We all know that taking notes in an online course is a valuable study strategy. It helps us process information, retain knowledge, and even form arguments. However, taking notes in an online course can be difficult for several reasons. First of all, notes are generally something we do with pen and paper. And we’re used to writing on paper, so taking notes in an online course might not seem like a natural fit.
Second, even if you use a searchable text-editing tool to help you find the information you need, switching between tools to format your notes is distracting. (You can save time by using a note-taking application on your computer. But this doesn’t solve the formatting problem. )
Third, there’s a whole range of possible formats for notes, from handwritten lists to neatly formatted paragraphs with headings and subheadings. So it isn’t easy to know what will work best in an online course. Furthermore, you might not have time to learn all of the different tools.
Last but not least, formatting online class notes can be a big job. But you don’t have to do it by hand. Instead, you can create your notes in a text editor like Notepad. Then use a word processor to clean up your work.
With all that in mind, here are some tips to help you take notes during your online course
Start with a Good Text Editor
First, you need a good text editor. The best text editors allow you to format your notes as efficiently as possible. Some text editors even help you automatically add headers and footers. For example, Notepad++ is a free, open-source program that enables you to create notes quickly. It also includes a text editor you can use to format your notes.
Some text editors also include features that make it easy to take notes in an online course. For example, Notepad++ includes a toolbar that shows you the links and search terms in the document when you click on them. It also includes a spellchecker and auto-correction feature. And it lets you add links to your notes in the text. You can also use the toolbar to jump directly to a link in your document.
Use a Word Processor Does the Job for You
Second, when you have finished taking notes, you can clean them up in a word processor. For example, Microsoft Word includes some features that make it easy to create notes. For example, you can make text bold, italic, or underlined. And you can use a variety of font styles and colors to format your notes.
You may even want to choose a plain text editor that doesn’t include any formatting features. That way, you can format your notes in a word processor. This helps you save time and achieve a professional look for your notes.
You can also use the spellcheck feature, which helps you fix any spelling or grammar errors.
Use a Search Tool to Find the Information You Need
Third, you can use a search tool to find the information you need in your notes. The search tool can be activated by clicking on the magnifying glass icon. You can enter a keyword or phrase you want to find in your notes. The search tool will look through the text and give you a list of all instances where those keywords appear.
For example, Notepad++ includes a search feature that looks for keywords in your notes. When you click on a keyword, Notepad++ will show you all notes that contain that keyword. Thus, you can use the search feature to quickly find information about a topic, no matter where in your notes it appears.
Use a Formatting Tool to Organize Your Notes
Last, it would help if you used a formatting tool to help organize your notes. Online courses often include lists of information, so it’s essential to know which list it belongs to before writing in the notes.
For example, you might want to start a note with the name of the course. Or you might want to include a link that goes to the table of contents so that you can quickly find information about a specific topic. You can also use a formatting tool to add a header to each note. This lets you keep track of where you are in your notes.
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