Digital Note-Taking 101 Using OneNote

Hello peeps! It is new year how are you feeling? Well, for me it's the end of the semester but for others it maybe a new school year so let's talk academic *HAHA*.

I am always the one who writes notes in class ever since I was in boarding school. I write notes ranging from the simplest scribble to the most structured, color-coded, cornell style note taking. I have ventured into many note taking styles. In 2017, I have tried a new note taking style which is digitally after seeing many of my favorite studyblrs and studygrams using the technique. Since I had the experience, I would like to share about it with all of you! Let's dive in into digital note-taking 101!

#1 What do I need? 
Well since it is digital, you will need a PC or an iPad or any tablet will work as well. Some people use stylus but it's really up to your preference. I only use a laptop and my phone.

You will need to install OneNote on your computer but beforehand, you might want to check because if I am not mistaken, it came built-in with any Windows PC. It is also available on Google Play Store and App Store.

OneNote

#2 Why OneNote?
It is FREE! Of course some people would not mind investing money into new software but for me, OneNote is perfect for notetaking be it complex or minimal. Furthermore, OneNote syncs across devices so you can access them on your phone too in case you need to do some cramming or last minute study before entering the hall!

#3 Who will like OneNote?
People who likes note-taking but wants to migrate to digital form of it. This also includes people who prefers typing over writing and the flexibility to correct typos or drawings. OneNote is also not limited to only texts but you can also draw with the tools. You will also like it if you want a structured note-taking layout.

#1 Its toolbar is very similar to Microsoft Word
Every day in our lives, we will have to use Word for whatever reason. But the problem with Word is that is not easily accessible across many devices. That's where OneNote come into action. As you can see in the toolbar, it looks very familiar, making it less intimidating for first time users. Some of Word hotkeys such as CTRL+C, CTRL+V, CTRL+B and more can also be used in OneNote.

Credit: https://www.guidingtech.com/onenote-pdf-tips-tricks/

#2 You can include online videos, links, audios and many more onto it
OneNote also allows you to upload PDFs and annotate it on the software. This way, you can make notes that is on the same page as your PDF! You can also record lectures and save it into your document which you can listen to later and rewrite your notes!

#3 Drawing tools
You can have as many pens or markers in many colors (including gradients and galaxy-styled pens) for drawings! For me, I keep my most used colors at the top so I can have easy access to them. I usually use red for important, green for where to put things and et cetera. Below is an example when I use drawings in my digital notes

This is when I use the marker to indicate what tool I should drag onto my canvas.

This is an example of my drawing of binary tree using OneNote markers. What's so special about these feature is that they do not distort even on mobile viewing!

#4 Multiple notebooks
As how we have many different notebooks per semester or year, you can also create many notebooks for different subjects in your class year. You can also color-code your notebooks. As you can see, I use this feature to create new notebook for each semester that I enroll.

#5 In each notebook, you can have many sections
I use these sections (left-side) for different subjects that I take for the semester. For example, in my second semester in Wuxi, I took Networking, Statistics, Database, Data Structure and Chinese language class. I also color code my sections.

On the right side are pages. So for each section, you can create unlimited number of pages, just like how you would use a normal notebook. For me, I open a new page every time we start a new chapter or a new tutorial. If the chapter hasn't moved, I will stay on the same page. This method helps me stay organize and made it easy for me to find my notes.

#6 Rule Lines
Tbh, I do not really need lines because when I type, words are always perfectly in line. But for the sake of aesthetics, I did use some of these lines for certain subjects just for the feel. It makes it feel like I am using a real notebook at points. Here are my notes using rule lines and grid lines.

Taking notes on ruled paper

Taking notes on grid paper

#7 Shareable 
This is my favorite feature of OneNote. My boyfriend and I can collaborate in realtime when I share this notebook to him. Other than that, for teachers (or just about anyone, really), you can also share notes which they can only view. This is a good tool to replace paper handouts during class.

Here I will share how I use OneNote for NoteTaking in Wuxi. Since I got back to MSU, I reverted back to traditional paper note-taking just for fun. Maybe in my next post I can share about my paper note-taking methods. But for now, this is how I use OneNote.

I always include a term planner in my notebooks. I prefer manual calendar rather than the usual because I can mark the weeks in the term which is easier to refer when my lecturer announce assignment submission. The colors I use to fill in the blocks are according to the subjects that I take, which corresponds to the color of my sections.

