Effective Note Taking Methods and Hacks That Will Work For You In College [Infographic]

Note Taking Strategies That Will Work For You In College

Meaningful and effective note taking is a crucial skill rarely taught in class. Well-taken notes help you recall important information when reviewing them. Writing notes down assists you to learn the information and remembering it better and more quickly. Taking notes effectively is a significant way of training your brain to recognize important information. Studies show that 50% of people forget a lecture within 24 hours, 80% in two weeks, and 95% within a month.

Note Taking Tips

Below are some tips on how to be a successful and efficient note-taker.

• Be an active listener and reader- Always pay attention to what the lecturer says and does such as repeating information and writing on the board. Such important information likely ends up on the exams.
• Do not write down every word- You should be able to summarize notes in a different and shorter way to use later. If you try to write down every word that the lecturer says, chances are that you will not be able to keep up with what he presents to you. You should be able to take down notes in your own words. This strengthens your topic understanding and reinforces your memory.
• Always ask the lecturer to repeat if you miss a point- You can ask the lecturer to repeat in class or you can go to him/her after class for clarification. If you are in a rush, you can ask at the beginning of the next class or try to find the answer from a fellow classmate.
• Learn how to use symbols andabbreviations- When taking notes you probably will not have enough time to write full sentences and sometimes the information presented comes so fast and thick that you cannot write the full words. Create your own set of abbreviations and symbols. Some of the obvious ones include + or & for ‘and’, = for equals and @ for ‘at’. Also you can abbreviate sentences for example,

They will be going to the park tomorrow

Thy wll be gng to the prk tmrrw

These Note Taking Strategies Will Be More Effective If You:

• Revise your notes as soon as possible- Do not simply take down notes and forget about them. Go through your notes after your lectures. You can leave spaces on each page or after each important section of your notes then write a short summary in your own words regarding the material you covered in class. This will assist you in processing the information by making you think through and understanding it.
• Are organized- Always write notes for each subject in one place so that you can easily find everything when it comes time for an exam. That means keeping a notebook or section of a notebook for each subject as you take notes in class. Effective note taking requires extra time and organization.
• Are consistent- If you are listening to a long lecture, do not rush to take many notes for the first 10 minutes and nothing at all for the rest of the session. Make sure you pace yourself and gather notes consistently throughout the lecture. An effective lecturer presents quality information throughout their lecture so make sure you do not lose concentration.
• Avoid plagiarism and instead use paraphrasing- Avoid copying material from other sources without putting it in quotation marks and noting its origin. It you do not do that, you will forget that those words are not your own and you might end up including those words in your report or essay which will result to plagiarism. Make sure you paraphrase while making notes from other people’s notes. If you paraphrase while taking down notes, there will be no confusion later.

Do you want to use software’s to take notes? A number of software and apps will help you take notes:

5 Note Taking Software For College Students

There are must-have note taking software’s for college students. These days there are some great apps for students to use to take notes for class or to use as class planners. Below are some apps:

• Ever note and Ever student– Ever note is actually the best and you can use for everything literally from taking notes, creating to do lists and clipping web pages. Ever student is a new android app available that integrates with ever note and acts as a planner for students. These apps are only available for Android only.
• Skitch– This app also works with ever note and allows you to create sketches and annotate, edit and save your sketches and photos. You could use the app to take notes or sketches that you cannot with just text. The app is available for Android and Mac.
• My School Notebook– The app allows you to take notes, edit, and format and you can add images and videos to the notes.
• Simple Note– This is a free simple note-taking app. The app contains some great features and you can access it from any computer or web-enabled device, you can easily make notes and share with others. Here your notes are searchable with content search and tags. There are some extensions and add-ons that you can use with it too.
• Google– calendar, docs, and task list – Google is a great way to organize and take notes. You can use the Google calendar to organize class schedules, assignment due dates with reminders and more. You can use Google docs to take notes and the tasks used as task lists. You can access these apps from any computer or mobile device.

Types Of Note Taking Methods

The Cornell Method

This method offers a systematic format for organizing and condensing notes without laborious recopying. After you write your notes in the main space, use the left-hand space to label each idea and detail with a key word.

Method

Rule your paper with a 2 ½-inch margin on the left leaving a six-inch area on the right in which to make notes. During lectures, write down notes in the six-inch area. When the lecturer makes a new point, skip a few lines. After your lectures, complete sentences and phrases as much as possible. For every important bit of information, make sure to write down a key word in the left margin. To review, cover your notes with a card, leaving the cues uncovered. Say the key word aloud then say as much as you can of the information underneath the card. After saying as much as you can, move the card to see if it matches the notes. If you are able to say it, you know it.

Advantages

1. The method is systematic and organized for recording and reviewing notes.
2. Has easy format for pulling out major ideas and concepts.
3. The method is simple and efficient
4. Saves time and effort.
5. You can use it in any lecture room.

The Outlining Method

Intended or dash outlining is usually best except for some science classes such as math or physics.

Method

You listen and write in points in an organized pattern based on space indention. Write the major points farthest to the left. Indent every more specific detail to the right. You indicate the levels of significance by the distance away from the major point. Indention can be as simple as or as complex as labeling the indentations with Roman numerals decimals. Markings are not necessary, as space relationships will indicate the major/minor points.

Advantages

• It is a well-organized system if done right.
• Outlining records content as well as relationships
• It reduces editing and easy to review by turning main points into questions.

Disadvantages

• The method requires more thought in class for accurate organization.
• The system might not show relationship by sequence when needed.
• You cannot use this method if the lecture is too fast.
• The method does not lend to diversity of a review attach for maximum learning and question application.

When To Use The Method

• You can use this format if the lecturer presents the lecture in outline organization. This may be either deductive or inductive.
• You can use the method when there is enough time in the lecture to think about and make organization decisions when needed.
• Lastly, you can use the method effectively if you have super sharp note taking skills and can handle the outlining regardless of the note-taking situation.

The Mapping Method

The mapping method uses concentration/comprehension skills and evolves in a note taking form that relates each idea or fact to every other fact or idea. The method contains a graphic representation of the content of a lecture. This method maximizes active participation, emphasizes critical thinking, and affords immediate knowledge as to its understanding.

Advantages

• The method helps you to track your lecture visually regardless of conditions.
• You need little thinking and one can see relationships easily.
• You can easily edit your notes by adding marks, numbers, and color-coding.
• While reviewing, you will have to restructure though processes that will force you to check understanding.
• You can write main points on flash or note cards and piece them together into a table or a larger structure later.

Disadvantages

• You may not hear changes in content from major points to facts.

When To Use This Method

• You can use the method when the lecture content is heavy but well organized.
• You may also use the method when you have a guest lecturer and you have no idea how he/she will present the lecture.

Conclusion

Moderately few students know the significance of taking effective notes. In addition, most students do not know how effective notes can improve their retention and comprehension of lecture material. By following a few guidelines on how to take notes effectively, you can improve your college GPA and relieve a lot of pressure when it comes to studying for your exams.

 

Please check this cool infographic by wbsa.co.uk: Please click on the image to enlarge

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