This strategy highlights seven different note-taking techniques conducive to several different areas of student learning. This document could be useful in cases where students are unsure of what note-taking strategy is best for them. Walk through each strategy with your student to determine which techniques could be useful in maximizing their success.
- Write notes out longhand: There is evidence that suggests handwriting notes leads to better retention, as the process of writing longhand engages different parts of the brain than typing. If you don’t feel confident in your ability to keep up with your professor by writing down notes, taking notes on a computer is better than not taking notes at all. However, handwritten (and digital) note-taking assistance can be explored with CSD Tech as well. This can be helpful in case you miss a key piece of information, or want to clarify statements after class has ended.
- Be prepared for class: Go to class prepared with everything you’ll need to take notes. Have a dedicated notebook and folder or binder for each class. This will help you keep your notes, handouts and homework organized. Remember to bring pens, pencils, and highlighters. Take a binder or folder where you can organize your notes or any handouts you receive during class.
- Learn how to be a good listener: To take effective notes, you need to have excellent listening skills and good judgment. Cut down on distractions by sitting near the front of the room. This will make it easier for you to see and hear the professor, and perhaps more importantly, for them to see you. It’s harder to get distracted by your phone or doze off when you’re right in front of the instructor. If it will be tempting to talk to friends during class, sit separately, so you can focus your attention on the discussion at hand. Taking good notes does not mean writing down every single thing your instructor says.
Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to take notes when:
- The instructor specifically says that a piece of information will be on a test or relevant to a project
- The instructor writes a piece of information on the whiteboard or chalkboard, or includes it in a slideshow
- Another student asks a question, or the instructor asks students questions about a particular topic
- The instructor stresses a key concept
- The instructor introduces an unfamiliar term or idea
- You are unsure about a piece of information that’s being presented
- Find the note-taking method that works best for you: It is important that you develop a note-taking method that suits your learning style and works best for you. It may take some trial and error to find one that works best, and the style of notes you take may depend on the nature of the class you’re in (ex: STEM vs. Humanities)
- Cornell method: Developed by Cornell University, this method helps you organize notes into three sections – general notes, summaries, and cues/question – making it easier to reflect and study after class. (Cornell method in note-taking strategy folder)
- Outline method: This method is most useful for lectures and discussions that follow a logical structure covering one or two main ideas at a time. It allows you to start with a key concept, and add in details and definitions relevant to that concept as sub-headings. (#1 – followed by subheadings a, b, c, etc.)
- Mapping method: If your instructor’s lectures don’t always follow a logical, organized framework, then the mapping method might be a better fit for your note-taking. This allows you to jot down ideas and definitions in a non-structured way as they come up, and then connect and organize them later.
- Using different colored pens and highlighters to make certain words or ideas stand out
- Using abbreviations and symbols to make writing faster, and paraphrasing the material to make sure you understand core concepts.
- Compare notes with other students: Comparing notes with other students is an effective yet underutilized strategy. Many students only ask to see other students’ notes when they’ve missed a class. By comparing notes with others, you gain perspective and see what other students in the class found to be salient information. Collaborating and discussing topics covered in class not only helps you to better understand content for an upcoming test, but it also gives you valuable insight about how other students have learned to succeed in classes taught by even the most demanding professors. Get to know some of the best note takers and schedule a time after class each week to compare notes. This is also an opportunity for you to test your command of the material by attempting to explain it to others.
- Review, edit, and organize your notes: After class, it is a good idea to review your notes and make any edits necessary. Notes can become messy and disorganized because you are trying to keep up with the professor during the lecture. It is worth the additional time to rewrite your notes in a more organized way. Also, researching any terms or concepts you didn’t completely understand during the lecture.
Additionally, in order to protect the content you’ve spent hours creating, you’ll need to keep your notes in an organized, safe place. Clearly label the binder or folder you are using for each class. If you are taking notes on your laptop, save them in the cloud, or create a backup file on a zip drive in case your computer crashes the night before a test. Regardless of whether you take handwritten or electronic notes, you should date your notes and reference any chapters in your textbook that your notes correspond to for easy lookup later.
- Take notes while studying and reading (annotating): Lectures and discussions aren’t the only times when you should be taking notes. It’s also important to take notes when you are doing your reading assignments and homework. Taking notes when you are reading will help you actively engage with the material, identify questions to ask in class, and remember key concepts to bring up during discussions.
If you are using a textbook you own, or working with a PDF of a document, you can take notes and highlight information right in the reading material itself, making it easier to locate your notes when it comes time to study.