Effective Note-taking Techniques: Enhancing Your Learning and Retention

In order to make the best of the lessons and lectures, it is essential to develop effective note-taking practices

The ability to take good notes in class is an important part of academic success.

Note-taking is a key tool in the armoury of a student. Every sincere learner has to hone the skill of note-taking in order to succeed in the journey of education.

From interesting bits of facts and figures to useful data and important analysis, a lecture may have a wide range of information that is hard for a student to retain fully. Hence, it is essential for a student to record important bits of information either on paper or digitally.

Despite the advancement of technology, the age-old method of taking notes in diaries and notebooks is still the most effective method of collecting and organising useful information with the aim of referring to it later.

However, it is common for students to struggle while taking notes, unable to determine what to note down and what to omit. The process of collecting information from a live lecture could be overwhelming and at times intimidating, because without a systematic approach there is every chance of missing out on key information.

In order to make the best of the lessons and lectures, it is essential to develop effective note-taking practices.

Why good notes matter? What are these strategic practices? What are the best note-taking techniques? And what qualities make good notes?

Let’s discuss some of these questions here:

Benefits of good notes

• The ability to take good notes in class is an important part of academic success.
• Actively taking notes during the class can help students improve focus and understand key concepts.
• Active note-taking will improve the students’ listening skills, comprehension of the concepts, and retention.
• Taking notes either on paper or digitally will help students better remember what they hear and see.
• In the longer run, good notes are crucial for regular studies and to prepare effectively for exams.
• Clear and concise notes help students save a lot of time and energy.
• Properly organised notes will also save the students from confusion that results from having disorganised, insufficient, or lengthy
• Good notes also prove to be highly useful in creating outlines and internalising the concepts.

How to take good notes?

Amidst the deluge of information that is shared in the class, a student may not be able to capture all the important concepts completely, that is where good notes come in handy.

With the pace at which the teachers share information or give dictation, it is sometimes impossible for all students to cover everything in the notes.

One of the ways to ensure your notes are complete and up to date is to note down points in brief and then fill in the gaps or add details after the class, when the information is still fresh in mind.

Following this practice can help students better organise their thoughts and help put together what is most important.

Here are some steps you can take before class:

• The first step in taking good notes is to come to class prepared.
• Preview the subject material before the class.
• Previewing helps in identifying the main ideas scheduled to be discussed in the class.
• This also allows students to note down the main focus of the topics to be discussed and break it down in bullet points.
• Review notes from previous classes to build the connect and harmony between topics discussed. This also helps in building on the foundations already placed through previous lectures.
• Keep the notes organised to help you find information more easily later.
• Title each page with the name of the subject, sub-topics and date.
• Establish a chronology of notes. Keep separate notebooks for each subject or sub-topics and keep all notes for each subjects together in one space in a proper order.

Here are some steps you can take during the class:

• Rather than noting down the entire lecture word by word, try to grasp the concept and focus on writing down the main points the teacher makes.
• Transcribe all important facts and study them within 24 hours for a higher chance of retention.
• Note down all the questions and thoughts about the subject that are coming to your mind during the class and follow up on them with the teacher after the class.
• If you are unable to write down definitions and theories in all details, then jot down keywords, abbreviations, symbols, and names and fill in the details after the class.
• Write in bullets and phrases instead of complete sentences, in order to keep pace with the teacher. This will also ensure your hand and mind are in synchrony and don’t get tired.
• Do not compromise the clarity of the notes in the rush to record all the information shared by the teacher. Keep the notes as clear, concise and organised as possible for future reference.
• Research about various formats of notes and adopt what suits you the best (details below).
• Be consistent with the format you choose and stick with it so that your notes are structured the same way throughout. This will give you a sense of familiarity with the material you are dealing with and it will also help you identify the topics more easily.

What to write?

The biggest challenge is to determine what is most important and what to write down.

Here are some tips:

• Pay special attention to introductory remarks, as they often include highlights, overviews and summaries of the topic in discussion.
• Focus on the lists, numbers, reasons, and causes.
• Look for keywords, repetitions, and oft-repeated lines as they are often important.
• Ensure to take down the concluding remarks as they will provide the gist of the entire class and will come in handy for studying and finding answers to key questions.

Different note-taking techniques

Different people take notes differently, depending on their inclinations and styles. There are many established techniques of note taking, each with its set of benefits. Here are a few:

Cornell Method

Developed by Professor Walter Pauk of Cornell University in the 1950s, the Cornell Method is highly effective in recording and organising information in columns, questions, reflections, key concepts and summary.

Outlining Method

This is the most common form of note-taking at schools and colleges. It helps students organise and structure notes logically by creating a hierarchical structure around the topic.

While organising the topic in discussion along the main points, this method allows room for examples and details.

However, the outlining method needs more thought and time for accurate execution and it cannot be done spontaneously during the class.

This is more suitable for the organisation of the content while reviewing the notes.

Mapping Method

The mapping method visually represents the connect between different information, concepts, facts, and ideas. This technique is good for content that has an order or steps involved.

Suitable for visual learners and critical thinkers, mapping method uses mind map to create diagrams to show the link between different ideas.

Charting Method

This method involves creating a chart or table to organise information. Charting is like creating a spreadsheet with rows and columns.

While creating a chart for a topic, divide information in main topics and further classify it into sub-topics, taking concise notes and summarising the information under each column.

Sentence Method

One of the simplest forms of note-taking, sentence method uses single sentences to summarise and organise key points related to the topic.

It is a prompt and efficient way for taking notes when only dealing with simple information.

Conclusion

Taking notes is an art that is developed over a period of time through consistent thought, planning and practice. Once mastered, notes are helpful for learning and retaining new information. Good notes can increase students’ engagement with the material and help them focus on the most important points.