Take Better Notes
Taking good notes is an important part of academic success in college. Not everything the professor covers in class will be in the course textbook, or outlined in slides, etc. In many classes, you may be asked to do a reading or watch a video before a class discussion. Actively taking notes can help you focus and better understand main concepts. Good note-taking will improve your active listening, comprehension of material, and retention. Taking notes on both synchronous and asynchronous material will help you better remember what you hear and see.
Part of good note-taking includes revisiting your notes. During this time, check for clarity, fill in definitions of key terms, organize, and figure out any concepts you may have missed or not fully understood in class. Figure out what may be missing and what you may need to add or even ask about.
The following apps have been tested and reviewed by members of Fairfield University's community for note-taking.
For clear recordings and accurate transcriptions, minimize background noise and sit close to the speaker. If you're using a phone or tablet, point the built-in microphone towards the speaker. If you are still having trouble picking up the audio well, consider using an external microphone.
If you have questions or concerns about any of these apps, you may contact academiccomputing@fairfield.edu or the product's support team.
Product | Cost | OS Compatibility | Features | Limitations |
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Glean | $129/year1 |
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Otter.ai | $20/month |
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Notability | $11.99/year2 |
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Microsoft OneNote | Free3 |
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Apple Notes | Free |
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1 Free for faculty, staff, and students registered through the Office of Accessibility with a note-taking assistant accommodation.
2 Free on University Managed iPads
3 Included in Fairfield University's Microsoft Subscription
If you are using an iPad that is compatible with the Logitech Crayon or the Apple Pencil, you can leverage Scribble to convert your handwriting to typed text in most applications.
Glean
Glean is an interactive note-taking and study tool supported by Fairfield University.
“Glean is note a replacement for a class, but a teal to augment learning and ensure students learn more effectively from the material being shared.”
Accessing Glean
Anyone can purchase an individual license to Glean, however Fairfield University does have licenses available. Faculty and staff should email academiccomputing@fairfield.edu to request a new account.
Students should contact ooa@fairfield.edu to determine their eligibility.
Open Glean.
In Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, navigate to app.glean.co
On a mobile device, open the Glean app (download from Google Play or App Store)
Follow the link to sign up for Glean and choose Sign Up with SSO.
Agree to the Terms of Service.
Sign in with your NetID and password.
Using Glean
To provide users with the most up-to-date instructions, we encourage you to review Glean’s Help Documentation. We recommend beginning with the Getting Started documents.
Glean FAQs
Notability
Notability is an iOS supported note-taking application that helps users stay organized.
Accessing Notability
If you are using a Fairfield University managed iPad, you can download Notability through the Self-Service app on your iPad.
If you are using a personal device, you can download Notability through the App Store. There are different tiers of subscriptions, including a limited, free version.
Notability FAQ
Where are my notes stored?
Notes are stored locally on your iPad unless you choose to back them up. We encourage you to enable both iCloud back up and a back up to another cloud server such as Dropbox or OneDrive.