MarginNote
By Patricia Monticello Kievlan,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Cool annotation tool has an overwhelming array of features.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this app.
Where to Download
Videos and Photos
MarginNote
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What’s It About?
MARGINNOTE is a tool for reading, annotating, and studying long-form texts. Users can import ePub and PDF texts and then annotate them with typed text or highlighting in different colors. They then can display their highlighted text in the form of an outline, flash cards (blue words on one side, yellow words on the other), or as a mind map that shows how highlighted terms are related to one another. Users can automatically generate the flash cards and mind map and then reconfigure them. Once they've read, annotated, and highlighted, users can review their notes and share them beyond the app to cloud storage, to another iOS device, or to a range of other apps for flash cards, for mind-mapping, or as a PDF.
Is It Any Good?
This note-taking tool helps users keep track of their thinking in some really versatile and convenient ways, but the instructions to use it are a barrier to getting down to business. The how-to text and help overlays are extremely confusing: Some are written in less-than-fluent English and consequently obscure the app's core functions and how to use them. Though the developers have created some tutorials that auto-play and have preloaded the app with some instructions, a broader intro in simple language would be a big help. Once you get the hang of it, though, there's tremendous potential to use technology to thoughtfully annotate, sort, and analyze a text. Though the developer's claims of revolutionizing note-taking might be overstated, the app is still a simple way to transform annotations into study-ready resources -- and it's a lot cheaper than other programs that do the same thing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about skills for taking notes when you read. Why do we take notes? What's worth writing down, and how can you use what you write down for later study?
Talk about which study methods work for your kids. Use the highlighting features to experiment with creating flash cards and mind maps. See how those two organizational tools can help kids develop their understanding of a topic.
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Subjects: Language & Reading: reading comprehension, text analysis, using supporting evidence, writing clearly
- Skills: Self-Direction: self-reflection, work to achieve goals, Communication: asking questions, conveying messages effectively
- Pricing structure: Free to try, Paid
- Release date: August 24, 2015
- Category: Education
- Publisher: Sun Min
- Version: 2.0.2
- Minimum software requirements: Requires iOS 7.0 or later.
- Last updated: February 15, 2020
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Download
Our Editors Recommend
Learning Tools for Out-of-the-Box Thinkers
Homework Help Apps
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate