Notely (Shannon Doherty)

Notely is a Web 2.0 tool that allows students to take notes and store them online in a type of digital notebook. A major advantage of this tool is the ability to access class notes from any computer with an internet connection. Also some students will find it faster to type up their notes rather than hand-write them and will feel it's easier to organize them on the computer. Furthermore, used over time this tool can create a digital storage locker or portfolio of notes that a student has taken during the course of his or her academic career, allowing for easy reference and a look back on prior classes taken. Notes saved with Notely are also fully searchable, which can save time when you are unsure of which lecture the desired information was presented. Highlighting and pictures can also be inserted into the notes. And for the environmentally conscious and those wishing to go paper-free, the use of Notely means the use of significantly less paper!

Notes stored with Notely are easily downloadable as pdf files, Microsoft Word Documents (.doc), and simple text files (.txt). They can also be emailed to anyone, for example a student who missed class. And if you need a paper copy, printing is easy!

While its name may be deceiving, Notely actually boasts a lot more features than a basic note taking tool. A particularly helpful application allows you to list your "to-dos" and tasks, such as homework due dates, study reminders, test dates, or group project meetings. A fully functional calendar tool is available so that a student can glance at his or her upcoming assignments or tests.


Contact information of classmates can be stored for easy access when you have a homework question or want to organize a study session. This is currently a free tool, so it wouldn't be a financial burden for students or educators.

I believe the application of a note-taking Web 2.0 tool, such as Notely, with additional time-management features, would be a powerful tool to keep students on track and organized and also present a unique, easily accessible digital notebook for students to store and view their notes.

And for those on the fence, Notely offers a complete video tour of their websites, including video instruction of how to use the service. They also have a demo account that anyone can log into and get a feel for the tool before signing up!

(Images from Notely's website.)