Online classes and virtual textbooks have been increasing in popularity. They are less expensive than traditional classes and often less expensive than traditional textbooks. But they bring with them their own challenges. Note taking is an essential task in any class that provides even a moderate challenge to students. But it does not work as easily when you’re reading from a tablet. Here are some things you can do to improve the note taking process.

Read on One Device and Make Notes on Another

One of the biggest challenges with note taking on a tablet is the fact that you are reading from the device while attempting to take notes. Switching back and forth between windows can be disconcerting, and your tablet may actually lock up. Instead of trying to handle this in multiple windows, read the textbook on one device and type the notes up in another. Some tablets allow you to hook them up to a laptop or a computer so that you can, in effect, have a separate screen. If you have the space, this is your most efficient option for note taking.

Use an In App Note Taking Option

Sometimes you can download internal apps, also known as “in apps”, for note taking. These particular apps are just as appealing as cheap textbooks. All you have to do is start up the app and it will run along inside your textbook. A number of these actually come with virtual textbooks. Just bear in mind that they do sometimes cause jams, and sometimes they lose the information that you put in. Make sure that you back it up regularly. Many of these apps do come with automatic backup systems, but you should make sure that you know where those files are located in case you have to manually access them. It’s also good to back these up on another storage option. Continue reading Note Taking and Virtual Textbooks →