From my university experience, the use of laptops in class is far more popular than the use of other technologies, or just pen and paper in general. Before college, I took notes on my MacBook Air like most people. However, after entering university, I started using an iPad. Before getting one, I thought an iPad was just like a bigger iPhone, and that I wouldn’t get a lot of use from it. Once I got one that mindset completely changed. Especially in the wake of virtual learning, my iPad has truly benefited me in multiple ways. So, I want to share some tips on how to make the most of an iPad if you find yourself unsure on how to use it effectively.
Notability
Notability is an application that I bought from the App Store over a year ago for $10. I use it every day. It is a note taking application that acts as virtual paper so you can write notes on your iPad. It also has a recording option to record lectures. I make the most of it by uploading PDFs of my lecture slides and writing my notes directly on them. The recording matches up with where and what I’m writing too, so going back to hear clarification on a certain point of a lecture is super easy. It has completely changed the way I do my schoolwork for the better. The Notes app that comes with the iPad has similar features as well, Notability just works great for organizing notes by different subjects.
The Apple Pencil
An iPad itself has a lot to offer. However, the addition of an Apple Pencil has really upgraded how I take notes during lecture on my iPad. There are a lot of stylus’ offered from many different brands, but I find the first generation Apple Pencil works very effectively for me. Using this pencil is not only great for my note taking, but also for the environment. Writing directly on lecture slides is the most effective way for me personally to learn, so using this electronic pencil and paper system helps save a lot of paper and time! There are also studies about how hand writing notes helps students remember information better, which you can learn more about here.
Now we’re online…
Even if you don’t want to buy an Apple Pencil or download Notability, an iPad has a lot of use now that our classes are online. Online Zoom sessions are great, but it’s hard to look at your professor and the educational content online at the same time. So, what I do is I play the Zoom lectures on my laptop, and then I use my iPad to look at lecture slides, assignment descriptions, emails, or anything else I need for the lecture. Having the separation is super convenient. I tend to use my laptop for writing papers, assignments, and such, and I use my iPad for my notes. Using my iPad has made the transition to working online a lot easier.
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