You already take a lot of notes, but now you want to take notes that are more useful.We will show you how to use all of the different note-taking methods and strategies that we have to offer.The best way to review your notes is one of the tips we have included.To get started, check out the steps below.
Step 1: Take your note-taking materials.
It's important to have all of your note-taking materials organized and ready to go before the start of any class, meeting or lecture.If you're writing with paper and pens, make sure you have a notebook with lots of blank pages and extra writing utensils.Make sure you can sit near a power outlet if you're using a laptop.If the teacher/lecturer writes down important information on a black or whiteboard, make sure you have glasses with you.If you bring your glasses, make sure to bring a microfiber cloth so that you can clean them.Remember to place yourself in an area of the room where you can see and hear the speaker.
Step 2: You should come prepared.
Before you attend a class, lecture, or meeting, make sure to review your notes from the last time.This will allow you to pick up where you left off.If you were told to do any background reading, make sure you read and annotated the assignment.This will help you understand what the teacher/lecturer is going to say in class.An outline of the section, article, or chapter would be a good idea.Attach your class notes to the other side of the paper by writing your outline on one side.You are preparing to fail if you fail to prepare.
Step 3: An active listener is someone who listens.
Many people make the mistake of forgetting what is being said when taking note-taking.Make an effort to understand the topic in class.If you don't understand what's being said, ask questions.To get the instructor's attention, raise your hand and ask the best questions.They want to understand what you're saying.You won't have to work so hard during the review if you understand the information during class.
Step 4: Take your notes by hand.
Although taking notes on your laptop is convenient, research shows note takers actually retain information better when they take notes by hand.It's possible that people typing on a laptop don't understand the meaning, while people writing by hand are forced to pick out relevant information in order to keep up.Don't try to get every word down if you take notes by laptop.Make sure you understand what's being said.
Step 5: Don't hesitate to ask questions.
Don't just tell yourself that you'll worry about it later, ask the teacher for clarification.If you find something confusing now, you'll find it more confusing later.If you feel that they've said something important, ask the teacher to repeat themselves.
Step 6: Key words and concepts should be focused on.
If you want to improve your note-taking skills, you need to focus on taking down key words and concepts.Only the most important details should make the cut, as individual words or key phrases that are most relevant to the topic should be written down.If you wanted those things, you could read a textbook..Why are you taking the class?Why are you at the seminar?Why was your employer sending you to the conference?You have to remember that you're not writing a novella if you take notes in order to learn something from them..It is pointless to write down information that you already know.Writing down new information will give you the most value from your note-taking.
Step 7: The "question, answer, evidence" method can be used.
This method of taking notes allows you to describe the topic in your own words as you engage with the material.Students are able to better understand and retain material with the help of this technique.If you want to understand the material, listen carefully to what the speaker is saying, instead of copying down line after line of information.Once you have formulated your notes as a series of questions, fill them in with your own answers.What is the central theme of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet?"Romeo and Juliet is more than a tragic love story, it's about consequences of holding grudges."You can provide evidence for your conclusion by pointing to specific examples from within the text.A concise, easy-to-read format is what this strategy allows you to record.
Step 8: Refer to it as shorthand.
The average student writes 1/3 word per second, while the speaker speaks at a rate of 1/3 words per seconds.Developing your own system of shorthand writing can help you to write more efficiently.Write things like "wd", "cd" and "w/" for it.A plus sign is used for the word "and".For example, instead of writing "popular sovereignty" 25 times over the course of a history class, write "pop sov".It's important that you're able to decipher your own shorthand later on, so try writing out a key on the inside cover of your copy.Bringing a recording device to class will allow you to listen a second time and fill in any gaps in your notes if the speaker is still going too fast.
Step 9: Your notes should be visually appealing.
If your notes are messy, disorganized and hard to read, you will be reluctant to study them again.There are some tips on how to make your notes look better.If you start on a blank page, your notes will be easier to read.Put the date in the top right-hand corner and write on one side of the page..Taking notes is pointless if you can't read them afterwards.No matter how fast you write, make sure your writing is legible and small..Line each page with a pen and ruler.This will prevent the page from getting too crowded and will allow you to write more information after you review your notes..If you're a visual learner, diagrams, charts, and other visual aids are great ways to remember and associate key concepts.
Step 10: You can color code your notes.
Adding a splash of color to your notes can make it easier to remember.This is due to the fact that color stimulates the creative side of your brain, making your notes more interesting and easier to retain.You can remember the contents of your notes with relatively little effort with the help of color-coding.You could write questions in red, definitions in blue and conclusions in green with different colored pens.Key words, dates, and definitions can be highlighted with a pen.It's not a good idea to highlight your notes for actual study.
Step 11: You can take notes from your textbook.
You may want to add information from a textbook to your notes.Another skill worth mastering is taking notes from a textbook.You should preview the material before you start reading it.The first and last line of every paragraph should be read.Look over any charts, illustrations or diagrams.Go back to the beginning of the text and read it from start to finish.When you finish a paragraph, highlight any key words, facts, concepts or important quotes.The use of color or bullet points is often used to highlight significant points in the textbook.You should make notes from the information you highlighted once you've read the text.If you can, try not to copy full sentences from the text and use your own words where possible.
Step 12: You can review your notes later in the day.
You can retain more information if you review your notes after class or later in the day.If you spend 15 to 20 minutes going back over them each night, you don't need to study them very much.You can fill in any blanks.If you remember anything from the class or lecture, use your review time to fill it in.A summary should be written.The information contained in your notes can be summarized at the bottom of the page.
Step 13: Do you know how to test yourself?
If you want to know your understanding of the material, try to explain it to yourself, out loud or in your head.Take a look at how many important details you can remember, then read the notes to make sure you don't miss anything.Tell the material to a friend.It's a good idea to teach or explain the material to a friend to see if you've fully understood the topic.
Step 14: Take care of your notes.
You will see the benefit of having good notes when it comes to exam time, and you have to memorize all of the material.The memorization process is much easier if you review your notes for 20 to 30 minutes each night.If you have to memorize a chunk of text, one good technique is to read the first line a couple of times, then repeat it out loud without looking at the page.Try to repeat the first and second lines out loud, without looking at the page.Continue until you can repeat the entire chunk of text without looking at the page.A simple story that is easy to remember is what this method involves.If you wanted to remember the first three elements of the periodic table, you could use the following story.The story doesn't need to make sense in order to be entertaining.A good way to remember a list of words is with a mnemonic device.Take the first letter of each word you want to remember and come up with a short sentence that starts with those letters.To remember the lines on a musical staff, you could use the mnemonic " Every Good Boy Does Fine".This article has more detailed instructions on popular and effective memorization techniques.