In this era of ever-changing education, effective note-taking is not just recording what is said in a lecture; it is a skill that can change the way students interact with the powerful process of learning…. In fact, if students learn the skills for effective note-taking, they will more likely remember, make fewer mistakes, achieve more comprehension, and feel more confident when writing exams. Absolutely, note-taking matters for students going into their final exams or for existential learning as you embrace understanding a new topic.
Why Notes Taking `Matters
Note-taking does not just represent recording, but rather the process of interacting with the course/session material. Comprehension and retention of the material are likely to be greater when the learner takes effective notes. It has been established that students who take effective notes will likely remember more content, make fewer errors, and demonstrate greater comprehension than those who do not. When students summarize those content takeaways in their own words, they significantly reinforce understanding, not to mention identifying when knowledge gaps exist early on.
Selecting a Note-taking Method
Not all note-taking methods work for every learning style. Consider some established techniques:
- The Cornell Method. This method is useful for organized learners. The Cornell method has a wide variety of layouts, but always includes sections for cues, notes and a summary. This method can help with a valid form of organization, examination review and is excellent for critical thinking and analysis.
- Mind Mapping. For visual learners, mind maps can help with connecting ideas visually with links in a tree-structure. Hopefully you can see the various ways the connected ideas are linked; you can further organize your mind map to help understand and navigate complex topics and perhaps assign levels of importance to the different branches.
- The Outline Method. The Outline Method is good for logical thinkers. It will have systems of bullet points and levels of indentation. Using numbers, or bullet points in lists, the information can then be organized to show levels of priority. This is an excellent way to take notes from a lecture or a textbook reading.
- The Charting Method. Is best used for information that is comparative (history topics, or science are good examples), this model charts the information with columns and rows to sort and relate the various pieces of content.
- Boxing Method. This method is often used more in digital note-taking. The boxing method is used to group together related notes. This can make it easier to scan and revisit during a review of the content.
Digital vs. Written Notes
Although taking notes digitally allows for speed and accessibility, including applications such as OneNote, Notion and Agorae, handwritten notes still have some merit. Writing by hand can aid in memory retention and comprehension. It is common for students to take a hybrid approach: using a tech tool to store and organize notes while drafting key concepts by hand.
Active Note Taking Tips
- Listen for Indicators: Responding to indicators from the speaker/instructor, such as repeating ideas, summaries or important areas of emphasis, will help you stay engaged.
- Abbreviate and use symbols: Develop an abbreviated system so you can write quickly, yet still have clarity.
- Review and revise: Beyond taking notes, reviewing them is essential. Revise by classifying, organizing and highlighting key points to your notes, ideally within 24 hours of a class.
- Colour Code: Highlighters and coloured pens can help to classify important terms and definitions, or categories of information within your notes.
- Sum it up in your own words: This is an important step in understanding material because it enhances retention of information.
Conclusion
Note taking will never be a “one size fits all” practice/performance. It is a practice that evolves, and typically becomes more effective over time. The more you refine your method, the more effective you learn and understand – ultimately leading to academic success. So, try different approaches to taking notes, find what works for you, and remember it is our goal to take Smarter Notes which ultimately leads to Smarter Learning.
Master this skill, and you’ll not only improve your academic performance but also become a more organized, confident learner for life.
