I did notice that the important info tends to stick in my head MORE if I write it down in color and/or highlights. Even if I typed the notes in color and highlights, it just doesn't stick to my head as well so I do a combo of both.

During lecture, we can DL the powerpoints so I just add onto the powerpoints noting things the instructor says in blue, and "important" stuff in red (such as the must know, or memorize, etc). Then, when I read, I highlight and write all over my book. After that, when studying for the tests, I'll type up a test breakdown composed of important stuff mentioned in lecture and things in the book I found relevant. I'll print those out and bring it to my study group and as we go through each section, I'll add more notes from what others say.