The best note-taking strategies for students
Good note-taking skills have many benefits for students, from improving active listening to comprehension and retention. Yet, many students only record around a third of important lessons and lecture notes.
This is because note-taking is a tricky method. Not only do you have to listen, but then you have to select the most important information to take away and do it against the clock. At the same time, you need to filter out unimportant information and keep up even though handwriting is slower than live speech.
Yet, learning to take effective notes is essential for several reasons. It allows you to organise information in a structured and systematic way, making it easier to review and study later. It can help you identify critical points and connect them to other concepts, which can deepen your understanding of the material.
Effective note-taking can also save you time and effort when it comes to studying for exams. Instead of reading through a whole textbook or set of notes, you can quickly review your concise summary of the material. Overall, learning to take notes properly will improve your academic performance and help you to become a more effective learner.
Try the Cornell note-taking method
The Cornell method is a system for organising and summarising notes developed by Walter Pauk, a professor at Cornell University. To try it:
Draw a line down the middle of a sheet of paper, creating a right-hand column and a larger left-hand column.
At the top of the page, write the topic or central idea of the lecture or reading.
In the larger left-hand column, take notes on the main points and supporting details of the lecture or reading. Use abbreviations and symbols to save time and space.
After the lecture/lesson, use the right-hand column to write questions, keywords, or summaries of the notes on the left-hand column. This column will help you review the material and test your understanding.
At the bottom of the page, create a summary of the notes. This can be a brief paragraph summarising the main points or a list of key takeaways.
When reviewing your notes, focus on the right-hand column to quiz yourself on the material and check your understanding. The left-hand column should provide a detailed lecture record or be read for reference.
Try the Mind Mapping method
The mind mapping method involves drawing a diagram connecting different concepts or ideas.
Start by identifying the central theme in the middle of your paper or canvas. Draw a circle or a shape around it to make it stand out. Doing this will be the core of your mind map.
Add main branches by considering the main subtopics or ideas related to your central theme. Draw lines or branches radiating out from the central theme, and label them with the subtopics. Use different colours, shapes, or symbols to differentiate the main branches.
Consider more specific ideas, concepts, or details related to the subtopic for each main branch. Draw sub-branches stemming from the main branches and label them accordingly.
Include visual elements: To make your mind map more engaging and memorable, include images, icons, or symbols representing the ideas or concepts. Doing this can help you visualise connections and better understand the content.
If you notice relationships between different branches or ideas, draw lines or use arrows to connect them. This will help you see how different concepts relate to each other and create a more cohesive understanding.
As you gather more information, continue adding branches and sub-branches to your mind map. Be sure to maintain a clear and organised structure to make it easy to follow.
Try the outline method
The outline note-taking method is structured to organise information in a hierarchical format.
Start by creating a main heading at the top of your page. This should be the main idea or topic that you want to focus on.
Underneath the main heading, create subheadings that break down the main idea into smaller, more specific topics. These subheadings should be indented to the right.
Under each subheading, add bullet points or short phrases that summarise the information related to that subtopic. These bullet points should be indented even further to the right.
Continue adding subheadings and bullet points as needed to cover all the information related to the main topic.
Use symbols and abbreviations to save time and space, such as "+" or "-" signs to indicate supporting or opposing ideas or arrows to show relationships between ideas.
When reviewing your notes, focus on the main headings and subheadings to get a quick overview of the material, and then dive deeper into the bullet points for more detail.
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