Maximizing the Value of Course Assets with Evernote

As an educator, it's crucial to stay organized and effective in managing course materials. One tool that can help achieve this is Evernote, a popular note-taking app that offers a range of features suitable for students and instructors alike. In this article, we'll explore how Bonni and Scott, two educators who have successfully integrated Evernote into their classes, use the platform to streamline their workflows.

Evernote's Versatility

Bonni uses multiple notebooks in Evernote, including reference, work, and personal notebooks, as well as a shared notebook for course materials. She also employs required notebooks that store LiveScribe pencasts. This organization enables her to keep her course content separate from the Learning Management System (LMS) environment.

Grow with It

When introducing Evernote to students, Bonni recommends starting with the basics and gradually expanding its use as needed. This approach allows users to become familiar with the app's features and capabilities without feeling overwhelmed.

Integration and Security

Evernote's ability to integrate with other apps and services is another key benefit. Bonni sets permissions so that she can edit notes in her notebooks, while students have read-only access. Scott, on the other hand, gives students a unique Evernote email address to send notes to their class-specific notebook.

Effective Communication

In the classroom, Evernote enables instructors to create a collaborative learning environment where students can share ideas and engage with course materials. However, Bonni emphasizes that Evernote should be used in a uni-directional way, focusing on sharing information rather than having a conversational tool.

Tips for Maximizing Value

To get the most out of Evernote, instructors can consider using it alongside other tools like writing-specific applications (Ulysses or Scrivener) and taking advantage of features such as sticky notes, documents with auto-size, and photo uploads. Brett Kelly's Evernote Essentials eBook provides a comprehensive guide to getting started with the app.

Evernote offers a range of benefits for educators, from organization and collaboration to integration and security. By understanding how other instructors successfully integrate Evernote into their classes, you can maximize its value in your own teaching practice. Whether you're an experienced user or just starting out, this article provides valuable insights into the capabilities of Evernote and how it can be used to enhance your course assets.

Resources

* Brett Kelly's Evernote Essentials eBook

* Productive Nerd Blog: The landscape of options for notebook-type applications

* Podcast notes: Guest, Director, University Access Programs, Abilene Christian University

Evernote student account