As a computer science student, most of the time my lecturer will teach us how to program live. In OneNote, I can screenshot my program and write step by step tutorial. This is one point of digital NoteTaking ahead of traditional paper note-taking because on paper, I cannot have the visual of the program.

Whenever my lecturer gave me a sample code to refer to, I always copy them inside OneNote and highlight the important chunks of it. This is also easier to be done digitally than traditionally.

As you can see, OneNote gives me infinite possibilities in structured note-taking. You can also find your notes by searching the key words, which reduces the time taken for you to find what you're looking for. 

I have experienced both traditional and digital note-taking. Some times, I also used OneNote for bullet journaling (I will review later). So far, both methods have its pros and cons. Some extra feature that I like about OneNote is that I do not have to have creative hands because I can import arts and install cute fonts to beautify my notes. The only thing that I'd like for OneNote to have is the ability to make colored borders so I can separate my note chunks. 

You can also find some premade templates online if you like, just search it up on Google. Some studyblrs have already uploaded them. If you wanted my templates, simply notify me in the comments section. 

Are you looking forward to try digital notetaking? Tell me what you think about it!

Thank you for reading this entry :D

New year, new leaf

Hello peeps!

It took me a long-year hiatus to come back to the game. Haha but who's to say this time I stopped again. Oh my commitment TT__TT

Oh well,

So in Malaysia, today is already New Year. In my life, I take new years seriously not because of its celebration with the fireworks and stuffs, it's because I often start a new journal that means everything that I've written in the previous one is closed and archived deep under my bed. It's almost like being reborn with a new chance! Although, I realized that restarting my life every year doesn't take away my previous self from everyone else around me, but since 2018, I have stopped caring about people that much. So for whatever it is, I am resetting my life!

So 2020 makes me 22 years old which means that I am a grown up with responsibilities of my own. I am also almost 100% in charge of my own life. But I am still broke tho.

Yesterday, I was going thru my old journals and I found something interesting, of course I am not going to show it here but it was something that made me laugh and cry and smile all at the same time! I have been writing in diaries since 2013 and in every single one of them, there are 2-page spread about how I want my 2020 to be like! It is funny how my 13 to 21 year self plan to progress my life. As time goes by, I realized that some of the unrealistic ones I have deleted from the list but it's funny how some things stuck hahaha. This discovery led to my post today, my new leaves.

For this year, instead of making new resolutions, I decided to compile all my previous resolutions and I intend to keep track and tick off how many ambitions my children-self wrote from a decade ago!

The forever chart-topping ambition of mine since I was 13 *drumroll*

#1 To get married

I don't know what is it with marriage and I don't even know if this ambition is purely influenced by somebody else but this has always been in my 2020 goal. Not only it always makes the list but it's always on top. Tbh, I did not have boyfriends leading up to last year, I have crushes so if I concluded that I would marry one of them in 2020 that is purely dumb hahaha. I mean it's funny how I always dream about these stuffs when I know that this is the thing that I cannot achieve by myself lol. Nevertheless, I am hoping that I will be a step close this year with my significant other. But I am still young so let's see if I'm fit for this responsibility lol. Only when I grow up I understand the weight that comes with marriage commitment. Little me wasn't aware *silly*

#2 To gossip less

I was a gossip girl growing up. But far along, I didn't like this personality of mine. However, I was proud of myself for being able to gossip lesser and lesser than before. I am trying to stop eventually. I will still read gossips tho, I just won't tell others haha!

#3 To graduate

Tbh, when I wrote this down in a journal from 2014, I still hadn't completely comprehend the studying path. Where should I go, how long a program is gonna take yadda yadda but I still aim to graduate in 2020. Well, things work out in my favor. February through June will be my last semester and I will graduate yeay! 

#4 Get a job as a programmer (IT industry)

When I planned this resolution, I actually was aiming to be a graphic designer or a web developer. But I changed my pathway in 2016 and got into programmer's lane instead. Nevertheless, I still count it as the same so let's see if I will get a job this year!

