1. NoodleTools Teresa MacDonald, DMS Librarian
PowerPoint adapted from slides provided by NoodleTools.
An integrated platform for citation, note-taking, outlining, document archiving and annotation, and collaborative research.

2. What is NoodleTools Organize, create, store
Create citations for sources you use
Copy-and-paste relevant quotes onto notecards
Paraphrase the author’s words
Explain how the information will support your thesis
Tag and pile your notes
Create an outline
Note: There are tutorials on notecards, tagging and other features of the Tabletop here:

3. To use NoodleTools …
Click the "Create a Personal ID“ button to register as a new user
If you are prompted, at the “New User Registration” screen, enter DawsonMS and password
Create your Personal ID and password
Personal ID = FirstName.LastName
(example: Elvis.Presley)
password = ID # (do not include “S”)
When you use NoodleTools after that, login only with your personal ID and password

5. Choose a style – CISD uses MLA
We use the Junior level, but you can access the Advanced level if you need to
NoodleTools comes in 3 different levels corresponding roughly to novices (elementary), middle school and ESL, and high school/college
All three levels are available for all three styles: MLA, APA and Chicago.
Name your project

6. Create a project ONCE for each research assignment and open that same project each time you need to add new citations and notecards.
Each time you open a project, you will see the Dashboard which serves as the “command center” for your research project.

7. Keep your focus (stay on task)

8. Share with your teacher (turn in your work)
Tutorial on sharing a project with a teacher’s dropbox:

9. Keep everything together

10. Turn things in on time

11. Use feedback to improve your work

12. Citing Sources (citation, bibliography, works cited)

13. From the Dashboard, click on “Works Cited”

14. Choose the type of source from the drop-down menu, and click Create Citation.
Note: – if you choose Database, you will be asked to identify original source (see packet p.4)

16. Fill in the blanks to create your citation

17. You may not use every blank space in the form.
Do NOT annotate, and click Submit when done.

18. A completed citation

19. NoodleTools provides a lot of help—use it!
For example, this symbol means there’s an error, and the pop up box explains how to correct the error.

20. The MLA Guide will show you what information needs to be included in your citation.
Always see the same format:
Part on top
Whole on bottom

21. Notecards

22. To open a notecard you can click on the link “New” next to a completed citationOR
Click the Notecards link from the Dashboard

23. A complete notecard has 4 parts: Header (see red arrows),
Your notecard MUST have a title, be connected to the source, identify page numbers (if a print source), and be tagged with subtopic from thesis statement.
A complete notecard has 4 parts: Header (see red arrows),
Direct Quote, Paraphrase, My Ideas

24. Direct quote from the source goes here
Capture the EXACT author’s words
Get quotes and attribution right

25. Paraphrase here Explain it to yourself In words you understand
Look back at the quote – got it all?

26. Original thinking here
How does this information support my thesis statement?
How does this fit with what you know?
What can you follow up on?

27. Tag notecards with subtopics from your thesis statement.
(p. 6 of NoodleTools packet)

28. Drag tagged cards onto one another to create piles

29. Create your outline using your thesis statement, and . . .

30. watch your outline grow as you drag your notecard piles into it.

31. Notecards sometimes “hide” on the tabletop
Notecards sometimes “hide” on the tabletop. Just move the bird’s eye view to find your notecards.

32. See how to make your in-text reference for MLA

33. Format and export your bibliography

34. NoodleTools keeps track of what you do
On the Dashboard, students can review their own 30-day logs. The logs have been enhanced to clearly show when items in the project are added or deleted, plus it gives the total number of citations and notecards to that point in time. We will continue to add self-assessment features so that students gain a sense of ownership and responsibility for their work.

35. Keep a portfolio of your work

36. …and your work can never get lost!
You can create a portfolio over time…
…and your work can never get lost!

37. Review… Cite as you go (books, databases…)
Add notecards as you read and find information to support your thesis
Organize notes in piles, add tags and reminders
Build an outline, cluster your notes under headings
Share your working list and notes with your teacher
Get feedback as you go

38. “Noodle” time…start thinking!
Questions?
For more teaching ideas: support [at] noodletools [dot] com