How to Take Notes Effectively
So you missed a few classes, and photocopied your friend’s 11th ncert solution to study for
the exams. No worries. That’s what friends are for, right? In an age where information about
everything you could possibly need is available at your fingertips, taking down notes in class
may seem redundant. But there’s more to notes than simply skimming over them before an
exam. It’s the very act of taking notes (on your own, yes) that aids memory and recall.
Unfortunately, note-taking skills are rarely stressed upon in schools. You’re expected to
simply pick them up along the way. This is why student notes are often just information
passively copied off the board or from a textbook, or simply a transcription of what the
teacher says. So why take notes at all? Well, taking notes effectively boosts your attention
span, helps you develop organisational skills, and keeps you engaged in the learning
process. Moreover, a study showed you were far more likely to remember information
contained in your notes than information not found in them.
Now, it’s important to remember that a single note-taking system won’t work for every
student, and some methods may work better for certain subjects than others. Our tips will
help you find one that works for you.
1. Identify what’s important
The jokes your teacher cracks in class should not find their way into your notebooks. The
essence of effective note-taking is being able to sift out important information from
inessential details. It requires paying attention. If you’re not sure whether a particular detail
is important, look for certain clues from your teachers. If they say something to the tune of,
“This was asked in the board exam two years ago”, you probably should note it down.
Source: HuffPost
2. Leave your mark
Your notes should be authored by you, and it should show! Don’t rewrite passively. You
should be able to take information from a textbook, a class lecture Or online tuition
classes, condense it, and summarise it in your own words. Avoid complete sentences,
and opt for phrases instead. It is also helpful to develop your own system of abbreviations
and symbols that you can remember and adapt to quickly. This will save you time in class.
Fleshing out the points out after class in your own words will help you revise. If you interact
with your notes within a day of taking them down, you’re more likely to retain the information.
3. Keep it simple!
When it comes to note taking, less is more. Yes, the internet is filled with images of picture-
perfect notes - not a single word crossed out or smudged, handwriting like calligraphy - even
the doodles look like art.
Source: We Heart It
If you feel your notes pale in comparison, remember that content is king. Of course,
aesthetically pleasing notes can be great motivation to study, but don’t spend hours making
them look like works of art. You should be able to read your notes and grasp
information easily. Leave enough space between words so that the page doesn’t look
too crammed. Coloured pens and highlighters are great to draw your attention to important
concepts, but it’s easy to overdo it. Too many colours are distracting - limit yourself to
two. Use your highlighter sparingly. If it helps - you can create a colour code to help
you memorise information - green for definitions, blue for formulae, orange for
examples, etc.
4. Mix and match
A single method isn’t ideal for all subjects. An outline method might work well for
history, while charts and graphs may work well for science and math. Mind maps are great
if you’re a visual learner, and when the content is well-structured. A very popular method
with students is the Cornell note taking system. It’s one of the best methods to help you
actively review your notes as you take them down. Divide your page into three sections like
this:
Source: www.umfk.edu
On the top of the page, write the title of the lesson and the date. The large column on the
right is where you’ll take down your notes. The cue column on the left is for you to fill in the
keywords of the lesson and for any questions or observations you may have. At the bottom,
write a brief summary of the topic in your own words. This system keeps students engaged
during the note-taking process, and aids active recall.
Tute.in an award winning e-learning platform offers live online tuition for CBSE, ICSE and
IGCSE. Our online tutors clearly define the objectives of each lesson, and display all the
relevant content on screen to make note taking smooth and easy.
Visit us at ….
Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter
Chinmayi Pilgaonkar
Keywords: #study #learning #tute #elearning #education #notes #note taking #studyblr
#cornellmethod #cornellway #cornellnotes #highlighter #mindmaps #charts #graphs #lecture
the exams. No worries. That’s what friends are for, right? In an age where information about
everything you could possibly need is available at your fingertips, taking down notes in class
may seem redundant. But there’s more to notes than simply skimming over them before an
exam. It’s the very act of taking notes (on your own, yes) that aids memory and recall.
Unfortunately, note-taking skills are rarely stressed upon in schools. You’re expected to
simply pick them up along the way. This is why student notes are often just information
passively copied off the board or from a textbook, or simply a transcription of what the
teacher says. So why take notes at all? Well, taking notes effectively boosts your attention
span, helps you develop organisational skills, and keeps you engaged in the learning
process. Moreover, a study showed you were far more likely to remember information
contained in your notes than information not found in them.
Now, it’s important to remember that a single note-taking system won’t work for every
student, and some methods may work better for certain subjects than others. Our tips will
help you find one that works for you.
1. Identify what’s important
The jokes your teacher cracks in class should not find their way into your notebooks. The
essence of effective note-taking is being able to sift out important information from
inessential details. It requires paying attention. If you’re not sure whether a particular detail
is important, look for certain clues from your teachers. If they say something to the tune of,
“This was asked in the board exam two years ago”, you probably should note it down.
Source: HuffPost
2. Leave your mark
Your notes should be authored by you, and it should show! Don’t rewrite passively. You
should be able to take information from a textbook, a class lecture Or online tuition
classes, condense it, and summarise it in your own words. Avoid complete sentences,
and opt for phrases instead. It is also helpful to develop your own system of abbreviations
and symbols that you can remember and adapt to quickly. This will save you time in class.
Fleshing out the points out after class in your own words will help you revise. If you interact
with your notes within a day of taking them down, you’re more likely to retain the information.
3. Keep it simple!
When it comes to note taking, less is more. Yes, the internet is filled with images of picture-
perfect notes - not a single word crossed out or smudged, handwriting like calligraphy - even
the doodles look like art.
Source: We Heart It
If you feel your notes pale in comparison, remember that content is king. Of course,
aesthetically pleasing notes can be great motivation to study, but don’t spend hours making
them look like works of art. You should be able to read your notes and grasp
information easily. Leave enough space between words so that the page doesn’t look
too crammed. Coloured pens and highlighters are great to draw your attention to important
concepts, but it’s easy to overdo it. Too many colours are distracting - limit yourself to
two. Use your highlighter sparingly. If it helps - you can create a colour code to help
you memorise information - green for definitions, blue for formulae, orange for
examples, etc.
4. Mix and match
A single method isn’t ideal for all subjects. An outline method might work well for
history, while charts and graphs may work well for science and math. Mind maps are great
if you’re a visual learner, and when the content is well-structured. A very popular method
with students is the Cornell note taking system. It’s one of the best methods to help you
actively review your notes as you take them down. Divide your page into three sections like
this:
Source: www.umfk.edu
On the top of the page, write the title of the lesson and the date. The large column on the
right is where you’ll take down your notes. The cue column on the left is for you to fill in the
keywords of the lesson and for any questions or observations you may have. At the bottom,
write a brief summary of the topic in your own words. This system keeps students engaged
during the note-taking process, and aids active recall.
Tute.in an award winning e-learning platform offers live online tuition for CBSE, ICSE and
IGCSE. Our online tutors clearly define the objectives of each lesson, and display all the
relevant content on screen to make note taking smooth and easy.
Visit us at ….
Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter
Chinmayi Pilgaonkar
Keywords: #study #learning #tute #elearning #education #notes #note taking #studyblr
#cornellmethod #cornellway #cornellnotes #highlighter #mindmaps #charts #graphs #lecture
Comments
Post a Comment