Note Taking

Taking a structured approach to note-taking is the best way. Put the outline notes by choosing four or five key points of the lecture, followed by in-depth sub-points. One way to review is to use the Cornell Method, which divides the note sheet into three sections:

• Cues: It includes key questions and main points.
• Notes: Which you write during the class using the outline method. 
• Summary: Which you can write after class while reviewing.

The mind map is a visual diagram of abstract concepts.

It works best in subjects like chemistry, history and philosophy, subjects having a neural network like interlocked and complex topics. 

Recording lectures to replay later has shown to have no added benefits compared to paying attention the first time without the possibility of watching it again.

• The advantage of watching it again is that you don't have to worry about taking notes and can focus your full attention on it.
• The benefit of taking notes is that it forces you to process the information and think about it before you can summarize it.

Is a linear method of taking notes that proceeds down the page, using indentation or bullets to denote major and minor points.

Pros: it records content relationship in a way that is easy to review.

Cons: difficult to go back and edit information written in this system.

Works for: recording terms, definitions, facts and sequences, when taking notes on slides or readings.

The goal is to jot down your thoughts as quickly as possible. Format is kept to a minimum: every new thought is written on a new line. 

Pros: Is like free writing for notes.

Cons: lack organization and notes can be hard to understand.

Works for: meetings or lectures that lack organization; when information is presented very quickly.

This simple and highly systematic note-taking method helps you to understand key ideas and relationships easily. Best used for:

• Gathering information from a seminar or presentation.
• Recording college lecture notes.
• Studying literature or a textbook.

1. Write down the lecture name/seminar/reading topic at the top of the page.
2. Write down notes in the largest section of the page (right-hand column). Transcribe only the facts using bulleted lists and abbreviations. Take notes of questions that arise.
   3. Create question cues in the left-hand column that you will use later as a study tool.
3. At the bottom section of the page, summarize the main ideas of your notes. Ask yourself how you would explain this information to someone else. Keep it concise.

Read over your notes in the left-hand column and summary at the bottom as often as possible. Quiz yourself with the questions you've included in the left column. Repeat often to increase your recall and deepen your comprehension.

• The page is divided into 3 or 4 sections (top for title and, bottom for summary, 2 columns in the center).  
• 30% of width should be kept in the left column while the remaining 70% for the right column.
• All notes go into the main note-taking column. 
• The smaller column on the left side is for comments, questions or hints about the actual notes. 

All notes that are related to each other are grouped together in a box. 

A dedicated box is assigned for each section of notes which cuts down the time needed for reading and reviewing.

Apps are especially helpful for this method because content on the page can be reordered or resized subsequently.

The page is organized by topic. While in class, start with the main topic. Branch off and write a heading for each of the subtopics. Add important notes underneath each subtopic.

This method is useful for visual learners. It helps you understand the relationships between topics.

Use headings and bullet points with supporting facts.

• During a lesson, begin your notes with a bullet point for the main topic.
• The first subtopic is placed below and indented slightly to the right.
• Jot down the details below your heading and slightly to the right.

This method is useful when a topic includes a lot of detail.

Consist of abbreviated symbols, letters, or pen strokes. They’re also a great way of capturing information quickly. 

There are many forms of shorthand, and, depending on how similar they are to modern writing conventions, they can be quite difficult to learn.

For more than 2,000 years people have used shorthand to make note-taking quicker and more reliable.

Limiting the space you have to write your notes on is a way of filtering through the massive amounts of information you must process. 

It forces your brain to be selective and prioritize information.

There's little research into the benefits of digital note-taking over handwritten notes.

But the findings underline that typing out notes improves later recall, while copy and pasting text into notes is actually detrimental to learning because it encourages wordiness.

The most rigorously structured notes, those with hierarchal ordering and numbered subsections, are of the highest quality and accuracy. 

But although these notes are significantly more precise than freestyle note-taking, there is little difference in the ability of the note-taker to recall the material.

1. Figure out your purpose.
2. Choose a technique that maximizes your focus on what is most relevant for your purpose. 
3. Decide whether to optimize for review or retrieval practice.  
4. If you do need to go back into the text again and again, create clues in your notes that can help you find what you’re looking for faster.

Ask yourself why are you reading:

• What am I trying to remember? 
• How am I going to use this information? (e.g. on a test, cited in an essay, etc.)
• What do I plan to do with the notes later? Will you be studying off of them extensively? Or maybe you’re just taking notes to stay focused, and it’s highly unlikely you’ll look through them after?

• Choose the right tool: digital or paper, whatever works for you;
• Give your notes structure: this focuses your thinking and simplifies review and retrieval;
• Record whatever’s important or interesting: questions, key insights, quotes, diagrams, etc.;
• Use symbols so you can quickly scan your notes later: e.g.: "*" for important/insightful or "?" for things that require further research;
• Schedule time to review your notes.