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Default OneNote Templates are Lacking

Microsoft’s OneNote website recommends students keep a notebook for school and inside the notebook, each class gets a section. In fact, OneNote comes with template notebook and pages to keep you school work organized. Although I like the idea, I think it is poorly executed and shows the OneNote team aren’t students.

When I first used OneNote, I found the student template lacking. For each class, students have many different types of information. For example, we have homework, lectures notes, solutions, quizzes, tests, recitation notes, syllabus, handouts, etc. Most of this information can be organized in OneNote but is very difficult to do so in just one section. So, I decided to create my own template.

Each class gets its own notebook. Inside each notebook, I have a section for each type of information. The first section is the class syllabus where I highlight the grading criteria and test dates. The second section is for lecture notes. The third is for recitation. The fourth is for class handouts. A fifth tab is for example tests and solutions and I have a final tab for miscellaneous. Georgia Tech is a very technology orientated university and most information is online. Handouts, syllabus, example tests, etc are PDF documents and can simply be “printed” to OneNote.

This system works well for me because I know where everything is and can reach it in a few clicks instead of using the search feature. I am curious to know how others have tailored OneNote for themselves. Feel free to leave a comment about it.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, July 6th, 2006 at 10:11 am and is filed under OneNote, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Viewing 5 Comments

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    That's actually exactly how I have mire set up. It's more like a binder for each class instead of a folder. :)
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    • v
    For myself, I have each class in a section rather than a folder with various sections. It may well be the volume for myself is lower than your classes as I take much of my school work through online classes. Living in a rural location, I don't have access to high-speed and driving to school (no buses) means taking 2.5 hours out of my day, let alone the class.

    As a result, I download class lectures, handouts, assignment sheets, etc. into a folder inside My Documents and only keep my personal notes inside OneNote 2003. Yes, this is a heavy download but I can make the drive into town, locate a hot spot, download the entire course work, then drive home. It is more efficient than attending lectures for me.

    However, once I can use the new release, I may well be dropping files into OneNote 2007 and using that as an extended filing system. I like the thought of linking a Windows media audio file to OneNote comments and may well change my method to suit that requirement.

    I have not downloaded the new Office Beta because:
    1 - Low-speed download access
    2 - Some classwork may potentially be incompatible with the new release. Why should I blow a class just to work on the latest and greatest?
    3 - Some of my clients (I have a business on the side) require consistent and proven technology. I can not afford the potential of a failure for them and, while I love being cutting edge, I must balance my client's needs with my love of technology. And my clients pay my schooling.
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    • v
    Hey Tracy,

    Now that I think about it. It is like a "binder" for each of my classes. Thanks for extending the analogy.
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    Tim,

    OneNote 2007 isn't ready for prime time yet. I have had a few problems with it and lost some of the class work. The biggest problem I have so far is OneNote 2003 can't open the 2007 files yet.

    So far, OneNote 2007 is very impressive and I hardly look back at OneNote 2003 anymore.
    • ^
    • v
    Thank You
 
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