Start with it as a knowledge manager and test storing, navigating and working with your files in it. Many of us (from what I’ve gleaned in forums here and elsewhere) do just use the native Markdown editor because it’s so frictionless to just write notes directly in DT, but it is secondary to its power as a knowledge manager. There are others who have their markdown files open in their third-party editor of choice. I’m guessing as a professor you have a huge amount of “paperwork” you’re keeping track of, and DT is perfect for that.