* Last updated / reviewed: 13th October, 2009

Introduction

The aim of this guide is to explain how to use Evernote (http://www.evernote.com) as a virtual notebook on your mobile phone or iPod.

Some context

Evernote offers both a free and subscription service. This discussion is based upon the free service. Evernote offers an online space where you can store your notes (text, handwritten and/or audio) and your pictures. These can be sorted into different notebooks, arranged by date, type and include tags (keywords). You can also share these with the world or with specific people. If you enable sharing and editing this could become a powerful collaborative space for people to work up ideas and share material. The service also offers the very exciting dimension of having a mobile phone client. Therefore, you can use your phone as your electronic notebook.

There are a number of very obvious learning and teaching scenarios. Firstly, in informal learning where the student captures their notes, thoughts, observations and reflections. These are stored online for easy search and retrieval later. In addition, through sharing these with a supervisor can be used as part of an e-Portfolio. Secondly, the application within field based work. You simply don’t need to carry around pens, paper etc., The use in field work is further strengthened as photos can include GPS coordinates. Thirdly, a tool for supervisors, where they are required to make notes based on observations, such as observing lecturers, or students present.

The process

The following is an example of how I recently used it to record my notes from a conference I attended (Handheld Learning, 2009). It demonstrates the simplicity of using the software.

Scenario 1: Taking notes during lectures (assume going to use it all semester)

Pre-lecture

1.    Create your account on Evernote (http://www.evernote,com)
2.    Create an appropriate notebook. A notebook is like a folder so you can use this to sort your observations, in addition to using specific tags.
3. Set up any sharing options, i.e., you might want to share your notebook with others
4.    Install the appropriate client on your phone

During the lecture

1.    Take your notes. Remember to include appropriate tags etc.,

The following screen shots illustrate the broad process. Note these have been captured using Evernote on a HTC Touch HD.

1. Open the phone client

Shot 2: Assign a tag (key word)

 
Shot 3: Start taking notes
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Post lecture

1. Log onto the online version via your computer
2. Modify and edit notes and images (if appropriate)

The following screen shots illustrate the online space

 

More information

For more information on how you might use the software and if clients are available see their web site (http://www.evernote.com). Please note, you are strongly advised to read and consider the University of Edinburgh’s Web 2.0 Guidelines (https://www.wiki.ed.ac.uk/display/Web2wiki/Web+2.0+Guidelines) as Evernote is an externally hosted solution which the University of Bath has no influence on and the resources are not held on University systems.