#5 Own a car

Seeing my country's economic growth right now, I am not sure if this is achievable especially only after a few months of landing a job. My dream car was Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Eduardo but let's aim for Proton Waja for now :P

Well, I guess that's all that are on the list for every year starting from 2013 to 2019. I hope for at least 3 of these to achieve because I have been dreaming of them for a decade LOL. 

What are your new year's resolution? 

Thank you for reading this entry :D

All About Learning How to Grow Up -- China Edition

Assalamualaikum semua.

Pheww it's been a hectic week. Minggu lepas tak buat new entry sbb busy and skrg niat nak curi time utk update. Recently I've checked that I got a positively increasing views so terima kasih kepada semua yang membaca dan menge-share kepada rakan2. Walaupun nampak macam benda kecik, tapi amat bermakna dalam hidup aku huahuahua.

Jadi entry kali ini lebih kepada perkongsian peribadi sbb masa aku mula2 fly ke China, aku tak heboh mana. Tapi kepada yang tahu tu ramai tanya mcm mana aku sampai ke sini dan macam mana lifestyle aku. Ada jugak yang ajak aku bisnes import barang dari China. Omei je kawan kawan aku hahahaha.

Alhamdulillah skrg dah hampir setengah tahun aku dekat China. Tak lama, tapi banyak benda yang aku belajar dan ada few kawan2 aku yang tanya psl bahasa, culture dan betulke barang kat China tu murah? (eh?) hahaha. Jadi dalam satu entri yang sama ni insyaAllah akan aku kupaskan satu persatu sampai tersembul segala rahsia di muka bumi Allah ini (eh dah kenapa?)

1. Dina fly?! Bila! Tak bagi tahu pun! *dengan nada marah dan bercekak pinggang

Oh hai! Hahaha. So firstly, haah Dina fly ke China, dan buka taknak bagitahu tapi aku malu. Aku sebenarnya dah prepare dah ayat2 mintak doa nak send kat group sekolah etc tapi aku segan sebab aku ni bukanlah sesiapa. Entah2 aku ni oblivious HAHAHA. Jadi aku batalkan niat aku dan hanya share kepada kawan2 terdekat and family2 jauh je, buat kenduri, announce kat instagram dan dengan harapan adalah insan2 yang berkongsi kegembiraan dengan aku.

Aku ni orang dia bercita-cita tinggi. Dari aku mula tahu yang kau habis SPM kau boleh jejak kaki ke tanah orang, aku memang pasang niat untuk jadi anak rantau. Tapi target aku mestilah universiti dan negara yang vavavoom (yakni bukan China muahahahaha). Dan aku pun sebenarnya dah rasa harapan aku kabur bila aku masuk IPTS instead tapi alhamdulillah, rezeki tuhan tu luas. So kat sini la aku hari ni (:


2. Kenapa China? Apa ada dengan China?!

HAHAHAHA *gelak comel. Macam yang aku cakap tadi, sebenarnya aku bukan nak jejak China. Heh usahkan China, ego aku ni taknak belajar oversea kalau setakat dalam Asia apatah lagi Asia Tenggara. Yelah, ajet je aku ni hahaha. Bagi aku selagi bukan America atau London selagi tu bukan oversea nehi nehi. Tapi jadahnye prinsip diva aku ni haha last2 sampai sini pun dah homesick macam apa --'

So bila orang tanya aku 'Kenapa China?', jawapan aku mesti simple, 'MSU offer datang sini'. Jawapan yang paling telus, jujur dan jitu hahahaha. Masa tu niat aku just nak ambik peluang belajar dekat negara orang sbb dah terima kenyataan kalau bukan sekarang, mungkin nanti masters baru aku dapat pi overseas. Tu pun kalau PTPTN settle awal HAHAHAHA :'D. Jadi aku terima je offer MSU tu dengan hati yang terbuka.

Dekat China ni bagi aku, apa adanya negara maju ni adalah berubah mengikut perspective. Aku mengaku, aku suka material yang digunakan dalam kelas, teknologi kat sini (and barang murah :P), tapi dalam masa yang sama aku kena mengaku yang instagram, google semua yang kena block kat sini tu adalah siksaan dunia yang maha dahsyat bagi aku dan language barrier tu masalah terbesar aku. Sebelum aku dapat offer ni, manade aku nak belajar Mandarin (walaupun marhaen sepakat kata Mandarin dah jadi bahasa penting). Aku nak belajar French ke Spanish ke barulah cool liddat hahaha. Maka dari itu aku tak pernah tahu yang belajar Mandari tu tuhan je tahu susah dia. Aku datang sini dalam 4 bulan baru aku boleh communicate benda2 basic. Sedih uols tahu tak nak survive kat sini TT__TT.

