How I Take Notes As A PhD Student | Is the new Zotero app for iPad better than Goodnotes?

→ How I Take Notes In Grad School

→ The new Zotero app for iPad

→ My PhD Note-Taking Work Flow in Zotero and Notion

→ Bye bye Goodnotes?

In this video, I explore the ways in which the new Zotero app for iPad has changed how I take notes in grad school. I've been a staunch user of GoodNotes, but now that I can take notes within the Zotero app, and then sync them neatly into my Notion, I've stopped using Goodnotes completely.

That being said, the two apps - Zotero and GoodNotes - have traditionally served two different functions. Zotero is a reference manager, and GoodNotes is not. Goodnotes is a note-taking app, while Zotero - up until now - has not. While I am LOVING the new annotation features in Zotero, it will be a while before the iPad app for Zotero is as sophisticated as Goodnotes when it comes to annotation features. For now though, I am happy to transfer my note-taking for my PhD over to Zotero, and leave Goodnotes for some personal journalling activities.

What do you think? Have you been using the new Zotero app for iPad? Do you like it? What tips should also be included in a video like this? Let me - and others in our PhD community - know!

Thanks, as always for watching, and see you again soon!

Holly x

Current Subscriber Count → 3,276

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00:00 - 00:20 → Introduction
00:20 - 01:32 → My current PhD Work Flow
01:33 - 03:28 → Downloading references into Zotero for both Desktop AND iPad
03:28 - 07:05 → Annotating PDFS on my iPad using Zotero
05:38 - 08:02 → Syncing my annotations to Notion

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✨ FAQ ✨

What type of content do you make on this channel?
I started off making Study With Me videos, then the channel evolved with some PhD Vlogs and Advice Videos, and then I started to document a little bit of my cancer journey... So now I make an unequal amount of all three :)

How old are you?
I'm 31 in theory, but thanks to cancer/the pandemic putting life on hold for a couple of years, I genuinely only feel about... 26?!

Where are you based?
I'm Irish, and a PhD student at an Irish university but I am currently in MANHATTAN, BABY!!!!!

GIRLLLLL, WHERE did you get that fancy iPad stand?!! (actual question I've received multiple times)

What type of cancer are you getting treatment for?
Stage IV oesophageal adenocarcinoma

What drug are you on?
An immunotherapy drug, called Nivolumab (Opdivo)

What type of PhD research are you carrying out?
Historical research into records of children's musical culture in Ireland

Which university are you carrying out your PhD research at?
All Hallows, College, Dublin City University

[Vivian-pzyx]

Zotero is really good at this, but there is a certain GB limit for your PDF uploads. To go over this limit and upload more PDFs, you need to upgrade to a paid package.

[Asceticyogi]

When Mendeley announced they are dropping I pad app, I felt so devastated. I tried to be on Zotero but the love for Mendeley was huge. This time after seeing your video I am sure I could marry with Zotero. Thanks Holly and Namastey from India.

[fifitherapy]

I’m just finished my degree in psychotherapy and I am a prolific reader possibly nerd. Live in Ireland. Love love this space. I held on to my knickers.

[LaLidoLoca]

Very helpful. New to Zotero and just starting my research studies. Thanks!

[sbrum]

Thank you so much for this video. I am just starting my DBA journey. While DBAs are known for not being research degrees per se, there is still a lot of research and the need for a reference manager. I found your channel this weekend while researching how to take better notes as a doctoral student. I have binge watched all your PhD videos. Not only have I gotten great tips for keeping track of my references for my DBA, but I also started using Zotero to keep track of my personal library I accumulated through my undergrad and Masters programs.

[dsugwbz]

Amazing. Can't thank you enough for sharing this. This video and your Zotero/Notion integration video have totally streamlined my research process. I feel like I can study now rather than spending all my time staying organized. Thank you!

[officialegemen]

I fell in love with Zotero the minute I started using it. I’m going to get an iPad just for Zotero no kidding 😂

[senoritachapman]

I use Zotero and am so happy they added the annotation features. I also love your videos! They are so colorful and informative.

[hollie]

Thank you for all your helpful and fun videos Holly! It’s so nice to learn how a fellow non-science PhD student does things. 😊

[michelleserralva]

Great video, Holly. I already knew and used notes in Zotero, but add this annotation file ... WOW!!!! Thanks for sharing!

[oemerpetek]

What I find great about annotating with Zotero is that it keeps your pdf files clean, it stores them on zotero not on pdf file. You can even delete your annotations within the pdf file, the annotations in the note file will be kept associated and linked with the pdf and it’s relevant section. Also when you create note from annotation you can search and see it when reading another pdf from the menu on right. 😮

[djhp]

I nearly dropped my coffee when I heard you say musicology! I thank the Youtube algorithm for bringing me to your channel 😁 I'm in my third year

[AmeltonGsairus]

Zotero is absolutely underrated app. I prefer it instead if notability since of its amazing sync and reference futures

[paulabologna]

this was mind-blowing!! just loved! thanks for sharing it!

[lv]

Your videos are so helpful, thank you!! What really annoys me about Goodnotes is that it doesn’t have a feature to export my annotations or filter annotations by colour….so Zotero app was a godsend 🤩

[yasminjobim]

Thank you! Your videos are helping me a lot with organizing my master's thesis. I love your notion setup. May I ask how you created those colored boxes around your page list?

[nattynoodlenutkin]

Dang girl, you're on the ball! Thank you! <3 xx

[Cassie]

I always love your videos they’re so helpful and have really brought my productivity to the next level. I was wondering though if you knew anything about the outline feature in Zotero and if you could do a video on it and how you use it?

[yasminkelley]

Thank you SOOOO much for the wonderful advice!

[dorcasmarie]

This is so helpful. I feel like I found you and your channel at the perfect time. I'm going into my third year as a PhD student this fall and this is a game changer as I start researching. Are there any other tech tips or general tips you have for students starting to research?