Overview
As students research and gather information from digital resources, it can be a challenge annotating them in digital form or capturing notes effectively using digital tools. Fortunately, there are a growing number of resources that support this type of note-taking, and these tools can empower students to record their ideas, regardless of what media format they’re using.
Annotation Tools
The following list offers at least one annotation tool for each resource format:
- Digital Word Processing Documents: Use integrated highlighters and comment tools.
- PDFs: Use Kami or DocHub.
- Images: Annotate with Nimbus Screenshot (Tips).
- Websites: Annotate using Hypothesis, Sticky Notes, or Page Marker.
- Videos: Add time-stamped notes with ReClipped or YiNote.
Note-Taking and Synthesis Tools
These resources can support students with taking effective notes and making connections:
- Multi-column documents, using Google Docs or Microsoft Word
- Mind mapping tools, like MindMeister, Popplet, Mindomo (Tips), Canva, MindMup, or Coggle
- Graphic organizers created with Microsoft OneNote, Google Drawings (Tips), Google Slides, or Microsoft PowerPoint
- Graphic Organizers from AVID Open Access
Integration Ideas
When introducing students to these strategies, it can be beneficial to facilitate practice on one tool at a time. This can help scaffold the approaches and keep them from becoming too overwhelming. As students get more practiced and skilled with each technique, you can release more of the responsibility to them and let them choose the tool that they feel will best meet their needs. Regardless of the media format or note-taking tool, it can be helpful to introduce and reinforce AVID’s Focused Note-Taking Process.
How can I learn more?
For more information about this topic, explore the AVID Open Access article, Weave the Information Together: Step 4 of the Searching for ANSWERS Inquiry Process.