Writing notes that are easy to read and understand is essential for studying and reviewing. It can be difficult to study when your notes are a mess and there are random jot-notes sprawled all over your notebook. Ensuring your notes are organized as you’re writing them, will help you stay motivated to study later and it will also help you retain all of the information from your classes/lectures.
There are numerous note-taking methods, depending on what you’re taking notes for, how fast or slow the teacher/professor is speaking, and the materials you have with you. Some popular methods include
The Cornell System
This is very common system that will help you retain the information in your notes by keeping your notes concise. In order to use this method, split your page into two vertical sections, making the left side more narrow than the right (you can also use the margin of a lined piece of paper). The right side or the “notes column” is used in class while you are writing your notes. This is where the bulk of your notes will go. It can be as messy or as neat as you would like. In the “cue column” or the left side of the page, write main ideas, important vocabulary words, etc… These should be written in point form or in a couple of words. Finally, after class, you should read over your notes and try to summarize them at the bottom. You can do this by leaving a section at the bottom of each page or by dedicating the back side of the paper for the summary.
Mind Mapping
Mind mapping is a great way to visually recall information. Although I would personally not recommend this for writing notes in class, I love this method for reviewing before a test or quiz. It is pretty simple and you can organize it however you would like. I typically write the title in the centre of the page and branch out. I either write notes wherever there is room or I connect the ideas together with lines and arrows. Here is an image that will help you get started:
Just jot down important ideas, facts, key terms, etc…
Instead of scrambling to write every single word from the PowerPoint presentation, it is much easier to simply listen to your teacher/professor and actively write key concepts. Take the time to really listen to what is being taught and try to think about how you can rephrase what you have just learned. Try limiting yourself by writing short sentences or bullet points. This promotes active listening and you can understand what it being taught. Plus, you will have more time to ask questions and discuss the information!
Use your own note taking system!
You can adapt and use your own note taking system! The notes I take for each class are very similar but I change them slightly based on how the information is presented in class and how the teacher gives us the material. For example, in Biology, my teacher writes notes with us on a piece of paper and projects it onto the Smart Board. In this class, I usually keep the note-taking system I usually use. However, based on diagrams and other extra information, I may adapt slightly. In Social Studies (European History), my teacher goes through a slideshow presentation and goes pretty fast. I learned quickly that there was no way I could take notes at the pace that my teacher speaks at. Now, I take my laptop to class and write notes underneath each Power Point presentation. I make sure to download all of them off on D2L before class. In Chemistry, I print off the notes that my teacher uploads and share with the class. I take jot notes in the margins of the printed version.
In classes like Chemistry and Math, I like to print off the notes and write extra details that my teachers mention in class. Currently, the only classes I actively write notes for (during class) are Biology and Physics. However this is also based on the way my teachers teach in these classes, so it may vary for you!
Here is a visual representation on how I write notes. These photos were taken from tbhstudying. My note taking method was based off of hers and is very similar.
There you go! Try to explore different methods and see what works best for you! It’s all about experimentation and trial/error. Here are some tips for general note taking that I thought are pretty important.
- Actively write notes (do not passively write every single word down; try to understand what you are learning/reading)
- Do not over-highlight/underline/bold (over highlighting can be distracting and it can become another form of passive note taking)
- Make key word/terms prominent in your notes (this what you should be highlighting, bolding or underlining)
- Keep your notes as organized as possible!
- Write your notes in your own words (it will be easier for you to understand and you are more likely to remember the information)
Image Sources:
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Sources:
Lifehacker 1
Lifehacker 2
Oxford Learning
Tumblr - tbhstudying
