A comprehensive note-taking and knowledge management system designed for left handed graduate students, particularly those with ADHD. Based on the Extract-Transform-Load (ETL) data pipeline metaphor.
This system addresses common challenges in graduate education:
- Information overload during lectures and readings
- Scattered notes that are never reviewed
- Decision paralysis about where to write things
- Inconsistency in note-taking methods
- Poor retention of material, important dates, and tasks
Solution: A streamlined, three-stage workflow that separates capture from processing, minimizes decisions, and creates both physical and digital reference materials.
EXTRACT (Capture) TRANSFORM (Process) LOAD (Store)
─────────────────── ─────────────────── ───────────────────
Raw notebook → Weekly sessions → Refined notes
- Chronological • 60-90 minutes • Cornell method
- Minimal structure • Format decisions • Jupyter notebooks
- Zero friction • Refinement • Knowledge base
1. EXTRACT (During the Week)
- Capture everything in one A5 notebook chronologically
- Use simple symbols:
• □ ? * > ! - Date header format:
[DATE] | [TYPE] | [SOURCE] - No organization, no decisions - just write
2. TRANSFORM (Sunday/Monday)
- 60-90 minute weekly processing session
- Scan raw notes, mark pages with sticky tabs
- Decide: Code-heavy? → Jupyter. Conceptual? → Cornell.
- Process notes using templates
3. LOAD (Storage)
- Physical: B5 Cornell notebook for concepts/theory
- Digital: Jupyter notebooks for code/examples
- Knowledge base: Markdown docs with course summaries
- One notebook (raw capture) A5 preferred
- One notebook (refined notes) B5 preferred
- One nice pen
- GitHub account
- Jupyter installed (
pip install jupyter)
- Clone this repository:
git clone https://github.com/[username]/etl-learning-system.git- Copy templates to your learning repo:
cp -r templates/ ~/your-learning-repo/-
Read the guides:
-
Print the weekly checklist:
etl-learning-system/
├── templates/
│ ├── notebook/
│ │ └── notebook_template.ipynb # Jupyter notebook template
│ ├── physical/
│ │ ├── cornell_template.md # Cornell method guide
│ │ └── raw_capture_symbols.md # Symbol reference
│ └── checklists/
│ ├── weekly_processing.md # Weekly routine checklist
│ └── setup_checklist.md # Initial setup checklist
├── guides/
│ ├── WORKFLOW.md # Complete workflow guide
│ ├── PHYSICAL_NOTES.md
93FE
# Raw capture & Cornell method
│ ├── DIGITAL_NOTES.md # Jupyter notebook guide
│ ├── KNOWLEDGE_BASE.md # Docs structure guide
│ ├── GIT_WORKFLOW.md # Version control guide
│ ├── ADHD_STRATEGIES.md # ADHD-specific tips
│ ├── WHY_THIS_WORKS.md # Support for this learning concept
│ └── VISUAL_DIAGRAMS.md # Pictures help brain understand
├── examples/
│ ├── sample_raw_notes.jpg # Photo of raw capture
│ ├── sample_cornell_notes.jpg # Photo of Cornell notes
│ ├── sample_notebook.ipynb # Example Jupyter notebook
│ └── sample_knowledge_base/ # Example docs structure
└── assets/
├── workflow_diagram.png # Visual workflow
└── decision_tree.png # Format decision tree
- Graduate students managing multiple courses
- People with ADHD who struggle with organization
- Anyone overwhelmed by scattered notes
- Students who want to retain more information
- Technical students who need both code and concept notes
- Single capture point - one funnel, no decisions about "which notebook"
- Simple symbols - consistent, intuitive, minimal choices
- Chronological only - no complex categorization
- Processing ritual - structured weekly session
- Visual completion - cross out processed pages/sections
- Writing by hand - better retention during capture
- Spaced repetition - weekly processing reinforces learning
- Multiple formats - concepts in Cornell, code in Jupyter
- Knowledge base - searchable reference for future use
- Version control - track your learning development over time
- Jupyter templates - structured code documentation
- Git integration - professional portfolio building
- Markdown docs - cross-referenced knowledge base
- Tool references - quick lookup for Docker, Git, etc.
- Complete Workflow - Start here for full system overview
- Physical Notes - Raw capture & Cornell method
- Digital Notes - Jupyter notebooks & templates
- Knowledge Base - Documentation structure
- Git Workflow - Version control for learning
- ADHD Strategies - Managing decision paralysis
- Why This Works - Dig into the conceptual logic
- Visual Diagrams - Visualizations of the above
This system is designed to be adapted. Common modifications:
Symbols: Adjust the symbol set to meet your needs +|- Timing: Process on different days if Sunday/Monday doesn't work Tools: Use VS Code instead of Jupyter, Obsidian instead of markdown Scope: Start with just school notes, expand to other life areas later
Have improvements or adaptations? Contributions welcome!
- Fork the repository
- Create a feature branch (
git checkout -b feature/improvement) - Commit your changes
- Push and create a Pull Request
MIT License - feel free to use and adapt for your own learning journey.
This system combines proven note-taking methods:
- Cornell Method (Walter Pauk, 1940s)
- Bullet Journal (Ryder Carroll, 2013) - simplified symbols
- ETL Pipeline (Data engineering metaphor)
- Zettelkasten principles (Niklas Luhmann)
Designed specifically for graduate students with ADHD, tested in a Data Science Masters program.
Open an issue or start a discussion. Happy to help you adapt this system!
"The best note-taking system is the one you'll actually use."