Adaptive Technology: Notetaking Apps

Taking notes in school can be a challenging process for students who have differing abilities. Each student hears, processes, records, and organizes information differently (Common Sense Media, 2022). It can be hard for students to perform all of these tasks at the same time. In the past, audio players and recorders have been used to help students combat these challenges. For instance, many students can use an audio recorder to follow along when reading different texts, and a recorder can be used to record a lecture that a students can go back and listen to at their own pace (Morin, 2022). In recent years, these types of adaptive technologies have evolved and become more online based. There are many different online tools, such as note-taking apps, that make processing information from class lessons and notetaking easier for students.

Adaptive technology helps students to process and understand what they are hearing. Many students suffer from auditory processing disorders that can cause them to mishear certain words or sounds associated with learning. Tools such as listening devices, captions, and text-to-speech apps have helped to combat these struggles. They can also assist with other noises that may create distractions when listening and processing information (The Understood Team, 2022). Although the audio recorder is still a technology that is being used by students to help with notetaking, there are now notetaking apps that students can take advantage of when learning. Notetaking apps are also easier to use because they are used within a technology that students use in school, so it is always there to use and there is no issue of having to carry it around. "Some notetaking apps allow students to synchronize their handwritten or typed notes to an audio recording, allowing them navigate the audio better." (The Understood Team, 2022). Common Sense Media (2022) highlights several notetaking apps that students can use that allow them to write and organize their notes in a more effective way that aligns with their specific learning need. 

Here is a list of a few suggested apps (there were too many to just choose one!):

• AudioNote
• Evernote
• Notability
• Whink
• Inspiration Maps
• MindMeister
• Microsoft OneNote
• MarginNote
• LiquidText 
• Squid
• Otter Voice Notes

Many of these apps are free, and some cost a one-time fee. Many of them also include a free trial. The neat thing about this list is that there are options for most of the technologies that are used in school such as Microsoft, Android, iOS, iPad, and Chromebooks. These apps span across different grade levels for K-12 and some are more geared towards lower grade levels, whereas others are more geared towards higher grade levels. For instance, Evernote is a very user-friendly notetaking app that would be acceptable for all grade levels. It is free, and accessible through the web. It is also downloadable as an app for all platforms. Students can create notes and organize them into categories. Notes can also be shared between one another. There are options to add text, charts, pictures, PDF pages, and even audio. So, students could still record a lecture and add it to their types of notes. 

Works Cited:

Common Sense Media. (2022). 11 apps to help kids with notetaking. Note-Taking Apps for Students | Understood

Morin, A. (2022). 8 examples of assistive technology and adaptive tools. Assistive Technology Tools That Can Help With Learning Disabilities | Understood

The Understood Team. (2022). Assistive technology for auditory processing disorder. Assistive Technology for Auditory Processing Disorder | Understood