Note-taking is a skill that extends beyond school and university. It also seeps into the working world itself. It may go without notice to most people that they could sharpen their note-taking skills. Contrary to popular belief, note-taking has not disappeared, nor is it an outdated concept. We should recognise it as a significant part of the learning process. Today’s blog will highlight the top eight best tips on being a more efficient note-taker and how note-taking can benefit you. These tips can apply to taking notes from a verbal presentation or written text.
Do not write every word
The most important thing to keep in mind is that every word is not as important as you think. The key to note-taking is to be able to summarise information in a shorter form. Spend your time trying to capture every word of a presentation, lecture or book. You’ll surely end up missing the critical information presented to you.
Decide what is essential
You can always go back and fill in any gaps and define words. Keep open ears and eyes out for key phrases such as “to sum up”, “a major reason why”, or “there are three reasons why”, etc. These key phrases could even include names and dates. Introductory and closing remarks are common indicators that usually highlights the main ideas of the topic. Repeated words or concepts also sometimes are of some importance, even non-verbal cues such as pointing. The author/lecturer will have their style and phrases that you should look out for, so try to familiarise yourself with their signposts.
Stay Focused
It goes without saying that it’s essential to be an active listener/reader. It can be too easy to lose focus and miss out on the crucial information that is being to you. Here is a video to help you maintain your concentration to improve your note-taking.
Use symbols and abbreviations
There isn’t enough time to write down complete sentences when the information is coming at you rather quickly. Some common ones are “+” or “&” for, and other common examples are w/ for with and so on. To help increase your writing speed trying writing shorthand. There are three methods to writing shorthand, so it’s best to find out which works best for you.
Revise your notes as soon as possible
Once you have taken your notes, please don’t put them away and forget about them. It’s easier for you to edit them while the information is fresh to your memory. You can fill in the missing blanks, rewrite them or even reorder them based on how you’d like to use your notes. Reordering them will also help you use them effectively, and it stays in your memory a lot longer.
Be conscious of your handwriting.
It’s easy to get so immersed in your writing that you forget to pay attention to your handwriting. It’s important to write or type legibly despite your hand aching. For more information about the benefits of handwriting check out our previous blog post.
Consider which strategy is best for you.
Handwritten and digital note-taking comes with its fair share of pros and cons. Research suggests that handwritten notes can improve learning and memory better than digital notes, which is more beneficial for visual learners. At the same time, typing your notes is best for faster note-taking and more accessible when taking a high volume of notes.
Choose your format.
There’s no right or wrong arrangement, style or structure when taking notes. Below are a few formats you could experiment with to figure out which works best for you.
Outline: A standard method amongst students is using bullet points. It allows room for examples and details in sub-items that you can expand on later.
Flowchart: A visual guide that represents a workflow and can help represent step by step guides. Flowcharts include various sizes and shapes of boxes and indicating their order by connecting the boxes with arrows.
Sentence method: This method is the simplest form of note-taking, which is most helpful in sorting through which information from a lecture is vital by effectively and quickly covering details.
Charting Method. A way to organise notes from lectures with substantial facts by dividing key topics into columns and recording points underneath. Click here for more information about concept mapping.
Cornell Notes: This style provides a systematic format that includes sections for the date, essential question, topic, notes, questions, and a summary to condense information. The most common system used by secondary and university students is the two-column note style. For further explanation on cornell notes use the following link.
Research has proven that effective note-taking can enhance ones academic performance but what most people don’t know is that it does so much more than that. It can improve students’ attention to detail by encouraging them to be more focused as we all know the deal is in the details.
- It encourages students to be actively involved in their learning which in turn increases their productivity.
- Note-taking, especially handwritten notes, boosts memory retention and comprehension when students break down the content given to them to understand it easily. It is also known to improve a student’s attention span, which is a necessary tool for a learning situation.
- Note-taking increases creativity. Students become more equipped to organise their ideas more effectively, focus on particular thoughts and expand on several ideas because of their memory retention. Students can take the initiative to increase their creativity and innovation.
- It teaches prioritising skills. This skill is essential for a student to have the capability to choose important material and discard unnecessary content, a skill often overlooked in its importance in and outside of the classroom.
Conclusion
Notes have long since evolved from page to screen. Thanks to note-taking software such as e-portfolio and e-notes, it has never been easier for a skill that is essential to students and educators. Thank you for reading today’s blog. Hopefully, you will no longer struggle to determine what to write down in lectures or meetings. No longer should you be intimidated by note-taking but feel confident in your skills using the above practices.
