Note taking strategies for success in education
Being successful in your learning journey requires some skills. One of them is note taking. This helps in engaging yourself in the process and recalling what has been learned by merely looking at the note you made. Here are a few note-taking strategies that high school and college students can practice while attending classes or lectures:
Tools needed: Use a tool that you feel comfortable with, whether it be a pen and paper, a pencil, or a tablet or computer. Some people prefer the feel of writing with a pen or pencil, while others prefer the convenience of a tablet or computer, what ever is available and you are comfortable with should be used. I personally like writing on a paper.
Organize note taking: Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to organize your notes. This makes it easier to find and review information later.
Use abbreviations and symbols: Abbreviations and symbols can help you write quickly and save space. However, be sure to use them consistently and to make sure you know what they stand for. Make a legend for the abbreviation you have been using in case you forget the assigned abbreviation
Focus on key concepts: During lectures, teachers often provide examples and explanations which are useful, but might not be directly related to the topic, it’s important to focus on the key concepts and main ideas, rather than writing down everything that’s said. Trying to write word for word will not be possible to keep up with the materials being discussed. Listen understand and cryatallize the concept.
Use the Cornell method: The Cornell method involves dividing your paper into three sections: a cue column, a note-taking column, and a summary section. This allows you to review your notes later and see the main points at a glance. This is quite a popular method for note taking in Universities.
Use Mind maps: Mind maps are great way to organize and visualize your notes, they can help you see the relationships between different ideas and concepts. This is good especially if you are a visual learner.
Review and Summarize: Review your notes soon after class, and if possible summarize the key points and main ideas into concise, easy-to-remember chunks. This can help you better understand and retain the information. Always revisit your notes taken rewrite the important points on a broad margin you use in your note taking device / paper. Concepts will still be fresh in your mind, coming back after a few days, you may not have any idea what was written.
Audio Recording: Some students find it helpful to record lectures with a recording device or their phone. This allows them to go back and listen to the lecture again later, which can help with recall.
It’s important to note that different students might have different preferences, thus you may want to try out different strategies and see what works best for you. With some practice and experimentation, you should be able to find a note-taking technique that helps you effectively capture and organize information. If you are using an electronic device like One note etc you can make notes and record the audio and it will be linked to the text written. It would be a great way organize your note.
What ever your strategy, to be successful, it is a requirement that you go back frequently and refresh your mind with the concepts that you have crystallized. Repeated reviewing would help you transfer the materials in your short term memory to long term memory. Learning becomes productive then.
