How to take notes on a tablet?

Tablets are a convenient and easy-to-use tool that make the creative process versatile and capable of continuous renewal. Notetaking too becomes very simple and offers multiple ways to organise or create diagrams. So, it is clear that the days of pen and paper are over; however, there is still a need for a very similar drawing or writing experience on an iPad. Furthermore, optimising notes on tablets may not always be intuitive, so here are some tips and the best apps for writing on a tablet or iPad.

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Aug 14, 20240 comments

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MERGING THE PAPER AND TABLET EXPERIENCES

The most natural way to write and take notes would appear to be on paper. Holding a biro or pencil and writing in a notebook has a pedagogical value: it allows us to develop our senses and coordinate touch with sight. Writing on paper, therefore, will always remain our first way of learning to write and the one that comes most naturally to us, precisely because it prepares us for more complex manual activities. The best solution to get the versatility of the tablet and the same kind of feel as a sheet of paper is the application of a paper-effect film, like the one from doodroo. The paper feel screen protector replicates the friction of a sheet of paper, giving you the same kind of effect: it is available for iPad, Samsung Galaxy TAB, remarkable, Microsoft Surface, Onyx BOOX and other devices.

TIPS FOR THE BEST WAY TO TAKE NOTES

In general, the best way to take notes is subjective, so the first tip is to try different styles of notetaking and choose the one that suits you best. What is certain is that taking notes in an unstructured manner can be a recipe for disaster, especially if you are taking notes to prepare for an exam or if you need them to be easy to refer to. What not everyone knows is that there are actual systems, with rules and names; here are the most popular ones briefly explained.

1. Cornell Method

This is a very popular method and perhaps one of the simplest. It involves dividing the sheet into 3 sections: one to take notes (this is why it will be the largest section), one to jot down keywords, and one to summarise concepts and/or add notes. Use the larger section whilst you take notes and the other two sections for editing later. In this way, you can label your notes with keywords and obtain a clear overview of insights or questions to ask. It is a very dynamic method that can be used for all kinds of topics.

2. Sentence-note method (Outline)

Creates a hierarchical list of topics, as if it were the table of contents of a book. For each main topic, there will be a subtopic and so on. This method allows you to break down a complex topic but is also very useful for preparing projects and presentations. It is useful for simple topics that are not too extensive.

3. Concept map method (Mind mapping)

This is one of the most effective methods, but it does require more reworking. Using diagrams or other figures as desired, link the topics together with the appropriate keywords. In this way, all the concepts are mapped out and easily memorised. It can be used for all kinds of topics.

4. Method Charting or Flow Chart

Divide the sheet into columns (usually 3) and assign a topic to each of them. Fill in the column with concepts, notes and keywords related to the topic. If the topic is very extensive, you will have to use multiple sheets.

5. Sentence Method

Take several sheets and assign each of them a topic. Divide each topic into subheadings, each of which should be a sentence with a keyword included

BEST NOTETAKING APPS FOR TABLETS AND IPADS

There are many apps that help you take notes on tablets using the methods just described but in a much more convenient way.

Notability

At the time of writing, Notability is only available for iOs and iPad. To use it, you can type text with the keyboard or write with an Apple Pencil. The app allows you to add images, insert blank pages, highlight and record audio. On this last point, the option to synchronise the audio to the text is very useful: you can record a lecture and always see what you wrote while the professor was talking. All the documents produced are synchronised and saved online on the cloud of your choice, such as Dropbox and Google Drive, so you never lose anything.

Goodnotes

Available for Android, Windows, Apple and also as a web version. It offers an excellent notetaking experience. Particularly appreciated is the extensive customisation of paper and notebooks. It also allows for collaboration with other users and the creation of workflows. Goodnotes also implements some AI functionality to write more confidently and help you with maths.

Touchnotes

An app with a very intuitive design thanks to the 'tree' navigation and the various viewing modes available. You have everything you need at hand on the top and side bars. You can even convert what you write by hand with the pen into standard text. You can find Touchnotes on the Play store or in the App store.

INKredible

A very minimalist app, suitable for anyone needing an app that is simple and gets straight to the point. The patented texture technology and automatic palm rejection make for a unique writing experience. It is completely free of charge.

Notebook

A fantastic app for taking quick notes anywhere. You can also create your notes using keywords and, together with the extensive customisation, it is also excellent for creating mind maps. You can create all kinds of notes: from bullet points to tables, from audios to sketches. This app is also free.

Noteful

Designed specifically for users wishing to write freehand. Ideal if you are looking for freedom: from layouts to overlays. This feature makes it possible to create even very complex structures. Noteful is specifically for writing on iPad with Apple Pencil.