Check out PersonalBrain [1] for a great way to keep all your notes organized and connected. It's like a mindmap, but every node can become a root node.
As an example, if you're reading a dystopian novel you could create a node for "Dystopias" under æTypes of Literature" that has "Brave New World" and "1984: as sub-nodes with notes for each book in their node. Those could link to nodes for the authors with maybe writing advice from Orwell and/or Huxley. Then you could link from them to a node about a current event or article that seems to fulfill their somber predictions... etc.
The same "Brain" could also have notes on topics as disparate as programming languages, biology or travel, all in one searchable, non-siloed place. You can create connections between nodes at will.
I've used it for several years now and can't recommend it highly enough. I wouldn't, however, mind seeing competition in the area as they seem to be the only company that makes software like this.
I don't see what's so great about such a program other than it's a "shinier" version of the basic folder layout in any modern OS. I mean, you can do all the same stuff using files and folders from your C:\ and add shortcuts between them if you need to and it can be made instantly searchable and indexed without being locked into one program file. I'll admit you cannot easily make things look as nice and colorful as PB seems to do but if you're really that interested about learning and keeping notes, this just seems to be another of the countless procrastination-forming pseudo-notetaking programs which already exist. Furthermore, the amount of time it would take for me to reform my current notes and files into this program would be a huge kill to other things which I could already be doing. I'm curious to hear responses to this.
It's not for everyone. Watch the video in the blog post I linked to, or download it and give it a try if you like. Or don't. It may just be that it's not your thing.
Personally, I've found it to be anything but a "procrastination-forming pseudo-notetaking program."
I have tried both PB and Freemind and I still have trouble grasping the use.
I say Procrastination-forming because in my experience with these kind of tools you end up spending more time formatting and aesthetic-izing your stuff than actually doing notetaking. Look at the demo video on the main homepage and one thing they emphasize is on putting small icons beside the bubbles and having neat background colors.
I say Pseudo-notetaking becuase this tool is actually more geared towards structure than creation. Your video for instance doesn't show anything related to my idea of notetaking. Notetaking means you are writing down quotations or details upon ideas that you're listening or reading about because you wish to remember them or study later. Notetaking, in my mind, is not limited to linking Ayn Rand as an author and 1902 as a birth year. There's no depth to anything.
In the end if you say it works for you then go for it. But I'm just saying that if it's really notetaking you're interested in then I really don't think this is the program to use.
If try PB for more than moment or two, you'll see that one of the main features is that every node allows notes. Selecting a node displays a note field with full formatting and unlimited length. Nodes can also have attachments that can be any type of document.
Aesthetics are a factor, but the icons, for example, are generated automatically by favicons when you link to a webpage. No procrastination involved!
Just make sure you use org-mode to take your notes: it's both more powerful than your current note-taking app, and it stores files as readable plain text. No proprietary lock-in, and no fear of data corruption in case of bugs. :)
Taking notes is very important as it forces you to think twice about the information as you write it down using your own words ("copy-paste-and-dump" information does not have the same learning effect).
In addition, you use different "senses" (writing in addition to reading) which enhances learning.
And of course (unless you only write it down on paper) you will be able to search for it and find it again when you need it (because you will not be able to remember every detail).
So, it isn't that important which tool you use, as long as you keep most notes in one place (so you know where to look for it later).
(shameless plug)
Of course, as the number of notes grow, many people will experience information overload and have trouble finding the forest for all the trees...this is where using specialized tools that are optimized for finding what you need will help you.
This is a great idea. The article just talks about taking notes on books, but it's just as worthwhile for movies, podcasts, lectures, presentations, etc.
I've generally found that taking notes during something like a lecture or presentation (anything that I can't pause, in fact) actually hinders my understanding. I think it's because I have to divide my concentration between writing and listening/watching. But for these things, writing up notes immediately afterwards is tremendously helpful.
Sometimes it's just the action of taking notes which provides the benefit, even if you never re-read them again.
I agree with that the consumption of knowledge helps us learn. But I am not sure just taking notes does the trick. I think in aiding us learn more the knowledge has to be work and thought out. I believe learning is hard and you have to do something more on the lines or writing articles on the subject or course work to really force your brain to absorb it all.
You're right but I don't quite aim to learn the material as I do to "remember" that I read it and that I can come back to it again in future.
There's only so much space in my brain for specific facts, and I'm pretty poor at dealing with them, but I thrive on knowing where to find the answer to things. The notetaking method I use helps me remember what I've read and to "re-remember" the material rather than to learn it per se.
Taking notes helps in two ways: first, it forces you to think about what you read to extract the salient points; That thinking enhance your understanding and memorisation. Second, it allows you to remember more easily by quickly checking your notes; memory is a dynamic process, and the notes will help you remember the thoughts you had writing them down, therefore the material.
I agree. I actually now take notes with my live scribe pen while reading books and record myself giving commentary around important poiints. I go over the notes when I have free time. It seems that I retain a lot more when I do this.
As an example, if you're reading a dystopian novel you could create a node for "Dystopias" under æTypes of Literature" that has "Brave New World" and "1984: as sub-nodes with notes for each book in their node. Those could link to nodes for the authors with maybe writing advice from Orwell and/or Huxley. Then you could link from them to a node about a current event or article that seems to fulfill their somber predictions... etc.
The same "Brain" could also have notes on topics as disparate as programming languages, biology or travel, all in one searchable, non-siloed place. You can create connections between nodes at will.
I've used it for several years now and can't recommend it highly enough. I wouldn't, however, mind seeing competition in the area as they seem to be the only company that makes software like this.
[1] http://www.thebrain.com/
Shameless plug for my blog post from several years ago about the software: http://marcusvorwaller.com/blog/archives/2007/09/04/personal...