?? Macam mana access google, insta and fb (etc) kat China?
~ VPN (;

Kat China ada The Bund :D

3. China kat mana? Shanghai? Beijing? Guangzhou? *masukkan nama tempat2 famous

Muahahaha tidak, tidak dan tidak. Masa mula2 offer ni disebut, mentor kata, awak akan sambung belajar dekat Shanghai. Aku pun gebang orang kampung la aku nak sambung Shanghai. Aku buat kenduri doa selamat pun aku cakap Shanghai. Malah aku sendiri berpegang teguh kepada tempat aku belajar itu adalah di New York of Asia yakni Shanghai.

Tapi setibanya aku di Pudong Airport (masih lagi Shanghai), jarak antara airport tu dengan kampus aku ialah 3 jam. Maka hati kecil ini terdetik, 'coit, besarnya Shanghai. Bandar ke bandar ada 3 jam. Wow!' Maka aku pun beradulah dalam bas tu. Bila aku sampai je, hahaha rupanya Shanghai tu disebut oleh para mentor sbb dia negeri terdekat dgn tempat aku. So sebenarnya aku duduk dekat Jiangsu (aku tahu korang tak kenal huhu sbb aku pun tak pernah dengar huhu). So balik pasni haruslah jujur dengan orang sejagat bahawa aku ke Shanghai ada la dalam 2 jam naik bullet train HAHAHAHA.



4. Wah! So dah boleh cakap cina ke?

HOHOHO *dengan nada riak lagi angkuh (lalu sedar diri dan bertasbih kembali hahaha).

Alhamdulillah, boleh (sikit-sikit lol). Bagi aku, bahasa cina ni, baik bercakap atau membaca (apatah lagi menulis) adalah sangat susah. Aku rasa macam belajar spanish lagi senang. Aku sebenarnya tak tau (noobies) yang bahasa cina ni pakai character system. Aku mati matilah ingatkan yang setiap garis2 tu melambangkan abjad abcde. Rupa-rupanya, tak. Dia memang character semata-mata dan kau kena hafal. Mula2 dapat buku belajar page depan depan tu boleh la aku hafal. Dah masuk bab 5 6 tu bunyi sama ulang ulang 2, 3 kali. Character lebih kurang sama dengan satu garis je yang beza, aku dah mati kutu dah. Masa tu aku rasa macam nak balik. Mencabar sangat bagi aku.

Tapi lama-lama tu, bila dah selalu baca buku teks dan converse dengan akak2 jaga dorm tu, aku dapatlah juga bertutur dalam bahasa Mandarin. Aku dah boleh haggle price, report paip bocor, order makanan tambah manis etc, dan tolong kawan2 lain yang buat mobility program kat sini dan semuanya aku rasa aku reach capability tu dalam masa 4 bulan plus minus.

Tapi aku perasan yang bila aku dah boleh cakap cina sikit ni, english aku makin kero? Hahaha *melukut di tepi gantang



5. Makanan halal senang tak nak cari?

Aku rasa soalan ni paling banyak orang tanya, especially kawan2 yang ada plan nak bercuti ke China. So far, selain dari Wuxi (bandar kampus aku), aku dah travel ke Nanjing, Shanghai dan Beijing. Kalau dekat kawasan aku ni aku ratekan kesusahan nak cari makanan halal tu kat skala 7. Aku rasa dalam radius besar ni, ada satu je tempat yang makanan halal tu confirm. Kalau Shanghai pulak, aku rasa tak susah sangat. Dekat2 dengan The Bund, exact location a few metres dari JW Mariott Hotel Shanghai tu ada makanan halal dan untuk Beijing pulak aku rasa bersepah. Tapi makanan halal China semua style sama jer which is boringg. Lingkungan harga pun tak jauh beza antara tempat tempat tu, paling murah nasi goreng telur dalam RMB11/RM6.

