Status:: Tags:: Links:: [[Module - Collect]] # Using Tags to Identify Note Type and Status Now that you have fleshed out your twelve favorite questions and your capture toolkit, it's time to start collecting! The question becomes, how do you differentiate between the different types and status of notes in your Obsidian system as you start collecting? ## Input, Idea, and Output Notes One method I found particularly helpful came from Bianca's [[Build Your Knowledge Portfolio]] course. She categorizes notes by input, idea, and output. ### Input Notes Input notes are notes made from outside sources, with links back to the original source for crediting. These are your notes from your capture toolkit. They could be from articles, books, podcasts, lectures, academic papers, and more. You can differentiate them from other notes using a tag or putting them in a folder. I like to put them inside of a "Sources" folder separated by the type of source it is. ### Idea Notes Idea notes are notes expressing your unique interpretation and understanding of a series of input notes and even other idea notes. They are written for yourself. These notes make up the bulk of my Obsidian system so I differentiate them from other notes by having no special indicator for them. ### Output Notes Finally, output notes are notes written for outside expression. This doesn't mean they are the final expression. They are instead the intermediary between your PKM system and your medium of expression. Often times, they just have the linear sequence of ideas that you will use to create your output. For example, your output note for an essay as a student might have the outline in Obsidian but the final written piece in a Google Docs. I like to differentiate these notes from others through folders specifying what type of output it is like content creation, school essay, or a speech for Speech and Debate. Often times having the link to the output inside of your output note can be super helpful as it's easier to find that note in your system than online. ## Differentiating Note Status Another thing I love to do in my PKM system is differentiating note status. In other words, indicating how old and fleshed out a note is in my system. I like doing this because it gives me an idea for the level of quality a note is when I open it up as well as what I need to do to improve it. Below is my personal tag taxonomy. I like to use the metaphor of seedlings to ferns to evergreens to indicate the growth of my notes. ### Aidan's Personal Tag Taxonomy 📩Seed Inbox | Inputs | Literature notes made from highlights sent from Readwise I need to process into atomic notes/zettels. Highlight Colors (Kindle) Yellow --> **Interesting Point** Pink --> **Disagree With Author** Blue --> **Anecdotal Passage** 📝️ My Notes - 🌱️ Seedlings | notes that need to be fleshed out and connected to other notes. - 🌿️ Ferns | notes that are decently fleshed out and connected but could still use more. - 🌲️ Evergreen | fleshed out and deeply connected notes. - 🗺️ Maps of Content (MOCs) | summary notes that contain links to a bunch of other interrelated and connected notes.