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3 Tips to Improve Your Note Taking
The writer Anita Loos once said, "Memory is more indelible than ink." While it may be true that our most sentimental memories are engraved in our minds, what we learn in class is a different story. That’s why we take notes: to keep the passage of time from washing away all those lectures and readings from our memory like freshly spilled ink. The two keys to academic success are retention and comprehension; if you can’t remember what you learned, you can’t hope to master it.
Thriving in online classrooms is all about dedication and discipline. The same holds true for note-taking. We’ve put together a few pointers on how to get in the right mindset and take good notes.
The Right Method for the Right Material
Different subjects require different kinds of notes. You might want to “show your work” while taking notes on mathematics or other highly technical courses. Other classes might benefit from the use of a mind map or a quick outline. When taking notes, consider your previous history (if you have one) with the subject you’re learning. What helps YOU retain information? What are the sort of little details that you’d probably forget if you didn’t notate them? Good, efficient note-taking requires a degree of self-awareness: you want to take notes that offer clarity and enhance your understanding of the material. You know how you think better than anyone, so plan accordingly.
When it comes to choosing a method for taking notes, there’s a few different frameworks you could use:
- Outlines: If you like using bullet points or numbered lists, outlining will fit you like a glove. You can structure your notes as a series of clusters, with each one consisting of a major topic, followed by subtopics, and supporting facts related to those topics. This method isn’t particularly effective if you need to take visual notes (sketches, graphs, formulas),, so keep that in mind.
- Mind Maps: This is a more visual way to organize your notes. When you’re mind mapping you take a core concept (say, the subject you’re studying) and use that as a centerpoint to create a series of branches where you write down connected ideas, supporting details, and tangents. Think of it like a spiderweb, or the chip in a windshield from where all the cracks spread.
- Cornell Method: This technique involves splitting your page into 3-4 columns: a small horizontal column on top of the page, two vertical columns running down the center of the page, and another horizontal column running along the bottom of the page. You put in a different set of notes in each column:
- Top column: This is your title and date section.
- Right vertical column: Here's where you put in the main notes and observations from your study sessions. Keep it concise and to the point. These are your key thoughts and takeaways.
- Left vertical column: If you have questions, put them here. Here's where you write down keywords, sources, and questions you'll want to follow up on after this study session. Consider this the "to-do" portion of your notes.
- Bottom column: This is where you’ll summarize your study session. What did you learn? How do you feel about it?
There are other methods for taking notes; those are just three of the more popular ones. No one method is the “best”; try a few out and see what works for you.
Keep It Short
Brevity isn’t just the soul of wit—it’s also the key to good note-taking. Using abbreviations and symbols as shorthand while you’re taking notes is a sound strategy for several reasons:
- You won’t tire yourself out writing out unnecessary words
- It’ll help you focus on your class
- Abbreviations and symbols can actually help you take more accurate notes because you’re making conscious decisions about what’s important to remember and focus on
- Fun symbols can inject a spirit of play in your note-taking and give you something amusing to doodle to lighten your spirits as you’re working hard on your studies
Write & Recite
Studies have shown that physically writing your notes down on paper improves your memory retention. That’s not all you can do to give your memory a boost: research has also uncovered a connection between reading out loud and memory recall. Reading something out loud is actually more effective for your ability to comprehend and remember information than it is to listen to someone else say it to you. As easy as it would be to just type away on your computer while you’re taking notes, science says that picking up a pencil or pen and reading as you write will do a lot more good for your ability to retain what you learn.