Satu tips untuk korang, bila mencari makanan kat sini, even fishball pun korang kena check ingredient sbb hampir semua benda kat sini ada ekstrak babi. Keyword yang aku ajarkan kat korang ni akan berguna kalau korang nak datang makan di sini:

1) Tanda Halal 

•  清真 (pinyin: qing zhen)

Bacaan: cing jen

2) Babi / Khinzir 

• 猪 (pinyin: zhu)

Bacaan: ju

3) Pork 

• 猪肉 (pinyin: zhu rou)

Bacaan: ju ro

4) Ayam

• 鸡 (pinyin: ji)

Bacaan: chi

5) Daging lembu

• 牛 (pinyin: niu)

Bacaan: niu

yang lain lain insyaAllah akan aku sharekan dalam entry (berniat la kalau rajin hahahaha) survival phrases yang akan datang :D

6. Penerimaan Islam dekat China?

Ni soalan yang kerap jugak aku terima dan banyak jugak orang yang nak debat ngan aku pasal ni. So aku explain daripada pengalaman aku selama hampir setengah tahun menetap di China ni okayy. 

Firstly, kita sembang pasal Mainland China. Aku rasa yang untuk bandar2 besar macam Beijing and Shanghai tu mungkin lah local paham kalau nampak tourist bersolat tapi aku tak berani cakap boleh solat di tempat awam sebab masa safety briefing untuk student2 yang dapat PR dekat sini, kitorang ditegaskan untuk tidak solat di tempat awam dan memang ada undang-undang bertulis pun tentang tu. Even dalam kawasan kampus pun. Masa aku travel ke Nanjing, aku ada solat jamak di bahagian tepi mall (dekat emergency exit) and ada polis yang tunggu kitorang habis solat. So dalam keadaan macam ni dengan rujukan ahli2 agama, kami menunaikan solat secara duduk HANYA KALAU memang tak ada tempat/hujung waktu/darurat untuk solat. Selagi ada kemampuan untuk solat sempurna, kami cari dulu. 

Dekat sini juga memang selalu diingatkan kalau boleh jangan pakai serba hitam especially kalau bertudung sebab perception locals terhadap muslims ni. That's the culture yang aku kena adapt.

Secondly bila orang ajak bahas tentang gambar tourists muslim solat dkt airport etc di Hong Kong, Taiwan dan Macau. Aku belum pernah jejak sana (itu bukan Mainland China) so wallahualam bissowab i have no idea.

Whatever it is, usahalah sekuat hati untuk solat dengan habis sempurna. Kalau tak dapat, solatlah selagi terdaya. Yang penting, Allah tahu :D

Jacket winter kat China yang very affordable :D

7. Betulke barang kat China MURAH?! *baca dengan nada shopaholic dan fashionista yang nak borong baju hahahhaa

Okay so aku nak disclaimer awal2 yang aku tak buat bisnes import barang tu tapi kalau orang kirim aku beli; satu sebab aku busy, and second sbb aku malas nak post barang hahaha. Orang kirim ngan aku pun kena tunggu aku balik. Aku ni student, mmg nak cari duit poket tapi aku tak sempat masa hahahaha. Baik aku tido yedak? lololololol.

Bagi aku, kos sara diri kat sini ngan kat Malaysia tak lah jauh beza. Malah barang2 dapur dengan toiletries ya ampun mahal bangat sehhh, getus hati kecilku. Tapi aku mengaku la kalau macam baju2 tu semua memang murah. Aku dah bantai denim jacket RMB38/RM20 gitu kat Malaysia mana nak dapat? HAHAHAHA. Tapi murah tu bukan dekat semua tempat murah jugak, still kena pandai2 cari.

Okay well that's it. Aku rasa entry pengalaman ni dah cukup padu macam burger daging cheese (terliur). Aku harap sharing kali ni beneficial as tips kepada travellers, inspirational kepada adik2 yang nak study overseas atau nak explore belajar dekat China and of course, menghiburkan hati pembaca-pembaca selain menambah ilmu pengetahuan. Kadang2 ilmu ni lebih best dipelajari melalui pengalaman, kalau bukan sendiri punya, yang ikhlas dari teman2 yang menghadapi pun cukup baiknya. So aku tutup entry kali ni dengan ucapan terima kasih banyak2 kepada readers and minta maaf atas khilaf sepanjang penulisan entry ini. 

Me loves uolss <3

Thank you for reading this entry :D