Evernote: a Tool for Teachers (and Everyone Else, Too)

While it has gained popularity in recent years, many people are still unaware of Evernote. Evernote is a note taking software similar to Microsoft Word, but much more helpful. Users can create notes made up of typed text, webpages (partial or whole excerpts), photographs, and voice memos.

Evernote is free to use, though users can choose to upgrade to a $5 a month premium account. Premium accounts allow larger notes with more room for attached files, as well as other benefits not accessible by regular account users. 

Evernote is a fantastic tool for the classroom, as shown by the Epic Evernote Experiment done by the the "Nerdy Teacher" Nicholas Provenzano. For his experiment, Provenzano decided to use Evernote for everything he did in all of the classes he taught. This meant that all his class readings, homework, notes, even cross-referencing between units for his students' ease. He pointed out that the "process was long and tedious" but that he now has the notes forever. 

He then created e-portfolios for his students so that they could catalogue their work throughout the year, giving them the ability to easily go back and look at their earlier work. He brings up the point that if entire school districts were to have their teachers use Evernote, students could eventually track their work from elementary school all the way up through high school. 

A common complaint from a lot of the critics about Evernote is that it is a pain to use if the user is only using it as a note-taking tool. Whitson Gordon explains in his LifeHacker.com article "I've Been Using Evernote All Wrong. Here's Why It's Actually Amazing." He points out that in order to get the most out of the software, the user needs to immerse themselves entirely into the program.

I have not had much experience in this program, mainly because I prefer to handwrite all of my notes. However, once I begin teaching, I would like to use Evernote as a way to catalogue my work the same way that Nicholas Provenzano did so that my students can keep track of their work to see how they improve throughout the year.

References

Provenzano, N. (n.d.). The Nerdy Teacher: The Epic Evernote Experiment. Retrieved October 29, 2014.

Gordon, W. (n.d.). I've Been Using Evernote All Wrong. Here's Why It's Actually Amazing. Retrieved October 29, 2014.