Evernote

Evernote is a cloud-based platform for storing, saving, and sharing digital notes and files created across a wide range of devices and applications. Accounts range from free, which syncs across two devices, to the somewhat pricey Premium or Business, which sync across an unlimited number of devices. Creating notes is as simple as tapping the plus sign, and the user-friendly interface is rich with features but doesn't take much time to learn. Students can create handwritten or text-based notes, annotate images, customize templates, attach files, create checklists, and more. Notes can be formatted, tagged, shared, exported to cloud drives, or simply stored until you need them. Search by tags, favorites, or keywords for quick access, even with handwritten notes and images. And integrations with other Evernote apps, Google, Microsoft, Slack, and Salesforce promote cross-platform productivity for users at all levels. 

Students do need to sign up for accounts with an email and password, so teachers using Evernote in the classroom will want to ensure that they're complying with laws that govern kids' privacy. Users may experience syncing issues from time to time, but since the site keeps multiple versions of notes, it's more of a minor inconvenience than a major concern. Also, while the voice recording feature is a nice option, there's no screen reader, so students who struggle with reading or visual impairment might require additional support.

The bottom line with Evernote is that it's a one-stop storage location for anything and everything one might curate or create. Of course, kids will only get out of it what they put in, but since they can grab content from so many sources -- images, teacher or student-shared notes and files, web resources, and even email inboxes -- it's not as intimidating as a blank notebook or word processing tool where they have to figure out how to fill page after page. And since students can share content and message one another via the chat feature, the tool is an easy fit for collaborative assignments.

That said, developing good note-taking, organizational, and communication skills will take practice. It's easy to become a digital content hoarder, so students should be mindful of archiving notes into notebook stacks and deleting those they no longer want. Students who are afraid they might need something someday need not worry: You can recover even deleted files until you empty your trash can. Teachers will also want to be mindful of what kids are sharing and talk to their students about appropriate digital communication. Students will need a little practice with the site before understanding why they would want to use it, but once they grasp the experience, they'll likely find it an invaluable writing, collaboration, and storage tool.