Microsoft OneNote

OneNote iconMicrosoft OneNote is a versatile digital note-taking application. It allows users to create and organize notes, drawings, and other content in a digital notebook format.

Key Features

  • Notebooks: OneNote organizes content into notebooks, sections, and pages. Within each notebook, you can create sections (like chapters) and pages (individual notes).
  • Rich Formatting: Customize your notes with fonts, colors, and styles. Add images, tables, and hyperlinks. Use the drawing tools to sketch diagrams or annotate content.
  • Tags and Labels: Apply tags to specific content (e.g., “To-Do,” “Important,” “Question”). These tags help you quickly find and filter relevant information.
  • Search and Indexing: OneNote’s robust search capabilities allow you to find specific notes, even within handwritten content. The indexing system ensures efficient retrieval.
  • Collaboration: Share notebooks with colleagues or classmates. Collaborate in real time, leave comments, and track changes.
  • Integration: OneNote seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). You can embed Excel spreadsheets, link to Word documents, and more.

Best Practices

  • Structured Note-Taking: Organize your notebooks logically. Use descriptive section titles and consistent formatting.
  • Templates: OneNote offers templates for various purposes (meeting minutes, project planning, etc.). Explore these to jump-start your note-taking.
  • Sync Across Devices: Install OneNote on your computer, tablet, and smartphone. Your notes sync automatically, ensuring access from anywhere.
  • Web Clipping: Use the OneNote browser extension to clip web articles, research, and inspiration directly into your notebooks.

Class Notebooks

OneNote Class Notebook is a feature within OneNote designed to enhance classroom collaboration and organization. Each Class Notebook consists of three key components:

  • Student Notebooks – Private notebooks shared between teachers and individual students. Teachers can access all student notebooks, but students cannot view each other’s notebooks.
  • Content Library – A read-only section where teachers can share course materials. Only teachers can add or edit content.
  • Collaboration Space – A shared notebook where teachers and students can collaborate and organize information.

Once a Class Notebook is created, teachers and students can access it on any device using the OneNote app.

Accessing Class Notebook in Microsoft Teams

  1. To locate a Class Notebook within a class team:
  2. Open the desired class team.
  3. Click Class Notebook.
  4. Use the expandable menu on the left to add or edit pages.

Using Class Notebook in a Channel

  1. Navigate to the relevant class team.
  2. Select the desired channel.
  3. Click the Notes tab to access the Class Notebook.

Creating Assignments with Class Notebook Pages

  1. Add the necessary page to the Content Library or Collaboration Space.
  2. Navigate to Assignments in the class team and click Create.
  3. Enter the assignment details and click Add Resources.
  4. In the resource selection box, choose Class Notebook and select the page you want to attach.
  5. Select the section of students’ notebooks for distribution (e.g., Handouts).
  6. Click Done. Each student will receive a copy of the page in their individual Class Notebook. They can also access it directly from the assignment card in Microsoft Teams.

Further Reading

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