7 Note-Taking Apps and Websites Reviewed

  • By
  • 12/12/13

Common Sense Media’s service Graphite, which offers independent ratings and reviews on learning apps and websites, has compiled this list of its top note-taking apps and websites. For complete reviews, and for each app’s "Learning Rating," visit the Graphite website.

1.  Popplet

Popplet logo

Price: Free
Concepts: Effective communication, expression, digital creation
Grade Levels: 1-8

Popplet is a click-and-drag platform that gives students a quick way to organize information or craft presentations. The intuitive design offers easy upload of content, comments, info/data and collaboration. Read the full review. 


2.  Mural.ly

Murally

Price: Free
Concepts: Collaboration, project-based learning
Grade Levels: 2-12

Mural.ly is a website where kids can save text, video, and images to a virtual corkboard to share, use for presentations, or catalog for future use. Can be used to facilitate classroom group projects. Read the full review.


3.  Subtext

Subtext

Price: Free
Concepts: Reading comprehension, critical thinking, asking questions
Grade Levels: 4-12

Subtext is a digital reader app that allows multiple users to annotate and discuss a text in its margins, turning the solitary act of reading into a highly engaged, fun, and collaborative activity. Read the full review. 


4. Notability

Notability

Price: $2.99
Concepts: Brainstorming, self-direction, group projects
Grade Levels: 6-12

On a single page of notes, students can type, write, draw, highlight, record audio, cut, paste and even insert content captured from websites. Notability is a great tool for brainstorming ideas and for collaborative group projects. Read the full review.


5. Skitch

Skitch app logo

Price: Free
Concepts: Working efficiently, using and applying technology
Grade Levels: 6-12

With the ability to take notes by hand and annotate images and text, visual learners should respond well to Skitch's style. Users will need an Evernote account to help organize notes and save creations. Read the full review.


6. Diigo

Diigo

Price: Free
Concepts: Discussion, group projects, investigation, social media
Grade Levels: 7-12

More than just a bookmarking tool, Diigo lets users collaborate, collect, comment on, and share info online. Educators can set up student and group accounts to help students collaboratively organize research. Read the full review.


7. Citelighter

Citelighter

Price: Free, paid Pro version
Concepts: Text analysis, applying information, thinking critically
Grade Levels: 8-12 

Citelighter helps students tackle the tough work of organizing and collecting online research. Students can use it to capture an article with a click: grabbing excerpts, saving citations, and automatically creating a bibliography.

About the Author

Common Sense Education helps educators find the best edtech tools, learn best practices for teaching with tech, and equip students with the skills they need to use technology safely and responsibly. Go to Common Sense Education for free resources including full reviews of digital tools, ready-made lesson plans, videos, webinars, and more.


Featured

  • classroom scene with students gathered around a laptop showing a virtual tour interface

    Discovery Education Announces Spring Lineup of Free Virtual Field Trips

    This Spring, Discovery Education is collaborating with partners such as Warner Bros., DC Comics, National Science Foundation, NBA, and more to present a series of free virtual field trips for K-12 students.

  • glowing padlock shape integrated into a network of interconnected neon-blue lines and digital nodes, set against a soft, blurred geometric background

    3 in 4 Administrators Expect a Security Incident to Impact Their School This Year

    In an annual survey from education identity platform Clever, 74% of administrators admitted that they believe a security incident is likely to impact their school system in the coming year. That's up from 71% who said the same last year.

  • horizontal stack of U.S. dollar bills breaking in half

    ED Abruptly Cancels ESSER Funding Extensions

    The Department of Education has moved to close the door on COVID relief funding for schools, declaring that "extending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department’s priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion."

  • pattern of icons for math and reading, including a pi symbol, calculator, and open book

    HMH Launches Personalized Path Solution

    Adaptive learning company HMH has introduced HMH Personalized Path, a K-8 ELA and math product that combines intervention curriculum, adaptive practice, and assessment for students of all achievement levels.