Taking Notes: Notability & PaperPort Notes

Notability and PaperPort Notes are note-taking applications for the iPad. There are a number of note-taking apps available, but not all have the same tools and each has a varying level of functionality. These apps can be used to annotate content, collaborate on documents, work with PowerPoint presentations and PDF files, manipulate images, and create unique materials for the classroom. The wide range of features also includes audio capabilities that can enhance classroom sessions or improve communication in library administrative duties.

Using these apps a librarian can easily create and change documents, work collaboratively, and seamlessly share all content with others. In meetings or teaching courses a librarian can record someone else’s speech, take notes, or pass the tablet to another for additional thoughts. The apps can also be used by librarians who teach information literacy courses to promote interaction in the classroom. Students can work together on a document and the content created can be uploaded to cloud storage, Blackboard, or shared via e-mail. Notability and PaperPort Notes stand out as the most comprehensive note-taking apps, ideally suited for use in libraries and specifically as tools in information instruction sessions.