Question 1

How do I use Patrisha Dictado’s note-taking template in Google Docs without editing the original?

Accepted Answer

Don’t click “request edit access,” because that can overwrite the template for everyone. What I do is go to File → Make a copy, rename it, and save it into a folder in my own Google Drive. That way, only you can edit your version and keep it organized per course or semester.

Question 2

How do you structure your digital notes in Google Docs?

Accepted Answer

I run everything through three phases: recording, building, and reviewing. Recording is my lecture dump using bullet points and indents, building is where I add textbook/journal/online support, and reviewing is where I clean things up and organize relationships between concepts. The goal is that I can understand the hierarchy just by looking at the page.

Question 3

How do you make headings show up correctly in the Google Docs outline?

Accepted Answer

I use headings in a hierarchy (primary, secondary, tertiary) so the outline is automatically organized. You can view it by going to View → Show outline. In my template, those heading styles are already formatted so they stack logically—you just adjust the colors to match your theme.

Question 4

Do you do one Google Doc per lesson or one doc for the whole course?

Accepted Answer

Personally, I do one document per lesson because a single lesson can hit 10–15 pages for me. If I compiled everything into one file, it could be 60–70+ pages and harder to find terms quickly. But if you want one document, you can use Insert → Break → Section break and customize headers/footers per lesson.

Question 5

How do you label notes from lectures vs textbooks vs online sources?

Accepted Answer

This is just my preference, but I like distinguishing sources so I know what came from where. You can change the bullet symbol to an emoji (like a book for textbooks) or simply change the text color for that bullet. I switch between the two depending on my mood.

Question 6

What are your best Google Docs tips for studying from long notes?

Accepted Answer

Outlines are a lifesaver because I can jump to a concept without scrolling through tons of pages. You can also insert a Table of contents, but I personally prefer the outline to save space for actual notes. Bookmarks are also great for linking repeated terms so you can jump back to the first explanation.

Question 7

How do you use voice typing for online lectures in Google Docs?

Accepted Answer

When I watch online lectures, note-taking can take me twice the video length because I pause and replay a lot. With voice typing (Tools → Voice typing), I can let the lecture play and have Google Docs type as I go. It’s not perfect, but it can save a lot of time when you’re trying to capture key points quickly.

Question 8

What are building blocks in Google Docs and how do you use them for templates?

Accepted Answer

Building blocks let you save reusable template pieces across documents. I can save my formatted headings as a custom building block, so when I open a new doc I insert it instead of reformatting from scratch. You can also use it for things like e-signatures if you need to sign documents.

digital note-taking system pt. 2 ✍🏻 how i use my template + google docs tips

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